Garden morning amending the earth

Many people ask me how to start their gardens.

Who needs a gym?!

Last year this was the process that began my garden extension

I recessed the main beds and transferring it to the raised bed stamping out the clumps...a water bath was used to try to soften the soil.

The North bed was salted with the amendments once the level was reached.
The compost added it will just take a bit of effort to keep breaking it up so it can get seeded.

It is looking much better.
The cucumber will get trained up the trellis and so they can be watched out the kitchen window.

Now with great interpretation I began the rigorous task of shifting the South extension bed into the center extension and to a pile out of the way.
The gecko population was awesome and the bellies were fat on all the lizards by the end of the time. The crickets and such were good feed for them all. I just love lots of lizards in my garden.

Use whatever motivation you can get!

water softened the earth as I gave it a gentle spray.

Now I considered a few more scoops of stone out of here but found myself compelled to set that South bed.

As I looked out on the yard with eyes of vision and hope it helped me not to feel too over loaded with duty.

So began I the task.
It was a challenge but I think I must be pretty stubborn
:)

The earth is being salted with these things so far.
click to image enlarge

By then I thought my elbows are going to fall off.

My husband had a brain storm and told me the way to reset the block to make it a finished edge. So I turned all of the ones that I could and got a bit to sore of the joint to do much more of it.

After water and chopping at the beds it is improving
I have only two more weeks here to get these seeds in the earth

Water harvesting first use! YA!

According to this the weather issues would of been avoided had I one of these little book. It tells better of when to plant here and even includes the moon phases.
A lot of work was done by me to study the phase of the moon for gardening. From now on I think that this will become a yearly tool.

close up of the Assembly for the tank spicket.
He set this up facing the ground as to keep me from being struck in my leg as I walk by it.

The bib is now set on the main tank
tip here a bit of Vaseline helped to cinch the parts no leak at the valve YA!!

I left the slow trickle for 5-7 minutes here.

start point
After 5-7 minutes and just the one set of squash the tank came down to the 200 liter mark.
After watering the pumpkin and the spaghetti squash.

So it looks like 150 liters is the usage for the things growing now..

It is so wonderful not to have to drag the hose around!

Over at the main bib we set up a 4 point bib (found it in the garden clearance $6.)and it will be wonderful!

The main hose will stay over on the harvesting tank

A new 50 ft. hose (got it for $7 ya! on clearance) will be used for the dogs water.
One for the compost, one for the hens and the other left open to keep for direct use.

Rainwater Harvesting

this post will be added to as the process continues

Drought-Stricken Texas Pushes Conservation

Tackle it Tuesday

Welcome friends to Bee Bliss Gardens
well after this encouraging meal...

I told my husband all about the fall garden plans that it is coming upon us to plant in two weeks some of the first crop
We stepped outside donned with our t shirts and work shoes.

Well we stepped out to this!
It was gorgeous!

My darling mowed and edged the extension while I raked the back four foot section of our existing plot to be ready to turn and amend.

He removed the straw bails over to the compost area and then the big pot out of the garden. Poor guy lost a dolly wheel in process that pot was just to much for the tired tire. I pulled the last of the squash and then raked out the bean patch of last season. Here it is July 15th and Aug 1 st that the planting begins. So I sow. Or at least get ready too.

just look at that sky!

Te cube to the right is the grape vine planter it will be mirrored to the north and the trellis will straddle the entry. I though to grow vines of nasturtiom (sp) to flower over the block and obscure it. It also will be a compainion plant.

These are those block we got for FREE!

We set out the layout to see what we had. Some alterations to the left bed...four foot is just too deep. So we gave the south bed another foot and backed the east bed up a foot. I need to kill the grass. You can see that I did this before but after careful consideration realized mowing would be a hassle and a lot of extra labor.

We have a few more block yet to move but the children needed tending and the lightning was coming closer so more another day...

It was also getting dark and out guest chose to go home so we drove her to her mom. It was a nice play date not even on eruption.

New and revised the planting dates for Phoenix is different than most all other places so note the date marks by
Clicking on the image to enlarge.
I will add more detail as I go along.

Next up need to call on some horse dung for the beds and get some top soil for the mix. Then the compost and amendments according to the Nitrogen content desired. Time to make earth :) The elements will be concocted like a good soup.

My seed list will be consulted and the list to shop for will be made up.

Time to get ready for the rains are coming
I was able to fine a detailed mock up of the water tank hook up.

Summer ....time for garden planing for fall

The beans are winding down
116*

Squash are amazingly alive!
unheard of
these the squash that grew by itself
One more on the vine

:)

The arbor is white in the far back ground
His folks gave it to us.
6' tall and 8' span grapes in the fall.
We have the block now
We still need a few more large block for the water tank
for free

Today we were fortunate to find all of this steel fencing for only
$20.

there is enough to do the job
we will just need a gate

this is just what I dreamed of
We looked at this fencing last fall it was at least $50. a section!

words later gotta run for now!!!!!