Well, I was able to get the frame of the low raised bed in place – it’s as done as it’s going to be, at this point. Tomorrow, transplanting needs to happen in there.
I got that second 18′ log debarked, but that got done after I found a way to move the first one into place.
The smaller logs that will be used as vertical trellis supports came in very handy! I used them as rollers, to drag the log across. The 4′ log at one end also made it easier to drag the side log into place, though it kept wanting to roll up the hill of soil!
These beds will be 4′ wide on the outside, so I had to make sure the log was positioned on the inside of the markers. The side I lay this log down on used to be part of the path, so it was still pretty compacted.
After debarking the second 18′ log, it was easier to drag into place, since I just needed to get it in the path next to the high raised bed, then roll it into place. This side is where part of the newly widened path was garden bed. Not only was the soil under there softer, but I hadn’t shifted the weeded soil over quite far enough. I had to spend some time pulling soil away from that side until I could finally roll the log into place, and have it inside the markers.
The 4′ end logs were butted up against the side logs, and that’s as far as they’re going to be done at this point.
Eventually, notches will be cut into the ends of the 4′ logs that the 18′ logs will fit into. Then I’ll use an auger bit to drill through the notched ends and drive a metal rod through, to hold them together.
But first, more work needs to be done.
The soil under the logs needs to be leveled out a bit, and there are gaps in places that need to be filled in. I’m also hoping to get a hold of more cardboard. Lots more. Landscape cloth would be better, but I can get cardboard for free. I want to cover the paths with cardboard, then layer wood chips on top, and I’d like part of the carboard to be under the logs. That will require rolling the logs aside, or lifting them, to get the cardboard under. So final assembly will have to wait.
Meanwhile, I weeded, loosened and leveled the soil hill inside the bed, making sure to NOT pull the soil all the way to the logs. There’s just enough space to work in.
I’m shooting to get up earlier in the morning and start transplanting squash, while it’s still cooler. We’re supposed to reach a high of 20C/68F tomorrow. As the forecast reads right now, we will start getting rain at 11pm tomorrow, and it will continue to rain until 7am on Tuesday. So I should be able to get more progress in transplanting during the day on Tuesday. Wednesday is now supposed to be rain free, with a couple of hours of possible showers late Thursday afternoon. Hopefully, that will give lots of time to get more progress.
As for the stuff that has already been transplanted, everything is looking just fine. Hopefully, that means little to no transplant shock!
I’m really feeling time flying through my fingers right now, so I just made a point of seeing where we were at in the garden, at this time last year.
I’m feeling better now.
A year ago today, we were just getting our squash patch refreshed with hills of new soil, and transplanting our winter squash! The next day, I was putting in summer squash, peppers and onions.
We also had brought Decimus in with her babies at this time. Which means that Clarence, Shadow in the Dark, Mitsy and Tin Whistle are officially a year old now. Ghosty is a touch older.
Wow. We were sure hoping to have found forever homes for them all, long ago! 😢
Ah, well.
Anyhow…
So it looks like we’re at almost the exact same stage in the garden as we were last year! We used a lot of grow bags last year, but they are currently being used as beds by Broccoli’s kittens!
There’s one very good thing about rain we’ve been having.
Last year at this time, the air was full of smoke from wildfires burning all over. There are currently 5 fires burning in our province right now, all way up north, and all listed as under control.
A most welcome bonus with all that rain!
Okay, time for me to start getting ready for an early bed time, and an early rise tomorrow!
The Re-Farmer
The Re-Farmer 