For Hippywife - my Lasagna garden

[lizziegrace]

first planting bed is done. One more the same size will be added this week. Later this summer and fall, I'll get 2 or 3 more started to plant next year.




Also for next year? An English country garden with paths for the front of the house. It needs it. :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. That is a gorgeous place. Those gardens will be lovely.

Really nice.

[lizziegrace]

2. Thanks

:)

:hug:

[InternalDialogue]

3. What you got there, ma'am

is a porch meant for sittin' and sippin'. And watching the grass grow, quite apparently.

[lizziegrace]

4. Hehe...

The mower's still in the shop getting a carburetor overhaul.

The fields behind are planted with corn, so I'll get to watch the corn grow. It's so nice to have the porch on the north side. Always cooler than anyplace else. :-)

[1gobluedem]

5. What a cool house!

I love porches. :hi:

[lizziegrace]

6. She's beautiful, isn't she??

I'm so lucky to be her caretaker. :)

[Ohio Joe]

7. You can grow lasagna?

Damn, and all these years I've been making them from scratch :P

:hi:

[lizziegrace]

9. Yeah!

I'm hoping to sell my first crop to Stouffers. ;-)

[MorningGlow]

8. Which row is the ricotta row?

:rofl:

Kidding. Beautiful house, though. Your yard is as much of a blank slate as mine--it's kind of exciting, isn't it? Endless possibilities. Big plans 'round here. BIG plans...and yes, they also include and English country garden! Back of the house for us--there's NO sun in the front.

[lizziegrace]

10. hehe...

Google Lasagna Gardening. ;)

I'm sure over the last 160+ years, anything that couldn't be burned was buried on the property. Putting newspaper down as a barrier and going up made more sense. ;)

I'd love to hear about your garden plans. I'm lucky that my house faces south. Lots of beautiful sun-loving perennials out there.

I've got almost 4 acres, btw. Gardens look very small...

[MorningGlow]

11. Ahhh I see

No digging?! Why wasn't I told!!
:rofl:

That would have made carving out my veggie garden last year so much easier. We moved it this year, though, across the yard, AWAY from the monster kids nextdoor who poisoned my tomato plants with Skin-So-Soft (that stuff is evil! and so are they!) This year we put it up against the side of the garage, with a ready-made clear space once we moved the wooden palettes our firewood had been resting on.

I envy your four acres! We would LOVE to have a little more elbow room (cf monster kids nextdoor) and miss living in the country very much. (We live in a village now.) And I hear you about the buried stuff. Our house is 140 years old, and we have a shoebox filled with stuff we've found (medicine bottles, etc.) And of course MG Jr. loves finding toys in the yard from the dark ages of the 1980s. (Latest booty from tilling the new garden spot: a fully articulated army guy. Who needs toy stores?!)

I wish I could be more specific about garden plans. Right now we're in the "waiting for the landscaper to show up" phase, mainly because the yard has been neglected for 20 years (lousy previous owners, although I hear before them the place was kept like a palace--not that it's evident now at all) and we need someone to do some heavy lifting--big equipment, lots of topsoil, grass seed, etc.

Briefly: Our house faces north and is so tall that it casts a shadow on the small front lawn, as does the tree on the apron and our neighbors' two HUGE white pines. It's a lost cause--I just planted three bleeding hearts to join the two rue plants that seem to be doing all right in the bed under the front windows, but other than that...feh. We're lucky grass is growing.

To the west, by the monster kids nextdoor, we had a massive box elder tree that was too close to the foundation, so we took it down late last summer, along with some scrubby short pines (we put up a stockade fence instead--cf the monster kids nextdoor). So the yard on that side, which is about 25 feet of nothing between the house and the fence, looks like a war zone. I dream of a picket fence and arbor stretching between the front corner of the house and the stockade fence, with a path heading into the backyard with rose bushes on either side. (We certainly have the sun for it now that the tree's gone.)

The backyard to the south has the most potential. We took down a deck attached to the back of the house (before it fell down or killed one of us via giant splinter--nobody had taken care of it since it went up 20 years ago), so now we have rubble and really REALLY dry earth that needs some TLC. There, I dream of the English garden (I bought lavender! it's in a pot right now LOL) with random brick pathways and a round brick area in the center for our fake-wrought-iron table and chairs set. I'd love to plant trees in the rectangular backyard. And then we have a side driveway out to the sidestreet and a square of lawn behind that--PHEW!--shaded by our neighbor's tree behind us, but we just planted three lilac bushes along the sidewalk in place of some nasty thorn bushes, so it's a start.

