Making of the Garden

It is that time again to get all of the 3/4 acre garden going, some of which has already been planted and is producing, however today come with me on a tour of how we have to do things here in the mountains of Western NC.

Here in the mountains we just do not get much rain in the summer ( example, 8 yrs. of total drought, not a drop of rain all summer ) so I have to put in irrigation drip lines to water the things we plant.

I first must use a garden rake to smooth out the tilled up soil in an area of around 16 ft. wide, then use a very sharp hoe to dig a trench around 4" to 6" deep on either side of a 40" wide area, I then roll out a "Lay Flat" drip line down the middle and then roll out the garden plastic ( 5 ft. wide roll ) down the whole row stretching tight the plastic and covering the overhanging plastic in the trenches on either side and packing the dirt down to hold it in place.

I will put in a few photographs below to show the process.

The reason I use the plastic is twofold, one..it keeps down weeds and second..it keeps the soil moist from the watering and helps to keep it from drying out...also I can inject Mirical Grow directly through the drip lines to the plants.

We will start the "Garden Tour" with a photo of Sunrise over the garden in early morning..then progress from there.

As usual you may click on any photo to enlarge for a better view.

 Sunrise over the Garden in early morning

 Just after Sunrise..start of day

 One of our many garden friends..I noticed he had a fealer missing.

 The start of preperation..smoothing out the ground.

 All smoothed out and a 4" to 6" trench dug with a hoe

on either side of the 40" wide row, with drip line layed down the middle.

'

 Rolling out the plastic.

 Covering the plastic on each side and keeping it stretched tight.

Completed Row ( 150 ft. long )