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Have you ever wondered how to get help on the big projects you want done? Well, in or around our home it means renting heavy equipment and letting my husband play on it. Big boy toys, I guess you would say. His friend owns this pretty little mini excavator and he was more than happy to let Doyle play on it to begin construction on the new Intimidating Row Garden. I happily call it that as I can't imagine how I will keep up with it all when it is done.
After digging up all the field sod growing in this area, Doyle began tilling it. By hand.... well, with a very old tiller he borrowed and never returned to his mom and dad. It is officially dead now that it has tilled this spot. The actual garden turned out to be 91 x 27 feet and I say that is more than enough to weed. I guess we will be buying a new bigger, healthier tiller after the chicken house is constructed. We decided the family that lived here before us and erected the milking barn, must have fed their cows in this space in the winter. There were thousands, and I am not exaggerating, of bale strings that wrapped around the tines of the tiller and had to be burnt off dozens of times during this process. We also unearthed tons of old metal things, and who knows what else in this spot. Sometimes I wonder what people were thinking back in the old days. The dump must have been way too far an old farm truck. Doyle tilled in the nasty old wind we had last week and got all of the area tilled twice. Now the Super Highway pathways and the side road paths can go in. We have that started but then get overwhelmed with the sheer size of this project.
What an awesome project! And what a marvelous canvas for your dreams! Congratulations! Keep us posted. And lucky you to have that manpower at your side!
ReplyDeleteYou'll do just fine. You have so many projects going I don't know how you do it with work and all. I have alot going too but they are little projects not huge ones and I don't work. LOL You must just be a burst of energy!
ReplyDeleteGreat amount of space! We tilled our plot around Christmas and decided to only plant on half of it this year, which we regret. 12 raised beds sounded like more than enough, but as it turns out we are now over-spilling into what we call the 'graveyard' of plants. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI was going to say you are so brave to post about this enormous garden. It will be a struggle to keep up with it all season but can be done. Just pace yourself and stay on the weeds. Don't let them get ahead of you. P.S. I wish I could give you a tiller! I have two and never ever use them, only shovels.
ReplyDeleteThat is really rich looking dirt! I think previous owners of this property buried their garbage and refuse. I have even dug up old pantie hoses.
ReplyDeleteHeather,
ReplyDeleteHumm, I would have just tilled in the grass, maybe I'm just to lazy for an excavator. That soil looks great too! When you get a new tiller stay away from the rear tine kind as they don't till very deep. I use a 5 or 6 hp front tine tiller it works great.
I agree that your dirt looks so rich. I wish you lots of success. Nalley and I used to have a pretty big garden but this year for health reasons, have just a small patch. Even so, it's so much fun to tend and watch it grow and be outdoors to enjoy the fresh air.
ReplyDelete2457 sq ft sounds just about right for growing some Xmas colors - Asparagus and Strawberries. I do love both.
ReplyDeletei agree, that dirt looks very promising. what a project! i'll have to show my hubs so he can be glad he only had that little garden to build here. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's going to turn out perfect! I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, I bet you both sleep well at night after all that work.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking great! It's nice to have your husband able to do so much of the work. I bet you're having fun planning out what you will plant.
ReplyDeleteWow! That looks like its going to be a great garden space. I can't wait to see how it progresses. All my vegetable plants are in pots this year so I will live vicariously through your big row garden.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather~~ Well, now thanks to your great photos we can get an idea of just how HUGE this space is. The soil looks fabulous. I look forward to your next post. :)
ReplyDeleteCan I borrow your husband for a few hours? Be sure he brings his toy. I would love to have my backyard excavated and remove all the tree stumps and roots. How much does he charge per hour? :)
ReplyDeleteYou're going to have a blast planting that area. So much sun and flat land, I hope it grows really well.
And you were worried no one would read your blog?
ReplyDeleteWhaa
You have like 100 followers. I can not believe you and your hubby take on these HUGE projects! It is making the little daisy's I planted this weekend kinda feel inferior!
Seriously- I am very impressed Heather. End of the world coming- I am gathering up all my kids and coming to Idaho. You will have enough food to feed us all!
That is huge! I am so excited for you guys! Be sure to keep us posted this gardening season.
ReplyDelete-Ben
WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be one of the Seven Wonders of Idaho! I predict brisk sales of postcards to those who come to gawk.
ReplyDeleteI second Dirt Princess!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm blown away by the rich color of your dirt! You are really ambitious and I can't wait to see the progress of this garden!
haha my husband loves an excuse to use any new and large tools as well.
ReplyDeletewe live in the city and still turn up amazing things in our backyard.
looks like you have a big garden on your hands! exciting. good luck with getting everything in place.
What a beautiful landscape you have about you. A lovely place to garden. Enjoy! Rachel
ReplyDeleteI love following your adventures! It's great fun to see projects that are so different from our little urban garden bed--24x8.
ReplyDeleteYup, I'd be intimidated by that too! But the raised beds sure do fill up quickly...
ReplyDelete