Green manure - beds in progress

So, about a 2 weeks ago I began digging in the green manure. Let me show you my progress.

From this angle it looks like one big bed but it is actually two beds and for some dedication to symmetry reason I'm digging along each bed at the same rate. It kind of helps me set goals. I work in the morning before school/work for about 1hour max. I have the chooks to look after and then assuming it's not a watering day, I get to do some digging, weeding, or harvesting. Digging has been my focus. This year I decided to dig that green manure in. I know, I know it's late, late, late - this is the theme.

You'll also notice my digging board over on the second bed. I stand on this and it distributes my weight across the bed and then I dig from the front, long horizontal edge and throw the dirt forward onto the pile in front. For those of you familiar with his work it is a John Jeavons technique. I try not to be too disruptive to the worms and microbial life and I know digging has some fans, some enemies. Peter Cundall is a digger. I'm an in-between. Sometimes I do, sometimes I dont. These beds were a little bit compacted after having the chook house on them. Chooks don't weigh much but we stomped around on the dirt, feeding them, moving things around, that kind of thing for over six months. I think the soil will benefit from digging in the organic matter and lifting the dirt and adding air to the mix.

From this angle you are looking over the green manure back at the diggings. In the far distance you can see the new neighbours' chook shed, part of the old neighbour's chook shed, a small "bus shelter" type structure, and the orchard behind it. And of course our chook shed!

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