Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Turning To Garden Thoughts

I've been researching a bit about weedless gardening .. and was given a book by the same title by Lee Reich that explains how to replicate the soil environments found in nature.  It's a very interesting and sound idea .. and less back breaking work than tilling in compost .. which I happened to do last spring by double digging in many cubic yards of compost (did I mention back and shoulder breaking?;).  This week I'll be formulating .. in mind and on paper the garden setup for this coming season .. and using many ideas from this excellent and informative book. 

For one thing .. I'll be planting less variety of veggies .. less beets .. more carrots etc.  Why take up space for produce my family won't eat?  And, hopefully, be using a lot less water.  Are your spring gardening plans coming to life?

12 comments:

Cabbage Tree Farm said...

I know I planted way too many pumpkins and zucchini, and not enough watermelons/melons! Will make a note for next year!

Cindy said...

weedless gardening sounds like my kind of gardening! lol! Now, if there was a way to also not have to encounter caterpillars I'd probably actually enjoy doing a garden. I am sort of phobic about those critters.

Dani said...

Am hoping you're going to do a posting on "the mind and paperwork" for your weedless gardening. My back is also breaking.

meemsnyc said...

A weedless garden sounds like a dream! I would love that.

Troy said...

I'm looking forward to reading all about it.

Laurie said...

The seeds have arrived, the garlic is planted, and we're awaiting this year's first spears of asparagus. Gardening is certainly a work in progress, with lots to learn!

Lynda said...

I can't wait to read about your plans. I'm planting more beets and carrots, less melons...

Mr. H. said...

It will very very interesting to see if you are able to duplicate some of the authors techniques in your own garden. There are so very many different ways in which to garden it is always fascinating to learn something new.

Speaking of more and less we will be growing more potatoes next year, we still have quite a few in storage but having doubled our little chicken flock we will need more to help suppliment their diet this next winter.

and

Less tomatillos...we grew WAY to many again this past year.

cottage garden farmer said...

I do more and more no dig gardening these days, using mowings from the lawn to mulch as much as possible. I find it works really well for me, hope it does for you too.

Anonymous said...

I have tried mulching with hay last year. It did no work for me. I think it has to be a set of activities to minimize weeds in the garden. I hope to stop tilling the soil as of this year, that should bring down the weeds.

Mrs. Mac said...

vrtlarica ana - bingo .. it's mostly the tilling that disrupts the soil and exposes weed seeds. A weedless garden is not completely weed free .. just less weeds and better management of the soil to build up the nutrients from the top down without heavy tilling. I'm going to try this method on one of my two veggie gardens.

Linda said...

A weedless garden-how wonderful!! This is reminding me that I have some gardening to do out in the garden real soon!
Have a great day!
Blessings and hugs.