7 September 2007
Work in progress
Just in case you were wondering how the Potager Project is coming along, given that we worked very hard at it over the bank holiday, I thought I would finally let the cat out of the bag (or the mice out of the compost, if you prefer) and show you just what we achieved.
Here’s pretty much what we started with:
Looks a mess, doesn’t it? After three days of hard work - rotovating, raking, hammering and banging and building, laying fabric, shovelling slate and stopping for the occasional beer - this is where we are up to now:
A whole lot better, don’t you agree?
I am amazed at how much we got done in such a short space of time, and it is largely thanks to my Dad for valiantly giving up a weekend of watching sport on the telly in order to end up with blistered fingers instead. Left to our own devices, Owen and I would still be knocking pieces of wood together.
Still, there’s much left to do. We’re waiting for the shed to arrive which will need to be put together, painted and set down on flagstones that we are yet to transfer to the right spot (over by the wheelbarrow in that picture - it’s a very small shed, remember). Then, of course, the beds need digging over again and filled with compost which I have yet to order.
And then? Well, then it gets really exciting…
Filed under: Potager project — Clare @ 9:39 am
Hi Clare,
Wow it looks amazing. i am going to have raised beds in my veg garden as the weeds are too much to cope with.
Good Luck with it all.
Sara from farmingfriends
(07.09.07 @ 12:13 pm)
Hi Sara - Thank you. I’m hopeful that the beds will make weeding a manageabletask, but we’ll have to wait and see. I’m pretty sure that I will suffer from weeds growing up between the beds and that these will drive me potty. Plus, we do suffer from encroaching brambles on all sides (including underneath!) so there will still be some battling going on. Good luck with your raised beds!
(07.09.07 @ 12:29 pm)
Wow … really inspiring … I’m planning raised beds this winter … will you keep us updated with your planting plans - and photos next year of bounteous growth!
Great project
Joanna
joannasfood.blogspot.com
(07.09.07 @ 9:25 pm)
Another “Wow!”…it looks f*****g brilliant.
Your fingers will merely be green next year, whilst mine will be green with envy!
Can’t wait to see it planted up.
Best
GM
(08.09.07 @ 2:56 pm)
Cerrikey…
*pauses for breath, staggered*
…that is one hell of a good job. I’m dead envious. That’s a fantastic effort and should repay all the hard work 10-fold. I assume you’ll be doing the ‘no-dig’ gardening with these beds?
(09.09.07 @ 9:20 am)
Joanna, GM & Soilman - Thanks for your comments. It’s good to know that others think it looks good too. A picture of my planting plans will be coming soon and in a couple of weeks we should be having our organic, well-rotted horse manure compost delivered (sometimes it’s good to have no sense of smell) so the beds will look a bit fuller. The intention is definitely to be no dig - who can argue with a system that involves less effort?
(09.09.07 @ 1:26 pm)
It’s amazing how many beds can be fitted in - and the crops will be better than you expect. I’m a convert.
(09.09.07 @ 6:28 pm)
Man I feel lazy
Must
Work
Harder
And
Stop
Playing
On
Second Life!
(10.09.07 @ 8:32 am)
And yet you enjoy it soooo much!
(11.09.07 @ 2:15 pm)