I last posted in July last year. Since then we have moved to Downingtown, Pennsylvania which geographically is not too far from the old barn but worlds apart in terms of gardening conditions. Compared to the barn we are now in a much more urban environment and being more urban it will in some ways be more challenging: less sun, poor dirt, new animal pests, and others I'm sure I'll run into soon enough - not to mention a new dog roaming the back yard.
Our new back yard is modest but more than sufficient to set up a large vegetable garden. It is about 2,500 square feet fenced in yard with a large pine tree in the northeast corner. Other than that there is no landscaping to speak of out back - a blank pallet to build on. The vegetable garden this time around will not be a row in the field away from the house, but instead it will be integrated into the larger landscape design. This larger plan will be executed over the course of a few years, but immediately the focus is getting raised beds in place that can support this summer's garden needs.
In anticipation of the garden last fall I constructed a compost bin made of shipping pallets. I was able to acquire several pallets from work and improvised a crude but effective compost bin. It has a base, three walls, and a hinged door. During this past fall there was plenty of leaves and grass clippings around. I had the foresight to throw together the bin with the hope I'd have some quality compost for the spring. Turns out it didn't cook enough and the winter was too cold. But I have hopes that while it may not be ready for my first plantings it will be for the summer.
More recently I read many website on how to build raised beds and eventually sketched up a plan that fit our space. I went with two 4'x12' beds mad using 2"x12"lumber. As of today I have finished one of the beds and I hope to be able to complete the second and get it in place this weekend. once completed I will post the details on the bed and the steps I took to build it. I hope someone finds it useful.
I also visited the local Penn State Agricultural Cooperative in West Chester to do a proper soil analysis. It was only $9 and after a week's wait today I got the results. The soil where I'm planting superficially looked surprisingly good. Once I go over the results of its chemistry and figure out what I need to do I'll post the details.
Hi Dave! where is the PSAC in WC? did you have to bring your sample in or were you able to mail it?
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-R
They're located on the 3rd floor of the Government Services Center at 601 Westtown Road. You pay them the $9 there and then they give you a sample bag with an envelope to mail it. As far as I know you cannot directly bring in a sample as the lab is located over in State College.
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