Rows

Our rows have been about 1ft x 1ft x 16ft. We can continue with that measurement or increase our planting area significantly and go 2ft wide.
4 of the rows are marked off now with sticks. 

Manure

We can continue integrating this into the layers of material we’re putting in the rows. We can get more manure to share around the rest of the growing area.

Sod

The sod, located near the front of the space, is safe to use as well, and can help shape the mounds once our stacks go above the ground surface. I layered the sod within the mound. The grass was chemically treated a year ago, and should be safe for the middle of the mounds, to build mass, but I’m still keeping it away from the surface.

Last of the wood chips, bring in the weeds

More wood chips would be great! (Any volunteers? - we can source some through the Vineyard, or request a coordinated purchase)

We don’t have them right now though. 

There is a pile of decomposing weeds in the SouthEast corner. Laying down a few inches (thick) of that at the base of the next trench could help supply some mass. 

Big tasks Monday 3/29/21:

Digging rows 

Cutting branches down a bit to make them manageable

Collecting material to layer in the rows 

Yesterday I finished assembling the first row, so we could see how it’s constructed and see it at about the height we are aiming for. I’m suggesting we focus on creating the rows today, rather than redistributing manure. 

Suggested layers to assemble:

• Decomposing weeds

• Large branches

• Manure

• Leaves (we should try and source some more!!)

• Smaller branches

• Wood chips

• Sod

• Break up and add 4-6 mushroom blocks

• Smallest branches

• Jam leaves, grass clippings that aren’t seedy! and smaller bits in between all these upper branches.

Carefully walk over this while you’re working on it, to compress it.

Soak it with the hose.

Top soil layer

• Mix up equal parts manure with the soil and a couple of mushroom blocks

• Shovel this onto the row evenly as possible, trying to weigh down wiley branches. 

• Use as much manure in the mix as you need to. 

• Try to save enough dry soil to provide another layer 1/2 inch to 1/in thick (or more) on top. 

• Carefully wet this down with the hose, spraying (using your thumb to fan a stream of water over it) to wet it all down. This is when you’ll notice how dense your stacked branches and materials are. Try not to wash away all your soil, just get it wet and muddy. 

• Add your remaining soil on top of the wet soil.

• Spray it lightly to hold it all in place.

• Shovel a layer of manure from the oldest pile over all of it. There’s sawdust in there that will help to hold things together.

• Spray it lightly once more and you’re done!