I just want to encourage any newbies here to keep going with those soil amendments. If I remember correctly, my main garden soil was first turned when Mr. Coleman came and plowed ... in spring of 2013, I believe? This broke up the soil and allowed air flow under the soil. This was a large area, bigger than I could manage. The areas that did not get roots in the soil from veggies or cover crops had been mulched with prairie hay most of the time. My hope was that it would care for itself if I sheltered it.

Even after I removed all the hay last summer and raked the grade and allowed the grass to creep back in, it is still amended.

I'm cutting new garden beds in this same area for next spring. I see that my goal has been achieved!! The soil is excellent!! I have been sheet mulching, but I don't think it really needs this much effort. (One cannot have too much organic materials, so it's great.)

With amendments this fall and some cover crops, I will have near-perfect beds next spring. Seed, plant, maintain the soil and go has been the goal without hauling in outside materials.

I couldn't believe how easy it is to dig. It's moist right now which reveals its perfection. The summer's dry clay and silt were misleading. I was thinking it had been reverting to a dead state and that I would need to start all over. Nope.

In the spring, I'll be covering it with wood chips. Now, I'll only need to constantly add organic material and continue to expand.

We befriended some new members of the community who wanted to set up in a quiet little rural place and grow their own food. They're from California. They haven't workable land, yet. I invited the to come over, grab a spade and plant all they need. No need to let all that good soil go to waste!

Life only gets better with a garden! And, here, I only desired food security. ha

bon