2013 February Pictures of Garden Section 2 Construction

We expanded the garden from 32 x 32 to 32 x 64, or added a 32 x 32 section.  We used about 10 yards each of top soil, mushroom compost and wood chips.  We cut the grass and put down a layer of cardboard to block the coastal bermuda (hard to kill).  We started with about 3 inches of topsoil (was not a very good top soil) to build the bed up (since our land is so flat) and then 3 inches of mushroom compost.  Then we sprinkled a thin layer of Azomite (A to Z minerals) on top of the compost layer and watered it down with molasses and water (a few ounces of molasses diluted with a couple gallons of water).  Then we covered it all with wood chips.  The old section is raised beds inside boards, with wood chips in the walkways (the wood chips in the walk ways produced a beautiful soil).  The new section is one large raised bed.  The wood chips cover and protect the underlying soil, and over time decomposes into a beautiful, mineral rich and loose soil.  We added more wood chips to the walkways, and over time, as they decompose, we will eventually remove the boards in the old section and have one large raised bed there as well.  We tie string lines to the fences as needed to help layout the beds, and we keep detailed maps of what we plant and where so that we can keep track and rotate crops.  We are planting something like 20-25 varieties of heirloom plants that are specific to our region, and we intend to harvest seeds eventually.