7,000 square feet.
Seven thousand square feet.
That’s the approximate size of the fenced in Market Garden that’s all set up on our brand new homestead and just waiting for us to dig in.
That’s 15 times the garden bed square footage we had set up throughout our entire urban farm!
That’s pure potential all wrapped up in a nice little package with acequia water already piped to sprinklers that cover the area!
Potential to grow a massive amount of our own food, and even potential to grow enough food to sell some to our friends and co-workers and maybe even at the Farmers Market!
Amazing, right?
Yes!
Except for the fact that every square inch of it was covered in newly sprouted weeds.
Ever.Square.Inch.
As we saw it, we had three options:
- Leave the berms and swales that were put in by previous tenants, cover the whole thing in plastic for a few weeks and let the sun cook off the weeds and their seeds
- Build raised beds or lasagna beds on top of the weeds
- Till it all up and start from scratch
So, after a good amount of research, much debate, and a little advice from our Landlady who successfully grew in that space for ~20 years, we decided to till it all up. The whole process took several hours of raking and tilling and raking and tilling, broken up by toddler needs, meals and naps, but we got it all done!
Next, we will mark off the areas for the new beds, amend the soil with some organic compost and steer manure, put down some straw or wood chips to create paths, plant some seeds and starts, and have our very own veggie garden again! Not right now, of course, (I’m wiped) but over the course of coming month.
Now, I just want to say, I know there is debate about tilling and the damage it can do to the soil, and yet, we still decided on this route because of it’s ease, our time frame this spring, and the fact that it really does give us a blank slate to create our own beds/planting areas instead of working within the rows that were created by other tenants years ago. I don’t anticipate tilling the space again next year as we will be mulching heavily to keep the weeds down as well as pulling those that break through.
Goodbye, Weed City!
Now, I’m off to make some plans for all that wide open, blank space!
xoxo,
M
P.S. After doing the math, we decided to purchase a tiller instead of renting one. Renting would be $200+ while the purchase was just over $400 and we figure we’ll use it at least twice on this property in the next year alone. Plus, we’re in this homesteading this for the duration, so it might just become one of our favorite tools! 😉
We tilled at first too, for the same reasons you did. As we’ve added mulch and compost over the years we no longer need to unless we’re expanding. If we have vine borers we also till that bed in the fall and again in the early spring as the vine borers overwinter in the soil. Then add lots of compost to it. It’s a trade off.
Angi @ SchneiderPeeps recently posted…Saying Thank You
I definitely would have chosen to till it also. And your new place looks beautiful! I am sure you are enjoying it.
Janet Garman recently posted…My Quest for Healthy Homemade Queso Dip
Thank you, Janet! We love it!
I just love how the dogs are guarding the baby! Ok, the garden looks good, too. 😉
Susan@learningandyearning.com recently posted…Using Wood Chips in a Vegetable Garden
They’ve been so good and have really fallen in with guarding us and the the property even though they’ve always been indoor/city dogs! I love it! And thanks for the garden props, too 😉
Sometimes it is best to just start over with a clean slate. That is a tremendous amount of work to do in one day.
Agreed! Clean slates can be an amazing thing! 🙂
You tilled all that in one day? I bow to you! That is a BIG patch! Also: YAY!
Kris @ Attainable Sustainable recently posted…Growing Yacon
Yep! One day! Kim will be the sorest as she handled the machine, I simply played back up with the rake and did a few other (helpful) chores in and around the garden 🙂 It was quite the day!