When we bought this house, one of the main reasons we wanted it was for the yard. Its huge, and it had a garden space already set up! We wouldn't have to do any work at all, just plop our plants in and grow some food. Except...the previous owner was apparently not the smartest. He built our boxes out of treated wood, which means that they are full of chemicals like arsenic. Mmmmm, tasty. So we knew we would have to rip out the beds before we could get anything planted this year. However, I was not prepared for what an enormous undertaking this would be. Not only did the previous owner make the beds out of the wrong material, he also buried part of the boxes....and used a trillion screws and nails per box. Taking them out is no picnic. I have been slowly making progress over the last two days while Matthew has been at work, trying to take advantage of the great weather we are having. The top parts of the boxes are fairly easy to take apart. Mostly screws, only one so far was screwed AND nailed. But to get out the bottom (very rotten) boards of wood, I have to dig all the way around the box and then lever the shovel against it and puuuuuuush until it gives way and I can separate the pieces. It takes at least an hour per box, and that's with me leaving most of the wood where it falls because its too heavy for me to pick up alone. My incision area and back are hating me for all this heavy work, but my lungs seem to be keeping up so that's something! Take a look at what I am talking about:
Now take a closer look....see that buried part? Thats my nemesis!
My garden is torn UP!
I have 2 boxes all the way out, and this one above is halfway out. I have two more to go, one of them being 4 boards tall...that one is going to be a lot of work! We are still undecided as to what we are going to do once we get it all ripped out. We will either till it and then build more (non treated, lol) boxes, or we will till it and plant in the ground. Or we will not till it and plant in the ground, or not till it and add boxes. We are looking at added expenses either way, for renting a rototiller or for buying the wood. Plus all the time its going to take. I am not a lazy person, and do believe that most things that are worth having take work to get. But this...this is a little much. I just want to get some plants in the ground! Hopefully soon....
Now take a closer look....see that buried part? Thats my nemesis!
My garden is torn UP!
I have 2 boxes all the way out, and this one above is halfway out. I have two more to go, one of them being 4 boards tall...that one is going to be a lot of work! We are still undecided as to what we are going to do once we get it all ripped out. We will either till it and then build more (non treated, lol) boxes, or we will till it and plant in the ground. Or we will not till it and plant in the ground, or not till it and add boxes. We are looking at added expenses either way, for renting a rototiller or for buying the wood. Plus all the time its going to take. I am not a lazy person, and do believe that most things that are worth having take work to get. But this...this is a little much. I just want to get some plants in the ground! Hopefully soon....