Diggin' In - Progress Journal (4/7 - 4/9)
4/7/12. Let the Sunshine In!
We cut down the dead, mossy oak tree today! Our friend, Cam, came to visit for a few days, bringing his 3 chainsaws and loads of land developing experience with him. Absolutely surprising how we were able to fell this rather large tree within the confounds of our little backyard - without any damage! Or injuries!
All morning we worked to cut the limbs off the big tree. Cam climbed up and did the cutting, while Melinda and I either pulled on a rope to bring the limb down a certain direction...or stood in a safe space. Our yard is only about 50' x 50' and the tree managed to perfectly fall within the boundaries of the neighbors fences, and our other trees (1 plum, 2 cherries). We let it fall on our inner-fence as we hoped it would help us to bring that down also!
We cut down the dead, mossy oak tree today! Our friend, Cam, came to visit for a few days, bringing his 3 chainsaws and loads of land developing experience with him. Absolutely surprising how we were able to fell this rather large tree within the confounds of our little backyard - without any damage! Or injuries!
All morning we worked to cut the limbs off the big tree. Cam climbed up and did the cutting, while Melinda and I either pulled on a rope to bring the limb down a certain direction...or stood in a safe space. Our yard is only about 50' x 50' and the tree managed to perfectly fall within the boundaries of the neighbors fences, and our other trees (1 plum, 2 cherries). We let it fall on our inner-fence as we hoped it would help us to bring that down also!
After all the limbs were off and the trunk stood bear, we took a lunch break. Also had to run and get more gas for the chainsaws! Good thing Cam brought 3 because it took the different sizes to chop up the branches and trunk. Plus, Melinda and I got to learn how to use the small chainsaw! That was awesome! We managed to get back to work after our break to breakdown the obstacle course of branches and limbs, chop potential firewood, separate into piles, and rake it all up. Not to mention Cam took down half of the metal and wood fence that used to contain Ivy before the Ivy Pulling work day.
Pulling down the fence really opened up the yard, and will allow us to access the future garden beds from all angles! It feels so much bigger and we can see the house from the yard and vice versa! Additionally, we now have a truly significant amount of sun that shines on the Ivy patch, half of the yard, the back yard porch and our room patio. It's incredible.
To watch the video on this amazing progress, check out this DreemTV Episode:
Pulling down the fence really opened up the yard, and will allow us to access the future garden beds from all angles! It feels so much bigger and we can see the house from the yard and vice versa! Additionally, we now have a truly significant amount of sun that shines on the Ivy patch, half of the yard, the back yard porch and our room patio. It's incredible.
To watch the video on this amazing progress, check out this DreemTV Episode:
Not to mention, I'm sure the neighbors are pleased to open the sky-line up. We have thought to go around and tell the neighbors about DreemGardens, and give them some firewood. This will build the community and maybe the Garden Collective!
In other news, the warm season veggies, specifically the squash, cucumber lemons, and pumpkins are ready to transplant. We are eager to manifest these raised beds. We need tools, wood, and hands.
In other news, the warm season veggies, specifically the squash, cucumber lemons, and pumpkins are ready to transplant. We are eager to manifest these raised beds. We need tools, wood, and hands.
4/8/12. Extra Sunshine
The extra sunshine on the house has been blissful. The "conservatory" (which is an add on to the yard-side of the house), has always been the coldest room in the house, as it was shaded by the oak tree. Now it is "Passively Solar Heated" and is warmer than the living room! The porch is more enjoyable to be on too, as it gets direct sunlight from the morning on. I'll have to do another sun tracking project when the wood poles are cleaned up out of the yard!
We really need to transplant the peas from the cold season round. We're thinking about putting them in "Pug's Garden Box", which is about 18 inches deep and 8 ft long. She made it with plywood and stained the outside. I'm slightly worried about the glue in the wood, as it's known to be able to seep into the dirt, but it has a cloth inside - so maybe that will stop the leaking. Perhaps we'll line it with plastic too. We want to also put it on wheels, to allow it to move around...It'll be heavy with all that dirt in it!
We've also noticed the beets are having a hard time, perhaps because the soil is too clayee. Though the 1 kale and 3 cauliflower that share the same pot, seem to be doing ok. The cabbage in the big green pot looks great - though may need to be transplanted again when the beds are made. We've heard they need more room to fluff out. The arugula, small pot, with 1/2 compost tea and the other not - looks like the tea side is more robust. The lettuce that is still in the strawberry and water container look like they're not wanting to grow more. Probably not deep enough.
Basically, we need to really transplant into the perminany, deeper homes. Raised beds!! We're in a limbo with the raised beds, not having the money to purchase the wood or tools...but really needing it. The herb trimmings seem to be taking root, even though we put them right into the soil, not leaving them in the mix (for a month) as the directions said.
4/9/12. Hot Conservatory!
The conservatory was so hot from the passive solar heating...we had to open windows to ventilate! Wow! We may have to consider a shading vegetation - perhaps a living roof on the room-patio. I wonder if small raised bed gardens would do the trick - warm soil!
The extra sunshine on the house has been blissful. The "conservatory" (which is an add on to the yard-side of the house), has always been the coldest room in the house, as it was shaded by the oak tree. Now it is "Passively Solar Heated" and is warmer than the living room! The porch is more enjoyable to be on too, as it gets direct sunlight from the morning on. I'll have to do another sun tracking project when the wood poles are cleaned up out of the yard!
We really need to transplant the peas from the cold season round. We're thinking about putting them in "Pug's Garden Box", which is about 18 inches deep and 8 ft long. She made it with plywood and stained the outside. I'm slightly worried about the glue in the wood, as it's known to be able to seep into the dirt, but it has a cloth inside - so maybe that will stop the leaking. Perhaps we'll line it with plastic too. We want to also put it on wheels, to allow it to move around...It'll be heavy with all that dirt in it!
We've also noticed the beets are having a hard time, perhaps because the soil is too clayee. Though the 1 kale and 3 cauliflower that share the same pot, seem to be doing ok. The cabbage in the big green pot looks great - though may need to be transplanted again when the beds are made. We've heard they need more room to fluff out. The arugula, small pot, with 1/2 compost tea and the other not - looks like the tea side is more robust. The lettuce that is still in the strawberry and water container look like they're not wanting to grow more. Probably not deep enough.
Basically, we need to really transplant into the perminany, deeper homes. Raised beds!! We're in a limbo with the raised beds, not having the money to purchase the wood or tools...but really needing it. The herb trimmings seem to be taking root, even though we put them right into the soil, not leaving them in the mix (for a month) as the directions said.
4/9/12. Hot Conservatory!
The conservatory was so hot from the passive solar heating...we had to open windows to ventilate! Wow! We may have to consider a shading vegetation - perhaps a living roof on the room-patio. I wonder if small raised bed gardens would do the trick - warm soil!
Labels: ~Dani, Diggin' In
posted by D.r.e.e.m. Reality @ 4:26 PM
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