So I guess it is week three. J is back from his trip to Mexico and Mom came for a visit. I started my official vacation on Friday. It started pretty mellow then I was off to get the girls from camp. Before I knew it the day was over and I still have so many boxes to unpack it is crazy. But my goal for my week off was to work outside. Daniel came down to the farm and we all got to work. Mom brought 80 plus tomato plants. We had to clear out part of the sugar beet field.
Daniel recommended just cutting off the tops of the weeds and leaving the roots to rot - which is in line with the permaculture technique - so we first tried the weed eater but it was a bit of a mess. I ended up just using clippers and the had half the field cleared in a jiffy. Daniel and I planted 50 some tomatoes along with some marigolds. I am hoping the marigolds will help keep the white flies at bay...
Our next project was to create a hugelkultur raised bed (http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/). All hands on deck! Mom was pruning the Lilac bushes while Daniel and I cleared the bed. You don't need to dig a hole but I needed some top soil and I didn't want the raised bed super tall.
The first step was to dig out a hole - Dan did a great job with a pick ax.
Mom pruning the Lilacs 
The next step is to add BIG pieces of wood. We found these big logs on our farm.
Then you add brush or twigs - In went the lilac trimmings. The next layer was the compost we had been collecting since moving in (kitchen waste, grass clippings etc) and even a squirrel who met it's maker (thanks to Roxy for bringing us this gift - she didn't kill it)
All the while the bed needed water. Thank you Iz!
On top of the compost we added a layer of aged Horse manure.
More Water
After all those layers it was time to start covering it with top soil.
After all that, we finally got to plant!
Tomatoes and herbs on the top and West side, greens will go on the East.
More water and TA DA! the bed is done!
I included the link to Hugelkultur up top. The basic idea is that the wood logs and scraps will absorb and hold water while it decomposes. The manure and compost will add all the goodies needed to help with decomposition. The quality of the soil is increased while needing less water once established, both of which will help produce higher and better quality yields.
I can't explain how excited I was to finish this project. Eventually this bed will be extended to fill up the rest of this area for my kitchen garden. I have been doing a lot of reading and my goal is to follow Permaculture techniques as I work through our land. I want it to be beautiful and sustainable as well as give us the food we need. This was the first step!
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