The Soil

Bill Burgin tested the soil. He said the pH was 7 (good & neutral).  However, for best tomatoes and potatoes, we should add 1/2 lb sulfur to our 48 square feet (4x12 boxes).  I bought a 5 lb bag of sulfur today and would be glad to share with anyone.

Another option is to only add sulfur where you will be planting tomatoes and potatoes.
-Julie

Progress

Master Gardener Charlotte Purdue gave us this idea.  We used newspaper and cardboard as a weed barrier (that will compost with time) and added mulch between the boxes.

To my box today I added two bags of manure (from the store) and a bag of rice hulls (from the farmers market last fall).  Maybe tomorrow I will be able to add the perlite.

This is my version of a wheel barrow.  :)

Word on the street is: water will be turned on this weekend.

Planting by the Moon

This weekend is supposed to be great for planting, according to planting by the moon.  Check out this page from Green Tree Nursery.

And here's an Arkansas planting calendar by the University of Arkansas Extension Service so that you know what to plant and when.

Progress

I (Julie) have been assigning owners to the garden boxes. And people are already getting busy!

Below, Charlotte's gets the "most work" award.  She's even added a cute sign.  I love it and am inspired.

To her box, she amended the soil with perlite, manure, and maybe compost.  She also added straw, and shredded leaves around her box.  Looks great Charlotte!

Next to Charlotte's box is Bill Burgin.  He's only begun.  Looking forward to seeing some tomatoes there, Bill. (Both Bill and Charlotte are Master Gardeners and I look forward to learning from them.)

Also on the east side Jim and Margaret Ault have reserved a box.  Looks like they tossed some straw on top.

As for the west side...Caroline and I added compost and coffee grounds to our box.  And the bags of leaves at the end of my box?  Well, I opened them and started a compost pile - hoping to keep the weeds at bay at the end of my garden.  I noticed some poison ivy growing nearby ...eek.

Now I just need to get a cute sign to copy Charlotte.

Work Day - Building Boxes

Saturday was a successful day.  Much was accomplished by the work crew, pictured below just after lunch - from left to right: John Majors, Cary Cox, Randy Ripley leaning on Paul Bing, Jim Ault (in white), Charlotte Perdue, Ian Bing, Margaret Ault, and Jason Bone. They worked HARD!!

Below Margaret and Paul smooth dirt in newly constructed boxes (that are 4x12 feet) while Jason and John move move a new box in place.

Below Cary, Charlotte and Jim smooth dirt.

Randy delivered the dirt.

There was even a sighting of a princess in pink.

More dirt from Randy.

Eight boxes were completed on the south/west side of the gardens (nearest the entrance).

Below: side view of eight new garden boxes.  Apartments are on the other side of the creek.

Four boxes were constructed beyond the two existing "C" shaped boxes.  These boxes back up to Coachlight.

Not pictured is the trench dug and pipe laid to bring water to the gardens (thanks Ian and Jim!).

It won't be long until we see veggies growing down here.

FREE Mulch

From this website:


Just in time for spring planting season, Pulaski County is giving away free mulch made from the recent storm debris.

Hours are Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or until all the mulch is gone.

The address to pick up the mulch is 3200 Woodrow Street, just south of Roosevelt Road, at the old Smokey Hollow Building.

County crews will be available with a front end loader on site to load vehicles.

Sneaky Carpenters

Somebody (bodies?) snuck down to the garden and built another box!

I think it must be someone who likes the letter "C".

Claudette Ripley?!  Is it you?