The smell of a good crop

What does 20 bags of manure smell like? Like 20 bags of horse poo. ;) But it also smells like completely full beds that I will probably never have to fill again. I didn't take pics of it yet, I probably will today and then put them online. Its supposed to be in the 70's this week, so that's good to warm the ground up (since the manure is black) and warmer ground is better in the spring.

The plants in the grow house are coming along slowly since it has been so cold until recently. The sunflowers have popped up, and so have the pumpkins, also the cat grass went nuts, and of course the cats ignore it. Still quiet on the tomatoes and peppers, but they don't germinate until the soil hits 70 or so.

I have a bag of seed potatoes, but they don't have any eyes yet, as soon as those come up, they go in the ground. They aren't going in the bags but rather will be planting in rows to see if I can get them in larger quantities. Also, they are red potatoes which seem to do better in my soil than russet potatoes. Keeping my fingers crossed on them.

I need to order my bird poo and then that's pretty much it. I may get another compost tumbler and leave it next to the main bed, simply because its easier there for garden waste. I have to get creative with the water barrels since the termites have come back and the bug guys tell me to get all sources of water as far away from the house as possible. Maybe some underground hoses I'm not sure yet.  Sunflowers and pumpkins should go in the ground on the 20th.

Pics soon!

I made my bed, wish I could sleep in it

The beds are prepped, except for some more dirt and manure that I have to spread out over the main bed, but that's the easy part. I spent 4 hours on saturday tilling the bed by hand. Yes, I know I said I would use no-till, but the crabgrass was taking over the entire patch. And these roots were big, one was at least 2 meters long. I'm not joking. I am so sore it takes me 1/2 an hour just to get out of bed, and I find myself fighting to stay awake the next day. I didn't take pictures, I'll do it once everything gets planted in a few weeks.

The patio grow house is set up and ready with the new seedlings already planted. Its so cold this spring as compared to last that I am really worried that they won't make it, or at the very least wont germinate for a while. By this time last year it had already hit 80, today it was snowing. The 'onion snow' apparently, as it happens after the onions have been planted. I still do not have my seed potatoes, I will go to whole foods tonight and get some.

More to come.