First Look at the new Homestead Garden

The Frugal Gardener's Homestead
First Look at The Slope

My first and primary garden will be on the top level of the homestead. For obvious reasons we refer to it as the slope. It was always me first choice because of it's size and the fact that it gets full sun. The slope measures about 40 X 100 feet.

The soil is horrible although it does have a decent amount of nutrients. it's clay composition makes it feel like concrete. Best case scenario is that I am able to till it add compost, a few nutrients and start planting. Worse case is that I bring in a truckload of soil, plant on top of the clay soil and slowly break up the clay beneath it.

Early stages of preparing this area for peas, pole and bush beans Soil from my old pots along with straw, grass clippings, and top soil have been added so far. I will layer more then add wood chips around the edges for fill before adding compost, peat moss and additional nutrients.

The top of the slope Checkout the soil

The layout will be 5 feet by 40 feet beds facing south. The walkways will be determined by how much space is left over. So far I have decided to grow carrots, and collard greens on the top of the slope garden. I have already began prepping the bottom for growing peas, bush and pole beans. Because we have so many deer I will intercrop with garlic, onions, sage and lavender.

I will write what else I will be planting this summer in another blog and in videos

Water is another issue that I needs to be addressed. We am very aware of the fact that way more water on the homestead than I did at my home garden.

Last winter when most people were not thinking about gardening I purchased THREE of these 170 gallon troughs for less than three hundred dollars. These troughs will be positioned at the top of the primary garden. The intent is to gravity feed the garden via drip hoses when there is no rain.

You may have noticed a theme in my recent gardening. Whenever I can I use materials like grass clippings, peat moss, wood ash, straw, wood chips and coco coir. These items along with my two shade clothes will help keep moisture in the soil so that I can use less water.

If you missed the premiere of our new homestead you can watch the video here.

The Frugal Garden: NEW HOMESTEAD REVEAL