New Raised Bed #1 is Done. 11.10.2021

This one is completely done. I topped it off with some well aged compost, then a layer of good raised bed soil from the one I'm digging out. I also planted a few dozen topsets from Egyptian Walking Onions at the ends. Still thinking about whether to plant a cover crop on the rest, or just a thick layer of leaves.

I cut the wire fencing and plastic fencing to use as mole deterrents for the bottom of new raised bed #2, and moved some blocks nearby. When these, and the rebuilt smaller bed with wooden sides are done, I really don't want to do more big garden construction projects after this. The entire idea is to reduce heavy work. Meanwhile,the hardest part is to level the soil for the blocks, and lay the blocks kevel and plumb. After the base rows are in place, it goes better. Maybe ten more days? Also thinking about pathways between raised beds. This year, moles did a lot of damage, undermining sides and corners of beds and burying the woodchips with soil. Plus, I got behind pulling perennial volunteers - mainly four o'clocks and potatoes - and it became a challenge to access those garden beds. I'm thinking laying down wire fencing in the walkways, top with black plastic, then I don't know. Wood chips? Gravel? Depends on how I think moles will affect this area.

Saving Pickle Cucumber Seeds. Part 2. 11.10.2021

This is after they fernented for four days. I rinsed the seeds in a strainer. Now they are drying on a piece of newspaper.

I also have a back-up packet of open pollinated, bush type pickle cucumber seeds. Just in case these don't do well. This was SO easy, I can't see ever needing to buy pickle cucumber seeds again.

Raised Bed Update. 11.8.2021

 Here is the first of the new raised beds, so far.  Today I spread a thin dusting of lime on the previous fill of soil, which is about nine inches from the final surface level.  Also compost and some leaves.  I wont be able to mix the contents, so it's sort of a "lasagna" soil building.  Then I added another approx four inches of soil from the raised bed that I have to tear out due to mole damage and falling over.  A dusting of ashes, then will add the final topsoil layer, also from that bed.  There are lots of earthworms so I know they will be tunneling through and mixing it up nicely.

In his book about Gardening West of the Cascades, Steve Solomon recommends building soil via a cover crop of garden peas. Their roots grow deeply, and the plants enrich the soil. Garden peas can be planted very early. My current though is, around late February or early March, plant the raised beds with peas. If they grow quickly and we get a harvest, great. Otherwise, at tomato planting time in late May I can pull them out and feed the plants to the chickens. The idea is to get the soil building benefit, more than the peas.

Makem and Clancy, Inch By Inch, Row by Row.

 I don't know if this will embed.  It's "The Garden Song", recorded here in 1988 by Irish folk singers in their final stage appearance.  John Denver and Pete Seeger also recorded versions, and it was on the muppets.

I think it's a lovely song and performance.  It speaks to my gardening peacefulness.  It's too bad our society got into fakeness, unfathomable greed and selfishness over the past decade.  Not that it wasn't like that in places and times before, but holy moly, what happened to our souls? By that, I'm not referring to someone's idea of what idea of what idea of their chosen gods and which tribe they supposedly adhere to, supposedly justifies their thoughtless grievances and narcissism, but rather our inner kindness as human beings.  How will we find that again as a people, and be inclusive and kind and honest about it to boot?

Anyway there's still that patch of soil out there, a truckload of leaves to spread and the next raised bed to build block by block, inch by inch, row by row.  Tomorrow more "rain will come tumblin down" according to the prediction.

I hope this plays.  I can't just post the lyrics, which I guess have a copyright, so it's a Youtube embed instead.  This is via BBC late late show in Jan, 1988.

Here is David Mallett's version.  He wrote the song in 1975.

Saving Pickle Cucumber Seeds. 11.9.2019

 This summer I let the last few pickle cucumbers reach full size and mature, for seeds.  Those were grown from seeds I saved last year.  The cucumber should be very ripe.  This one was kept in a garage window to complete ripening.

Cucumbers are "wet seeds".  They need to be fermented 2 or 3 days, then rinsed and dried.