Canesisters 2018 Garden Thread - BTE/SBG hybrid??

[canesisters]

I decided to jump on the 'garden thread' bandwagon in hopes that it will push me a bit to ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING PLANTED this summer.


Day one
3.12.18

Chance of flurries, no accumulation expected.

Ok... well, I've been saying that I can't start a garden till June anymore because of the weather's mood swings. March is still early, even for my area - so making plans instead.
I'm going to do another straw bale garden along with a small 'regular' garden.
Keeping it simple this year (I hope) and only growing things that I want to can.

 

[6884]

Lol.....Well at least your thinking about it.

My favorite saying...I gotta work in the garden when I can, the people who don't like to work In the garden are depending on me Lol.

 

[thistlebloom]

We'll be happy to nag encourage you about it Cane.

 

[canesisters]

Best laid plans and all that.....

My PLAN was to do another - larger - straw bale garden. BUT, I have not found any bales for less than $5/bale. I am NOT inclined to spend $100+ on what would basically be the soil of a garden - and that would need to be replaced every year.
I am not looking forward to what will be a loosing battle with weeds if I plant directly in the soil of my lawn. This wasn't going to be an issue with the SBG because I would simply lay down a heavy mat of feed bags to suppress the grass under the bales.

SO - ideas welcomed...

I'm wondering if I could combine a version of Back To Eden and SBG by:
- laying down a layer of cardboard
- topping that with a mix of manure and bedding from the chicken pen and cow stall
- topping THAT with a layer of bagged garden soil (I'd be more willing to spend the money on soil to get a garden going this year and that would also contribute to on-going gardens instead of on vanishing straw bales)
- then topping THAT with a THICK layer (12" or so) of old hay from a couple of round bales - I can get good feed hay for $30/roughly 4-500lb bale and might be able to get old, hay for less from my 'hay guy'
- letting that rot a bit for the next 2 months - it's been several years since we've gotten to June without freezing nights
- then planting in the thick, somewhat rotted hay as I would in a straw bale

 

[HmooseK]

Something to try. I've never attempted myself, but what about buying bags of Miracle Grow, lay on ground, cut an X and plant.

 

[flowerbug]

@canesisters

i'm quite happy thinking about gardening too (why else be on TEG )???

ok, my take, don't buy anything (bags of garden soil, hay, etc.) you have all you need for fertilizer in the cow and chicken items. it may even turn out to be too much for some plants so you may want to put your heaviest feeding plants in that and only use a little of that for the rest of the garden.

i'd figure out my spaces, put down layers of the organic materials and then top that with the cardboard layers and weigh it down so it doesn't get blown around. if you have wood chips for free or other free mulch, sure use it. you don't need to mix this in the soil, the worms will do that for you.

the heat and smothering from the cardboard with stuff under it will help take out the weeds that are there. not that it will get them all, but it will be a start. then when you go to plant you can poke holes or shift the cardboard to make rows and leave it on the paths between the plants.

 

[baymule]

Go Cane! You will figure this out and have a nice garden.

 

[digitS']

Kinda what you have had going in the past, Debbie: some country gardeners will only have a few head of cattle in a corral through a few winter months. I used to know a very bright young lady who grew up where her father converted his coral to a tomato garden each spring. Apparently, tomatoes could handle that soil and cow manure.

Close the gate to keep the cows out, he would mulch the whole thing with old hay. She said that he never had to water the plants. That would be a big deal in this country.

I used to get rain-spoiled hay for free. There was a LARGE cattle ranch not too far from where I lived and it was just a matter of showing up when the guys were out feeding and I could ask them. I didn't have enuf nerve just to grab it just whenever. Because the place was off my beaten path, I had to visit about 3 times before I could get a pickup load. So, this wasn't me driving up to someone's house, bothering them at home, and asking for something free.

There were lots of cattle, lots of feed and waaay plenty of damaged alfalfa hay.

Steve

 

[canesisters]

Here we go!


Cardboard down to smother grass.
This is about a quarter of what I want for this year - but I'm out of cardboard for this week.
(that is the last dregs of Mt. Rotmore in front)


Leaves down


Compost covered leaves.
The rest of the compost heaped up to use later and covered in A LOT of raw chicken poop/straw to 'cook' a little bit first.


Eva helping.


Still need to pick up the PILE of nasty straw/hay from the pasture (round bale waste) and add that to the top.
Not sure if it will help much- but I had about 3 gallons of raw, skimmed milk in the bottom of the fridge that I never got around to doing anything with. I needed the fridge space for Easter dinner so I dumped it all into a 5 gallon bucket, filled the rest with water and splashed it over the garden and the little compost pile.
Rain today and tomorrow.

 

[ninnymary]

Here we go!


Cardboard down to smother grass.
This is about a quarter of what I want for this year - but I'm out of cardboard for this week.
(that is the last dregs of Mt. Rotmore in front)
View attachment 25349

Leaves down
View attachment 25350

Compost covered leaves.
The rest of the compost heaped up to use later and covered in A LOT of raw chicken poop/straw to 'cook' a little bit first.
View attachment 25348

Eva helping.
View attachment 25351

Still need to pick up the PILE of nasty straw/hay from the pasture (round bale waste) and add that to the top.
Not sure if it will help much- but I had about 3 gallons of raw, skimmed milk in the bottom of the fridge that I never got around to doing anything with. I needed the fridge space for Easter dinner so I dumped it all into a 5 gallon bucket, filled the rest with water and splashed it over the garden and the little compost pile.
Rain today and tomorrow.

Had your milk gone sour? Does your milk last as long as store bought or longer?

Mary