We got an earlier start on Sunday, and headed right in to tackle that blasted box of roots. We cursed and cursed, trying to separate dirt from root, and finally after about 3 HOURS we had it done, or at least done good enough. Goodbye forever asparagus roots!
After the roots were tackled, we evened out the soil from all the previous boxes, and started bringing wheelbarrow loads of the compost back. I am not sure how many trips we made that day, but we got about 2/3 of the compost back to the garden. Finally around 4 we called it quits for the day. We were both just exhausted, it was close to 80 degrees out, and the backbreaking work just never seems to end in this garden. Plus it was a moms night for Aimee and I, our first in months, and there was no way I was going to miss it! We left the garden looking something like this:
Monday morning Matthew headed to work, and Killy to school while Rowan and I got ready to get dirty. We (uhhh....I) moved the rest of the compost to the garden, and it only took 3 hours. Thankfully I started early, because the temperature got up to 83 degrees! When we were done, Rowan and I washed the driveway off, and I truly couldnt think of anything that looked better than that gleaming, compost free driveway! I was so glad to be done. When Matthew got home from work, we had dinner and then headed out to level the garden and get it ready to be tilled tomorrow night. Here is a little before and after comparison.
Before - October 2008
After - April 2009
Doesn't it look great?! Its been so much more work than I ever thought it would be, most of it really physical labor, which neither Matthew or I are used too. But you know, its so worth it. When I see this huge patch of land that will feed and nourish our family and friends, I get so excited. We now have a blank slate and can make our garden perfect for us, and what we need. It feels really good to have it *almost* done.
So, I learned a few things this weekend.
1) Hard work really does pay off.
2) If you want to make someone go crazy enough to check into the mental ward, plant asparagus in their yard, and then ask them to remove it!
3) When you are working outside in a tank top for long periods of time over two days of super hot weather, for goodness sake...remember the sunscreen!
After the roots were tackled, we evened out the soil from all the previous boxes, and started bringing wheelbarrow loads of the compost back. I am not sure how many trips we made that day, but we got about 2/3 of the compost back to the garden. Finally around 4 we called it quits for the day. We were both just exhausted, it was close to 80 degrees out, and the backbreaking work just never seems to end in this garden. Plus it was a moms night for Aimee and I, our first in months, and there was no way I was going to miss it! We left the garden looking something like this:
Monday morning Matthew headed to work, and Killy to school while Rowan and I got ready to get dirty. We (uhhh....I) moved the rest of the compost to the garden, and it only took 3 hours. Thankfully I started early, because the temperature got up to 83 degrees! When we were done, Rowan and I washed the driveway off, and I truly couldnt think of anything that looked better than that gleaming, compost free driveway! I was so glad to be done. When Matthew got home from work, we had dinner and then headed out to level the garden and get it ready to be tilled tomorrow night. Here is a little before and after comparison.
Before - October 2008
After - April 2009
Doesn't it look great?! Its been so much more work than I ever thought it would be, most of it really physical labor, which neither Matthew or I are used too. But you know, its so worth it. When I see this huge patch of land that will feed and nourish our family and friends, I get so excited. We now have a blank slate and can make our garden perfect for us, and what we need. It feels really good to have it *almost* done.
So, I learned a few things this weekend.
1) Hard work really does pay off.
2) If you want to make someone go crazy enough to check into the mental ward, plant asparagus in their yard, and then ask them to remove it!
3) When you are working outside in a tank top for long periods of time over two days of super hot weather, for goodness sake...remember the sunscreen!
