Yesterday I was reading Chicken Scratch . Jocelyn blogs about ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD...and she shares lots of projects.
She shared a photo of her front yard beds she just put in...and talked a little bit about lasagna gardening ...before heading into GOAT LAND! (she love the goats)
Anyway-- I've heard about lasagna gardening. I've read about it on several blogs through the years. Lasagna gardening is layering newspaper, cardboard, leaves, grass clippings and dirt and planting in it. Most people that have done it...RAVE ABOUT IT!
But really haven't tried it. I have tried this...
Hugelkulture beds/mounds...
they work great here in Texas especially for winter months... for summer months too, but they tend to heat up since it is just a big compost mound, you know?
So anyway--
while reading Jocelyn's blog... I got an idea.
I don't have the money to pay someone to haul topsoil into my yard and dump it. So what could I do...?
Hmmm, well, I have these boxes we moved from the side garden where the potatoes and corn are planted.
For another post later, I'll tell you why I'd rather plant in boxes or raised beds. But for now... I had a box.
I've been filling it with grass and leaves.
I started adding layers.
First TWIGS...
Next I added the grass and leaves back into the hole I dug...
Finally, I put the dirt back on top of the compost (leaves and clippings)
Basically, I dug my topsoil up and made it topsoil again! :)
Now like Jocelyn... I can finish planting my veggies and let the roots enjoy the nutrients underneath the soil!
So I had to do a bit of digging...like I did with my Hugelkultur bed.
Then a bit of layering like LASAGNA style gardening...
and now, What have I got to lose?
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice.
~ Philippians 4:4
13 comments:
Absolutely nothing to lose. Gardening is a great form of exercise, thriftiness, and healthy eating.
Never heard of lasagna gardening. Interesting. I have too much shade to do much. Good luck!
That is a really great idea and yes, you really don't have anything to lose. I wonder how that would work here, I can't afford any new topsoil this year, so perhaps I can use what I have. Interesting idea, thanks for it.
I went with my "grandma's blog" today, like we were talking about. I hope you like it!
Have a really great weekend. Cindy
You have nothing to lose, and I think it's brilliant! Had I not been able to get the topsoil, I would have done the same. I love your thinking, Pat, I really do. I am looking forward to seeing how this turns out for you!
PS--I do love the goats, don't I? I didn't think it was that obvious. :)
Great idea Pat! I have a friend back in FL who does the lasagna (not that I knew that's what it was called) in her box gardens. She grows wonderful veggies. I know she would probably have done just as you did, digging up her own topsoil if it was necessary. Ann
Interesting.. I've never heard of this before.. I am super interested in seeing how yours does..
whoa! i guess you did all that digging in between the rain storms?
it looks like it's great, I hope it reaps you tons of food!
gail
I love contained beds like that. You did a great job and you will love gardening there and you are right-you have nothing to lose. xo Diana
I also grow my veggies in raised boxes. I love the "Square Foot Gardening" books and method. Like you, though, I need to make some of my own dirt with compost. We definitely have enough veggie and fruit trimmings, grass clippings, and old leaves! It's the discipline and organization that I'm lacking.
I think I'm going to try this.. very
interesting. My back yard slopes down
into the creek so I may have to use
different size sides on the boxes?
Thanks for the heads up!
Sandy
As always you are an inspiration to me, Pat! I find Texas gardening a challenge, but this idea is super. I see another raised bed coming soon to my garden.
You will have produce one way or another, I see. That sounds like a good idea! Can't wait to see how much growth you get and how fast. Love all your hard work out there!
LIz
We layered our raised beds too. We did add horse manure, free from the local horse farm, but it's hot so you have to get it early and let it sit around for a year or so. Then we layered leaves, a little dirt since we are on a rocky ridgetop, straw, etc. Now after 2-3 years we can actually TILL ! The dirt is loose and fine. We also stopped the roadside tree trimmers that are contracted with by the utility companies since we're all above ground. We found out that they had to haul the mulch 10 miles and come back for the next load. We offered our place and got a couple of BIG HUGE trucks full of mulch. We let it sit for a year until it broke down and it's perfect. I use it for the flowers, not so much vegetables. It would be great between beds too. One thing about cardboard, try to use US cardboard rather than China, it should be labeled. We were warned a about possible chemicals in the making of Chinese cardboard.
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