There's not much to the east--a lot of shade for some small areas between the house and the driveway--but I put a small herb garden in one spot when we first moved in (I may transplant them to my future English garden--not sure yet), and groundcover near the front corner of the house (vinca in the more shaded areas, Sweet William by the front door).

Like I said, big plans. Eventually...

And your plans? Do tell! :hi:

[lizziegrace]

17. Wow!

You've got a lot of plans and a lot to do. :) Layering might be the way to get around the bad soil in the backyard. You just cover up what's there. Here's more information on lasagna gardening.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1999-04-01/Lasagna-Gardening.aspx

The front of the house I'm renting really needs a front porch. The southern exposure has really damaged the wood window frames, doors and sills. The house is so tall and imposing (11 foot ceilings) that whatever is done has to be big. The front gardens will need to be very large to be noticed. I want to put a bird bath or sundial in the center of a round path (all pea gravel or old brick). Lots of perennials and a few evergreens so the look doesn't completely die off in winter.

I don't own this house and that makes a lot less inclined to make huge changes. I'm doing a few things now for me. I hope someday I can own this old lady, but only time will tell.

:hi:

[MorningGlow]

19. Hey, me too! (11 ft. ceilings)

That's why the house casts such a huge shadow on our small front lawn!
:rofl:

Don't you just love the drama of these old places? Our house was sorely abused for the last 20 years or so, and we're trying to bring it back to even a shadow of its former glory, but it's hard, especially the $$$ part (we have none).

We do have a LOT to do--those plans are only the beginning. At the same time I found a landscaper, I've been working on finding a contractor (it's a tossup between two at this point--must...decide...) because we need to take down an old cinderblock chimney stack at the back of the house (lining's shot and it blocks the view from the upstairs sleeping porch), repair the siding (ugh it has siding), finish putting in a back door, and build steps to said door. And THEN we have 1,001 projects to finish inside. Mr. MG started them but doesn't have the time to finish them. So that's where what little money we have is going.

I love your idea of a birdbath or sundial in the middle of a round path--that sounds exactly like what I want to do with old bricks in the back in the middle of the English garden! GMTA! :hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

30. lasagna gardening is wonderful. we have dense clay soil here, and layering

the bed makes life so much easier.

We make compost too and add that to the beds.

see I knew exactly what you meant

[lizziegrace]

32. Hi!!!

I remember trying to make anything grow in clay. Way too much effort.

I got a plastic trash can (so I can lock the lid with bungee cords) I drilled holes in and all my raw compost from the house goes in there. I have trouble with wild animals getting into the trash. I literally can roll it through the yard. :) Once that is broken down, I add it to the grass clippings and yard debris that I'm composting. Add a windmill and some chickens and I'd be a happy lady. ;)

:hug:

How do you compost? Single pile or multiples? I love this stuff.

[applegrove]

12. What a cute little house and lot.

[lizziegrace]

14. One of the few benefits of a down economy

I can rent a house I could never afford to own.

:)

[applegrove]

16. What is a lasagna garden? Do you grow herbs for lasagna? I use tarragon in

my lasagna. Yummy.

[lizziegrace]

18. It's a gardening method

building the soil from the ground up in layers.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1999-04-01/Lasagna-Gardening.aspx

I started with newspapers, then layered peat moss, dead leaves and grass clippings, manure, topsoil and repeated (minus more newspapers)

The soil at this place is iffy, as it's been farmland or part of the house for hundreds of years. I'm sure there's a lot of pesticides and stuff in the soil that was buried long before there were landfills.

[applegrove]

20. Sounds brilliant.

[lizziegrace]

21. Hippywife posted a link a while ago to that article

:)

[Shine]

13. Wow! Whatta house and whatta cool idea for a garden!

Love it. Love lasagna. :thumbsup:

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[lizziegrace]

15. Thanks stranger!

You've been missed. :hug:

My 165 year old haven. I love this old lady.

[Shine]

24. Not around as much these days.....

but it's nice to be remembered when I pop in once in a while.

Luv ya! :loveya: Take good care, my friend. Enjoy that garden of yours, as I'm sure you will.

:hi:

[lizziegrace]

25. Enjoy your summer

(if you're not in class)

:hug:

[NJCher]

22. at the risk of sounding repetitive

I just wanted to say I love your house. There's something very Andrew Wyeth about it.

But little? I don't think so!

