We may have tilled a way-too-large garden.
Aaron paused for a plow break while working on the chicken coop and enjoying the sunshine last weekend. He fired up the tractor, hooked up the old plow behind the pole barn and took the first stabs into the dirt where the farm’s garden has traditionally been planted.
The grass and weeds that had been pushing through the ground near our compost pile left a vague outline of the garden that once was. The more we’ve examined it, the more clear it has become that the garden the previous owners were planting in recent years has been much smaller than in the years before.
Not entirely knowing what we’re getting into – we plowed, disked and tilled the entire former plot.
It’s huge. Like, about 2,400-square-feet huge.
So, now, we have to iron out just what is going to go into the ground. I’ve looked at tons of garden plans. Grids. Rows. Big gardens. Little gardens. Pacing strategies. It’s…intense.
Doing what I do, I took to the whiteboard for our first attempt at a garden map. Granted – there is no way this thing accurately reflects the scale of this garden or the amount of food that we will have to plant – but, it’s a start.
If it’s not obvious that I really am winging it – great. If it is obviously, please tell me. Please, please, please – stop me and fix this before it’s too late.
Because, you guys…we’re planting a huge garden!