Sacajawea
Has No Life - Lives on TB
This is my first full year at my new digs. I'm here by myself - with some occasional help from friends & family - whom I hope to benefit from what I'm planning here. I've got 10 acres to play with.
I'm taking care of the big structural improvements/remodelling/maintenance issues this year... with an eye to laying out the map of the food production and breaking sod this fall. Probably LATE this fall. I knew I dare not spread myself too thin, by trying to plant yet. And I wanted the experience of a full 4 seasons before making any big plant or garden decisions.
There may be one or two terraces involved in the field I've designated for growing. I'll make that decision, after the barn is up. I like having my equipment and tools where I'm going to use them the most. Field is about 1/2 an acre. There are other locations for fruit trees, if I think I need to spread things out. I'm NOT going to target any commercial growing, but am aiming for a surplus to trade. That said, there will be either a greenhouse or hoop house in the plan. Power and water are available there.
At the moment, I'm not generating a lot of compost material. But that will be part of the overall plan, as my topsoil is generally thin and likely not all that "rich". Subsoil is going to be shale and decayed sandstone. Lots of bedrock outcroppings around here, where the mountains have worn down over millenia. Everything starts with the soil, so that's my first focus. I am still deciding about animals; I could use the source of manure. I'm just not sure about my level of commitment to learning to care for them properly. Never kept livestock; not even chickens.
It's not my first garden, so I'm trying to apply what I've learned over the years and start off right... and plan to be able to maintain it and keep the full circle going, as I'm not getting any younger. I'm in decent enough shape and have the right tools that should make the work easy enough for some times.
So, this is kind of a journal of progress. Maybe it'll help some newbies get acquainted with the decisions involved. And I'm always open to suggestions, shared experience, ideas and discussion. Progress around here moves like a herd of turtles, I'll just warn ya right now.
I'm taking care of the big structural improvements/remodelling/maintenance issues this year... with an eye to laying out the map of the food production and breaking sod this fall. Probably LATE this fall. I knew I dare not spread myself too thin, by trying to plant yet. And I wanted the experience of a full 4 seasons before making any big plant or garden decisions.
There may be one or two terraces involved in the field I've designated for growing. I'll make that decision, after the barn is up. I like having my equipment and tools where I'm going to use them the most. Field is about 1/2 an acre. There are other locations for fruit trees, if I think I need to spread things out. I'm NOT going to target any commercial growing, but am aiming for a surplus to trade. That said, there will be either a greenhouse or hoop house in the plan. Power and water are available there.
At the moment, I'm not generating a lot of compost material. But that will be part of the overall plan, as my topsoil is generally thin and likely not all that "rich". Subsoil is going to be shale and decayed sandstone. Lots of bedrock outcroppings around here, where the mountains have worn down over millenia. Everything starts with the soil, so that's my first focus. I am still deciding about animals; I could use the source of manure. I'm just not sure about my level of commitment to learning to care for them properly. Never kept livestock; not even chickens.
It's not my first garden, so I'm trying to apply what I've learned over the years and start off right... and plan to be able to maintain it and keep the full circle going, as I'm not getting any younger. I'm in decent enough shape and have the right tools that should make the work easy enough for some times.
So, this is kind of a journal of progress. Maybe it'll help some newbies get acquainted with the decisions involved. And I'm always open to suggestions, shared experience, ideas and discussion. Progress around here moves like a herd of turtles, I'll just warn ya right now.