Got Dirt!

Yes! Delivered yesterday!

I now have a nice big pile of rich looking dirt! As it dumped out of the truck, it didn’t appear to have much rock mixed with the soil. This was/is a nice surprise knowing what the ground looks like around here!

I didn’t make it out to pick up the decomposed horse manure that I mentioned last time. That’s okay. I’ll use the readily available cow poop from our pasture! If I get super energetic, a neighbor invited me to get poop from Max the Horse!

With the predicted incoming rain over the next couple of days (we’ve received 1.4" so far today!), we covered the mound of dirt with a tarp. It will be a while before I can really start spreading it all out. That’s okay. We need the rain. Hopefully, in between downpours, I can get the newspapers and cardboard put in place. I truly believe/support the “no-dig” method of gardening! It worked wonderfully last year!

By the way, I’ve got “green” growing in the milk/water jugs from my winter sowing! All but 3 (the tomato seeds) have sprouted so far! Maybe by the time this rain spell is over all will be showing signs of life!
       
I even “sowed” an avocado pit yesterday - just to see what happens! It’s never worked for me before with the toothpick & water method. Of course, it hasn't yet sprouted!

Goodness... pulling weeds for the chickens is very easy this morning!

Seeds are Coming!

Imagine my excitement when I read about sowing seeds in the fall for spring blooms! I knew about planting bulbs in the fall like tulips and daffodils, but not seeds! I’m beyond thrilled!

Just one of the articles I read was found on The Herb Cottage website. Since I successfully grew Cotton from seed, I thought, Why not! 

Saturday I got back to the herb garden, out in the area I call the “West Yard Project” that went by the wayside. I decided the later part of January I needed something closer, just outside the house. That’s when/where the vegetable garden developed in the front yard.

But it’s never been forgotten.

My heart soared with the thought of flowers and wildflowers mixed with herbs in the garden. Albeit a garden far away from the house. That’s okay. Once the dead rosemary is cut away, I will be able to see it from the house.

I ordered these seeds from Botanical Interest. Seeds are coming! Any day!

Blue and Breezy Flax Seeds
Bring Home the Butterflies Flower Mix Seeds
Lavender Hyssop Seeds
Pixie Delight Lupine Seeds
American Legion Corn Poppy Seeds
Black-Eyed Susan Seeds

I'm trying to decide to sow the seeds types separately, or mix all together and see what happens! From the photos I've seen I like both looks. Like the old English Garden style.

Because I need to build the soil in the veggie garden I also bought some Common Buckwheat Cover Crop Seeds! The write up about it peaked my interest:

Buckwheat has been used for centuries to improve soil health and smother common weeds. It grows better than most cover crops in poor soils and is better at retrieving phosphorus, a macro-nutrient that contributes to later crops' root, flower, and fruit growth. Buckwheat not only grows quickly, it also breaks down quickly in the soil, allowing for planting in the same area just 3 to 4 weeks after incorporating it into the soil. It can also be used as mulch on the soil surface. If allowed, white flowers will form about 35 days after sowing and are loved by beneficial insects and even make pretty filler in bouquets! Turn buckwheat into soil before seeds begin forming. Because buckwheat is cold sensitive, it is grown spring to fall frost, except in mild climates that may be warm enough to grow into fall and possibly winter.

Seeds are wonderful hope for the future.

Pray for rain!