Fran Farmer wrote:
songbird wrote:
Fran Farmer wrote:

I wouldn't be so gobbsmacked if they had been writing about raised beds.
These people seem to consider that the sort of bed you and I would
start to dig for a normal old ground level bed and which we'd start from
scratch by digging out the sod and removing it or smothering the sod and
then digging once the grass had died must have some sort of 'proper'
edging and imported soil.

people in cities tend to think in boxes? i dunno...

Neither do I. :-))

smothered sod is excellent stuff for gardens, but it
takes some years to get all the seeds out of there.
good thick mulch over it helps keep a lot of seeds
from sprouting.


I'm sure that like me you've used anything that is handy and or free
with which to edge such beds or, failing anything handy, just had a
neatly spaded edge.

oh yes, rocks, chunks of wood, pieces of bark, but
my favorites are the piles of dirt with the sides
compacted down a little so they won't collapse in the
rain and then i mulch them to keep them in place.
often i can plant something right on the edge too.

Yep. Edges are good (as any Permculturist will tell anyone who will
listen :-))

plant edges where things transition from one thing
to another are great, but my peeve is hardscape edges,
especially if i've almost tripped over them recently.


i wrote a note of thanks and got a reply
back that they'll have more. we have plenty
of room...

'Onya 'bird! If it wasn't blowing a mild gale here I'd be out right now
collecting wheelbarrow loads of cow plops. The cows have been in a
paddock close to the house and I can see lots of nice plops there just
waiting for me to collect them and shove onto one of my newer beds.

the dung beetles don't get them?

In summer they are pretty active but not now as it's cooling down. Even
in summer I otften pick up plops that have beetles int ehm and I just
think they are even better to put on top of the beds where I spread the
plops.

i think they are such wonderful creatures to have around
it's too bad they don't stay active in cooler temperatures.
perhaps you can knit them little jackets? that would
be a sight! heehee...


we have deer
nuggets and bunny drops, but i rarely "collect"
them unless they've been dropped on the crushed
limestone pathway or decorative area. every little
bit of organic material left on the crushed limestone
eventually acts as a seed starting booster so what
i can get off there helps to keep those weeds from
sprouting. can't believe that it's already almost
been 20 years since they built the place.

good luck with the high winds!

Thanks. It just makes it unpleasant being outside. We have no big
trees anywhere that they could do a great deal of damage.

yeah, we're getting more protected from the winds as
the borderline cedar trees get taller, but it can still
be a challenge to do much when the winds whip across
the surrounding farm fields.


today is more rain
which we can use. i have to run out and vote then
will be puttering about inside. have some worm food
to get in the bins from peeling and prepping garlic
and veggie scraps. made 14 pints of sweet and sour
garlic relish and stunk up the house real good
yesterday. all those roots and garlic peels and
pieces seem to really be appreciated by the worms.

I think I'd like that smell in my house :-))

it was very strong, it doesn't bother me, but Ma was
making comments, when i was peeling it and prepping it
i was also eating cloves fresh, it's pretty hot garlic
so it can numb the tongue or gums if it sits on them
for more than a second or two. after grinding that many
lbs of garlic i was surprised my eyes weren't watering.
though when i was cooking it up i had to stand back a bit.
i can't wait until the relish gets aged for a few weeks
to start using it up. the house is all aired out now.
peace is restored to our little corner of the world...

i have a few older experiments that aren't very good
which will make good worm food when i put most of the
worms out into the veggie gardens. i'm sure the bacteria
and other soil critters will really like the sugar and
molasses, i don't think they'll notice the spices...
if i get worms tapping at my window looking for a capsicum
fix i'll know i'm in trouble.


songbird