anyone doing any gardening?

[onethatcares]

10. i used a layer of

cardboard sheets under the initial layer of wood chips.. In areas where I put raised beds I removed the wood chips, put the cardboard down, both sheet and shredded (really whatever I had on hand. ) it takes about 3 months for the cardboard to become a part of the soil. In the raised beds I put a layer of cardboard, a layer of cheap topsoil, then a layer of straw or hay, then a layer of greens, (grass clippings, plants I ran over with the lawnmower and coffee grounds.) I finished with a 2 inch layer of cheap topsoil from the box stores, I buy broken bags to save money. I mix perlite in the topsoil to help aeration, then I planted and put wood chips over the beds about 2 inches thick. I did not plant directly into wood chips due to nitrogen being used while they break down. My walkways are wood chips, about 6 - 12 inches deep in places. I needed to go that thick due to above ground tree roots that I constantly tripped over. They(the chips) have settled to about 3 to 8 inches after 4 months and some good rain.

I used the internet to search, research, read, re again, search some more and just started experimenting. I want to go as far organic as I possibly can, this is my first year and the only pesticide I am using is diatemacious earth powder. The only fertilizer I'm using is composted horse manure and compost. I do pick tomato hornworms off my plants by hand. Have not had a big problem with them yet but my fingers are crossed. I'm semi retired so work doesn't interfere with my hobby.

Lasagna gardening was my first find. Food forests were my second. I'm just working on growing things without hassle. Reading about food forests I ran across a guy in New Jersey that said, "It's not easy, but it's simple".. I find that to be a fact

The pineapples were easy. Cut the tops off, put in dirt (originally 10 inch clay pots), let them root, and wait. 2nd year is the charm and there are no sweeter pineapples than the ones you take from the stalk to the table. Mmmmmmmmm.

Basically my entire side yard is a compost pile approx 30 ft wide x 60 ft long with a depth of 8 inches. I wouldn't trade it for all the grass in the world.