This ain't no Garden of Eden

[EddieWalker]

Hey Jim,

Great pictures, but where was the ones of your tractor getting dirty? LOL

I'm wondering about the layers of materials you are using. During a heavy rain with several inches of runoff, will it be possible for the water to get under your top soil and above your hard packed clay? When you said that you it's going to be a raised garden, was that in reference to the height of the top soil, or are you building up a wall to protect the top soil?

I always enjoy your projects and your previous garden adventures. I'm sure this time around, it will be better then ever!!!

Eddie

 

[2manyrocks]

Well, this starting off point makes those TV gardening shows look pretty lame by comparison.

 

[jinman]

The garden prep is still going and I'm sure now that my estimation of not finishing in time for this year will be accurate. Maybe a fall garden, but certainly not a spring/summer garden.

I've scraped, dug, pushed, and pulled dirt from the high side down to the low side. I've filled the drain swale with sand and the garden is finally getting closer to the grade I want. Here are some pictures of what I've accomplished prior to this week.

The 1st picture shows the whole garden area and how it is becoming more level as I filled in the swale. The 2nd picture is the drainage that is filled with two feet of sand and a layer of soil. I will put in another layer of sand and then the final topsoil fill. The reason I am layering this is for stability. The sand I'm using is very loose and I'm hoping the clay and dirt layers will help bind the whole thing together. The 3rd and 4th pictures just show how I've cut into the rock hard clay layer to do levelling.

I'll start my retainer wall soon. When the retainer wall is completed, I'll fill in behind the wall with fluffy compost and soil and make a hoop house over it. Therefore, the retainer will serve a dual purpose as one wall of a raised bed hoop house/greenhouse. Actually, this entire garden can be considered to be a huge raised bed garden. That's the way I hope it will all turn out.

 

[Bird]

Jim, you're sure putting a lot of time and effort into that garden spot. It's looking good. Do you intend to send soil samples to A&M for an analysis, or do you already know what fertilizer, if any, will be needed for the soil you're using?

 

[jinman]

To make things a little easier on me, my wife bought me a dump trailer. Yes, I know. . .I'm lucky to have such a sweet wife.

Anyhow, here is a link about the dump trailer:
Dump Trailer Thread

As you can see in that thread, I learned some lessons pretty quickly. Yesterday, I hauled 8 loads with the trailer at about 4 yd per load. That 32 yards would have been more than a day's work with my tractor by itself, but it only took me about 5 hours with the trailer and that included spreading the sand. Here are some pictures from yesterday.

 

[jinman]

Jim, you're sure putting a lot of time and effort into that garden spot. It's looking good. Do you intend to send soil samples to A&M for an analysis, or do you already know what fertilizer, if any, will be needed for the soil you're using?

Bird, I'm going to send samples, but the soil I am working now will not be the final garden material. i hope to add another 18" of dirt on top of this white sand. On my other piece of property, there is a spot with very deep topsoil it was pushed in with a dozer back in the 60s and 70s. Another spot is full of dark loamy soil and I want to mix the two for my final garden topsoil. once I have those two blended with my tiller, I'll shoot a sample off to A&M for analysis.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Darn Jim, I have 3 small, seperate gardens this year but I've never been as desperate to grow anything as you seem to be. Man, that's a lot of work but I'm sure it will be worth it. More power to you and keep posting pictures.

 

[RadarTech]

Jim,
Would this be a good time to ask about your avatar picture?
I have wondered about that story for quite some time..

I must say I am jealous about the dump trailer!!!

Later,
J

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Hey Jim,

You've got your work cut out for you, glad to see it's coming around. I've got a south section that I have an old ditch to fill in and expand a field for planting and seven stumps to dig out. Hopefully we can start in May. The trailer looks great, was fun reading your adventures. Take care.

 

[capi75rs]

jinman, keep up the good work, please keep us posted, I love reading and following along with projects like what your doing.