Digging In

After two years of driving from Baltimore, MD to Free Union, VA to tend our garden we are now able to step out our front door and walk to our rows.  We have been settling into the beauty of the mountains since late August and things are getting under way.

Aaron has been busy double digging our Fall beds and we put our truck to work moving loads of organic mushroom compost from the giant pile on the driveway.  After spreading a layer of compost on each bed we added a bit of high Nitrogen Mexican Guano, Greensand, and Rock Phosphate to help build the soil fertility.  Our Friend, Dana, came by to help feed the soil and as you can see in the picture above we have had help from our little Dancing Fairy too.

It has taken a lot of energy to feed each bed, but when you compare the native soil (right row above) to the amended beds (above, left rows) it is all worth it.  The hard work building the soil now will continue to pay off in years to come.

The Fall colors have started to arrive and with the colors have come the emerging seeds.  The most vigorous by far have been the radishes… with lovely names… China Rose, Purple Plum, and Watermelon.

The Spinach is starting to poke out of the earth too.

Golden Beets, Detroit Dark Red Beets, Ruby Red Chard, Seven Top Green Turnips, Kale, Collard Greens, Arugula, Lettuce, and Carrots are soon to follow.