No-dig bed

After being inspired by the community garden, I set up a no-dig bed - after the very-much-dig-several-times bed with the horse poo I thought it might be an easier method. We have had mostly unsuccessful experiments with this before (potatoes in the front lawn, not great) but now we have more time, no expectation of results, plenty of space and way more patience. So I've gone with another patch in the western paddock, under some maples.

The grass was not happy there, as you can see. I did a layer of cardboard, then a layer of compost, then a layer of horse poo and then gave it a good soaking. 

I will chuck some broad bean seeds on it this week (low expectations, it's quite shady) and then put some dry mulch on it (or wait for the leaves to fall) and see what grows. Spring will probably be planting potatoes in the traditional ground-breaking way, but I'll see how it's travelling. 

It was a damn sight easier than the mattocking, digging, digging again, mulching and weeding of the other bed ... but not as easy as it would have been if the garden hose would reach that far! I seasol'd the compost layer by carrying a watering can fifty metres each time to the tap ... telling myself that I do it for exercise and fresh air so the more carrying of watering cans the better. Hmmmm.

To contrast with someone who actually knows what he is doing, garden guy is building us a new bridge over the creek. It was thirty years old so had lasted quite well. 

I don't think I mentioned but my husband rang the couple who originally laid out the garden about 25 years ago - they retired into it and she was a very keen gardener - they planted so much, set out most of the beds, worked with the old trees and existing beds, planted all the roses ... he was on the phone for about an hour and a half wandering around the garden while she asked questions about where everything was at!!!! Amazing, because they are quite elderly now, but she seemed to remember all the details about plants and trees. Anyway they said that the bridge was done by the people before them, so that was in the 1990s. The uprights are still OK but we're having to replace the joists and treads so it's strong enough to drive the ride-on mower over!!! Nothing could POSSIBLY go wrong...