osprey94's Blog

raised beds...FINALLY!
May 26, 2007 | 9:15 PM PST
Tags: raised beds , chipping , claybusters

This morning when I woke up, I decided that if I didn't get these veggie garden beds built today, I'd never get to them. On Friday, I had a huge load of what the local landscaping materials co. calls "claybuster". Apparently, it's a combo of compost, chicken manure, sand, and something else. Maybe some topsoil. Anyway, it's supposed to improve clay soil. D and I went into the woods, cut up 3 good-sized fallen douglas firs and loaded them into the truck (fortunately they fell near the road, so it was easy to cart them to the truck). Then, we constructed the boxes, loosened the soil inside them and mixed in the claybuster stuff (which D and I call "black gold"). That stuff was HOT! I put my gloved hands on top of it and they were uncomfortable after only 10 seconds or so! I'm pretty sure I killed all the earthworms in all of that soil!  So...tomorrow I will plant them: greens, marigolds, carrots, onions. Then, beans, cucs and tomatoes on the fence to climb up.

Oh, I forgot, more chipping today! We loaded up the pickup with nice long fallen small trees and set the chipper up right near the garden fence, shooting the chips into the garden. This whole project took us all day. Ive gathered a few more bruises and by the end of the day, I was DONE. Irritable, covered in a fine douglas fir dust and "black gold", smelling like manure and hungry as all get out. But I'm done. If only I had a good camera, I'd post some pics of the results. I only constructed 3 4'X4' beds. I have enough logs for 4, but, I'll make that one later, as needed.

I'm so proud. And tired.

on how i always learn the hard way...and more projects!
May 22, 2007 | 8:40 PM PST
Tags: slugs , raised beds , shady bed , tomato seedlings

So, after buying some screw-in hooks from Ace the other day, I realized that my topsy turvies came WITH the EXACT same hooks already. Ah well, now I have extra.

Today, as soon as we'd eaten dinner, we went out into the woods and gathered downed trees for chipping. We must've chipped 5 loads (big wheelbarrow) full for the veggie garden. That sucker is at least 2000 square feet and I want to cover the whole thing in wood chips (excluding the permanent beds I'm going to make). That oughta take me a good long time. I need to build the beds first, but they are going to take so much longer. Finding the right size logs is ridiculously difficult. After reading a bit on square foot gardening, I want 4ft square beds. I'll need probably 8-9 beds to adequately fill what's left of the plot after 3 rows of 4 blueberry plants, 6 rows, 10' each, of strawberries, a compost pile, raspberry and blackberry plants, and some vertical gardening space (I strung some fencing between a few t-bars for about 15 ft. (Ahhh, this is fascinating so far, isn't it?). 

While we were chipping, it came to me. Another PROJECT! As if I don't have enough already. I've decided I'm going to make a big bed all the way around a grouping of 3 huge douglas firs, 2 of which hold up our hammock. I will mulch it all heavily in wood chips and plant a woodsy looking mix of shrubs and plants around the base of the trees. I'm guessing this area is shady for most of the day. I need to check on it though throughout a full day and see how much shade it actually gets. Grass grows just fine there, so it's getting enough sun for that. We can't mow so close to the base of the trees, so the grass grows really high and you have to wade through it to get to the hammock. This will be much better, and pretty too. I've been wanting to make beds around the trees near the forest for a long time. Anyone have any experience planting at the base of big old trees with lots of lumpy root frowth? I'm guessing I'll have to 1. smother the grass thoroughly, maybe w/ a thick layer of mulch, or maybe newspaper and then mulch? 2. Once the grass is dead, cover the areas I'm going to plant with loads of trucked-in soil, 3. Plant and mulch again.

Okay, now for the plants. My requirements: relatively deer proof (no hostas, boo hoooooo), can take some shade happily, natives or very well suited to my area (western Washington), woodsy and natural-looking, no annuals. Any suggestions anyone? Anyone? Help? I'd like to layer it, too. Some tall shrubs/small trees, smaller shrubs, ferns, and other herbaceous stuff, and maybe some groundcover.

Oohh, that's gonna be so great when I'm done. Then, I just need some rustic piece of outdoor furniture to put near the hammock to hold drinks/books/etc.

*Sigh*, much to do.

Found a slug the size of a BANANA yesterday. It's slime trail looked like stuff I've coughed up when I've had bronchitis before. We tossed him into the woods instead of killing him. Couldn't bring ourselves to kill him, he was so impressive! A coworker told me you can spray a little diluted ammonia on them and they shrivel very quickly. I'm going to try some beer in shallow dishes partially buried in the soil this year.  We'll see if that works.

I planted some kale and broccoli rabe and both crops have tons of tiny holes in the leaves. This happened last year too, with all my greens and brassicas. What's up? tiny baby slugs? I don't see slime trails. Bugs? If so, which ones do this? I've never seen any actual bugs on the plants, only these tiny, perfect holes.

Tonight I'm leaving my hand-raised tomato babies outside all night for the first time under a box, because it's going to drop into the low 40's, maybe high 30's. I become very attached to these guys when I raise them from seed. It's hard for me to leave them out for their First Night Outside!

I can't wait to get tomatoes from them, either, because they're an heirloom mix I've never tried before. I don't even know which kinds they'll be, so it'll be a surprise! Yay! It's official I am a garden geek.

Sleep well, my little tomato babies.