I am tilling two areas today, one area where I had bunch of fresh dirt placed. And the other being the upcoming garlic field. The first area I am planning on putting some Elderberry bushes in place, so getting the dirt ready for their roots is important. The garlic field has more time to get ready, I plan on tilling it many more times. I think I am on tilling number 5 now.. lost track..lol Gonna try to till it at least a dozen times before its time to plant garlic.
In the late summer, early fall we will be putting garlic in the ground and then await their growth the following year.
The area for the Elderberries is special. There was a large ditch that I had dirt added to, so its very loose right now. Honestly I was worried the tractor may get stuck but it did not luckily. From what I have read the Elderberry plants are deer resistant, so I have no plans of fencing them in. Curious about how the Elderberries taste, I need to cook them first before they are edible but that is about all I know about them.
Soon I will put them in the ground and watch them grow.
This loose dirt will let the roots grow through easily. But just as good measure I am tilling up the ground as well.
I have been pouring wood chips, and wood ash over the area I will be tilling. So I hope it will be good to condition the soil with.
Trying out my new ripstop shirt, I have noticed my plain cotton shirts are getting torn to shreds when I go through the woods. So I got myself some shirts with special stitching to protect from sharp branches. So far its comfortable but have not used it for wood collection just yet.
I can tell the field is changing, when it snowed I dipped one tire in with my UTV and nearly got stuck. So it is getting quite loamy.
So we are about half way to where I want to be with these fields. I usually till, and then wait for rains to work the soil down. And then till again once they dry up and repeat. Curious to see how well the garlic does from all of this, hoping well. But time will tell for sure.
