On Saturday we helped Rosie and Macks get a good start in their backyard garden. We prepared late into the night before, putting finishing touches on the vertical gardens and mixing soil. When we made our morning delivery of compost and mulch, Rosie was ready with coffee and pastries. Yeah! All throughout the day we worked together, DIY style, planting, mulching and designing a garden that will have room to grow in the future. This is why we do what we do.
Saturday was a windy day, which was perfect in a way, because we wanted to know how the vertical pallet gardens would respond to heavy gusts, as they were hanging approximately three feet down off the eves of the garage roof. It worked well. The pallets were heavy enough to withstand the wind, and they added the extra color Rosie wanted in front of the open wall. Later, Audra and Rosie placed a variety of herbs, flowers and edibles in the grow boxes. We accomplished what we set out to do, and we were all happy with the installation.
Macks built a raised bed (complete with wire gopher proofing) and we filled with a layer of rough compost, and then top amended with a custom mix of Venture Cooperative compost, worm castings and coco mulch. In that mix we planted heirloom tomatoes, eggplant, kale, and zucchini, and then watered with compost tea.
We also mulched the border gardens and garden work area, outlining sections with locally sourced rocks, making a the garden come alive in the moment. Already new ideas about what to do next were being dreamed up.
Not only did we begin a beautiful new backyard garden with Rosie and Macks, more importantly, we began a new friendship. We're looking forward to working with them again soon and taking it to the next level. Until then, Keep Growing!
