The first shovel full

So we have officially broken ground for 2011. Props to my son Austin who started digging in the garden today, I simply went out to help and as things usually go in my world the project began. So we implemented phase one of "permaculture on a postage stamp", my catch phrase for the primary goal this year. Phase one was the prep and extention of bed one to a contiguous beds 1 bed 4. The soil was nice and loose still from last year, I turned the weeds and dead plants from the prior planting season and then executed plan "compost/weedkill" or in more specifically newspaper composting.

Here is a picture (not mine) of newpaper composting: but it looks exactly like what now resides in my backyard, so I am patting myself on the back for having a halfway logical thought:)

So I plan to get to the bed 2 and 3 section this week, but there is a significant amount of cleanup to do from the "tomato" jungle and the mess of rope that attempted to support it. Once I get that sorted out and in the macro compost bin I can lay down the paper for the rest of this year's foot print. I also need to reconsider my original concept for my corn placement since I noticed while standing in my yard (as opposed to in my head) that it would have been under the spread of our tree. So that will not work.

Here is what we did last year, the bed will merege to a contiguous garden: Bed 1 (the closest) and three are completed and two is under the tarp. These will all merger into one L shape.

So all in all not a bad day, good prospects that the kids will actually help me this year...YAY and IO am excited at the composting that has begun directly in my yard..so eat well wormies eat well.