[Carol]

Right now we are prepping our fenced in area (to keep the dog, chickens and ducks out) to start a dirt garden. I've been doing a lot of research and these posts are a reflection of what we are currently working on. Being a noted failure when it comes to dirt gardens it seemed some boning up on the subject was required if we ever hope to live off of our own produce.

This past winter the toads got in and ate many of our plants. It took me awhile to figure out it was toads. Then there are the aphids (we are now using a botanical soap spray for some of the leaf insect destroyers and next is slugs (beer seems to work with them). Use two tablespoons of mild NON DEGREASER (LUX) dish soap to a gallon of water. Degreaser soaps like Joy burns the plants. You can also add peppermint oil to the spray water as well as this also helps.

We now laid out the areas we plan to use the lasagna method with cardboard. Next we will build up the sides with 24 inches of wood (two 2 by 12 inch boards) and then start layering. I have seen some amazing gardens using the lasagna method just on top of sod/grass.

Companion planting is also a plus when getting the garden in. Here is some info on that as well.

Companion Planting

• Asparagus/Tomato, Parsley, Basil
• Beans/Herbs, Vegetables
• Cabbage/Aromatic Herbs, Celery, Beets, Onion Family, Chamomile, Spinach, Chard
• Carrots/Peas, Lettuce, Onion, Sage, Tomato
• Celery/ Nasturtium, Onion, Cabbage, Tomato
• Cucumber/ Beans, Peas, Sunflower, Raddish
• Lettuce/ Carrot, Radish, Strawberry, Cucumber
• Onions/Beets, Carrot, Lettuce, Cabbage
• Parsley/Tomato, Asparagus
• Peas/Carrots, Raddish, Turnip, Cumcumber, Beans
• Potato/Beans, Cabbage, Horseraddish, Marigolds
• Raddish/Peas, Nasturtium, Lettuce, Cucumber
• Spinach/Strawberry, Faba Bean
• Tomato/Onion, Marigold, Asparagus, Carrot, Parsley, Cucumber
• Turnip/Pea

Companion planting improves the micro-organisms in the soil.