I have south-facing windows and they are wonderful for overwintering plants. I have about 10 impatiens plants and half-a-dozen geraniums that made it through the winter and are now growing outside. Plus they gave me blooms all winter long. :)

I have a suggestion for you, though. After you put your plants in (and I see tomatoes), lay cardboard down around the plants. Pile grass clippings and leaves on top to keep down the woods. Being out in the open like your garden is, the weeds will take over all too easily.


Cher

[lizziegrace]

23. Thank you for the suggestions

:)

The house is 2200sf and is on 4 acres - 3 of which have to be mowed. :wow:

The owner wanted someone who could and would appreciate this house. I'm so honored to be her caretaker.

Wyeth is one of my favorites, btw. :)

[hippywife]

26. Lizzie!

I'm so glad you were able to plant something and that it's inspired you for the coming years. A little at a time does add up before you know it. I do so hope everything is going better for you these days. Things are getting better little by little here so not to worry. :hug:

I absolutely love the house! It reminds me of one my sister used to live in before she moved to Delaware. I love old houses. So much charm, so many memories that must be living in those walls.


This song sung by Nanci Griffith says it all about old houses:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x44bwDKn0sg

If These Old Walls Could Speak

If these old walls
If these old walls could speak
What a tale it had to tell
Hard headed people raising hell
A couple in love living week to week
Rooms full of laughter
If these old walls could speak

If these old halls
If hallowed halls could talk
These would have a tale to tell
The sun going down and dinner bell
And children playing at hide and seek
From floor to rafter
If these old halls could speak

They would tell you that I'm sorry
For being cold and blind and weak
They would tell you that it's only
That I have a stubborn streak
If these old walls could speak

If these old fashioned
Window panes had eyes
I guess they would've seen it all
Each little tear and sigh and footfall
And every dream that we came to seek
Or followed after
If these old walls could speak

They would tell you that I owe you
More than I can ever pay
Here's someone who really loves you
Don't ever go away
Is what these walls would say

If they were not so mean
If these old walls could speak



The song is from her wonderful album Ruby's Torch. An incredibly beautiful album that I only recommend to people who are in a good place in their heads and hearts because it's rather melancholy and makes me cry. I had to give it away because it was so closely associated in my life with the deaths of two friends that came very close together.

Lots of love and tomatoes to you, dear heart. :loveya:

[lizziegrace]

27. Hippywife!!!

:hug:

Nanci Griffith is one of my favorite artists. Thank you for posting the song. :)

I love this old house. I truly love it. I am honored to be her caretaker and am so grateful that I'm now part of her history.

The second planting bed goes in this weekend when Lelapin's home to help. My bad back makes it hard to lift all the bags of materials.

Thank you so much for being there and for your love and kindness. You're a special lady. :pals:

[hippywife]

28. You know what your little garden patch says?

It says that after all you've been through the past couple of years, you haven't lost your spark for life. People who have no hope don't bother with such things. It shows that you still have a positive outlook and the drive to go on.

That makes you pretty darn special in my book. :loveya:

[lizziegrace]

33. Thank you...

:*

I'm always here for you too. :pals:

[hippywife]

35. And it is much appreciated, sweetie.

I finally took pics in our garden and posted them in the Gardening Group this morning. The DH did most of the work this year, just like every year. :rofl:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=246x11505

[lizziegrace]

36. Your gardens look wonderful!

How long did it take to end up with the planting space you have?

Lelapin and I are putting in a second layered garden today after I get the area mowed. The grass is 6 inches high :wow:

And the chickens. I'd love to have some here, but coyotes are a huge problem.

[hippywife]

37. This is our

fourth year, the second with the boxes.

We have coyotes here big time so we let the chickens roam during the day and then lock their coop up when they go to bed. We've lost some before we got that down pat, a couple to raccoons, too.

There are our older girls in their pen before we let them out this morning:

[Ilsa]

29. I have about 20 basil plants that are thriving right next to my tomatoes and parsley.

I'm not growing oregano yet.

Your place is lovely, and I wish good growth for your garden!

[lizziegrace]

31. Ilsa, thank you

an herb garden will go in next year. This year I have some chives and parsley in pots.

I would like to find out which plants are compatible with others so I can use any extra space.

[Ilsa]

34. Research "companion planting" to help with that. My basil

and rosemary (which is having a hard time) assist growing in tomatoes, IIRC. MArigolds are supposed to help protect tomatoes, too.

[Connonym]

38. Your place looks lovely Lizzie

One of these days we have to catch up! You left town in such a hurry and I haven't had a chance to talk to you since you've moved (plus I haven't been around here much so I'm not really sure what you've posted about your goings on). Talk to you soon. Glad to hear that you sound to be doing well :hugs: