SOIL!!!!

WE HAVE SOIL!!! (Finally!) Today, Suzanne, Suzanne's partner, Crystal, my mom, and I filled the beds! We went to Skillins and bought one cubic yard of soil. Half compost and half loam. A family friend lent us their truck so we could buy it in bulk. It's cheaper. Skillins was really helpful and the people were nice.

This morning I woke to a loud rumble coming from somewhere outside. I then realized that it was the first load of soil. My mom, Suzanne, and Crystal when to pick up the first load so I could sleep in. But then I had to go out and unload it! So unfair! When we finished with the first half, Suzanne and I got back in the truck and headed back to Skillins.

We got the second half, the compost, all unloaded on a tarp. I still had to finish my bed, so I did that while Suzanne and Crystal when to buy some soil of their own. While i had a power tool in my hand, my mom was hammering plastic to the sides of the beds. We have to put plastic on the bottom so nothing that could carry lead into the beds. My job was better!

The truck, along with the two women in to returned. Time to fill the beds! I don't think I've mentioned this, but the other bed is going to be for Suzanne and Crystal to plant in. Well, we filled both of the beds to the top with about a 50-50 mix of compost and loam. When they left, and after I had gone inside and read a bit of my book, my mom and I went back out side to water the beds. She read somewhere that you should water the soil and then let it settle over night. Then add more.

The loam cost $47 for one cubic yard. It's the same with the compost. Since we got one cubic yard total, half and half, all of the soil cost $47. If I was only doing one raised bed it would have cost half as much. So all together so far, building and filling one 4'x5' raised bed has cost about $55. This does not include the cost of seeds. So much cheaper and MUCH more fun than buying a raised bed making kit!

Raised Beds

Finally!! The raised beds have been started! For each bed (we built two beds yesterday) we used eight pieces of wood. Two four feet 2x4's, two five feet 2x4's, two four feet 2x6's, and two five feet 2x6's. We got all of this times two plus the clear plastic we will put underneath for only $44. So much less money than if we had bought the beds already made.

First, we nailed together the four feet 2x6's so they made a 5 foot by 4 foot rectangle. We finished that and then braced the corners with metal things. (I'm not really sure what they're called.) Once that was done we built the top part. The top was made of four feet 2x4's. The top and bottom were connected with more metal. I'm pretty sure they were called hangers. Those were just screwed into place. We were done!

We did all of this in the rain yesterday. Only one raised bed was fully finished, but the second one we left to finish when I return from Boston. All of this cost about $64. Keep in mind that that is the price for building two raised beds. If we had bought raised beds, EACH of the beds cost about $100. We saved a lot of money!

When we return from Boston, we are going to get the soil. Then PLANT!!!

Planting!!

Finally I have planted some of my seeds! On Saturday, I went to my mentor's house and we planted seeds. I planted both lettuces, kale, tomatoes, and basil. On Monday morning, I woke up and looked at my plants. I had two sprouts! Even though they were very tiny, they were still there! I was so excited! Right now as I write this I have about six tiny sprouts. Most of them are lettuce. So far, none of the basil or the tomatoes have sprouted. I think they will soon!

Three other little girls planted seeds on Saturday. My mentor's two daughters and one of their friends. I wonder if any of their plants have popped through their blanket of soil. It's good to see younger children interested in organic gardening!

Dirt or Soil?

Today I met with our friend Suzanne who is helping me build my raised beds. We were discussing what we were going to do about the soil, but every time I would say "soil", she said "dirt". Every time she said "dirt", I corrected her and told her to call it SOIL. It took her awhile, but she finally got it. I explained to her the difference that I learned about "dirt" and "soil".

Soil~ the material you use to plant plants in. Best when there is a lot of organic material in it.

Dirt~ material that doesn't belong there. ex. Belly button lint and dust are both dirt. You do not plant plants in belly button lint or dust.

This distinction I learned from my 6th and 7th grade science teacher. Suzanne and I finally ended our disagreement about what the definition of dirt is by looking it up in my Webster's Dictionary. If you don't believe me, look it up!

On another note, we picked dates to have all the "supplies", wood, brackets, screws, and anything else you need to actually build raised beds. Also, the dates we plan on planting. Now we just have to meet those deadlines! I'm sooo ready for Spring!