Our major innovation this year was the addition of cattle-panel arches over the tops of our raised beds! Never seen it before, and it was the brainchild of Valhalla founder, Chris, who suggested that it would be an effective way to prevent the chickens and turkeys from tearing up the beds as well as allowing the sheep to graze throughout the garden and keep them out of the plantings. Sure cuts down on the need to mow the pathways, and Valhalla's chief mowers -- the sheep -- just love it.
The concept worked better than originally envisioned. The arches not only kept the unwanted critters out but also – as a big unexpected surprise – provided structural support for the taller plants. The best
example: this season our asparagus, typically bent and sagging by midsummer, looks like the garden honor guard standing straight and tall because the individual plants extended upward far enough so that the arch strengthens them. One obviously wouldn’t bother to stake each flowering asparagus stalk into an upright position, yet the arches have accomplished what nature and labor alone could never do: the supported asparagus are now showering their seeds farther than ever before, while sunlight can more easily reach the strawberry plants below them. Will next spring’s asparagus and strawberry crops improve yields as a result? That remains to be seen, although we’re willing to bet that both perennials will benefit from the innovation.
When the sun begins to pound down in midsummer, which the sweet potatoes and okra live for, it takes only a matter of a few minutes to spread a shade cloth over the tomato beds that would suffer from the excess heat.
This fall, we expect to be able to place a plastic sheet over the arches to retain heat and act as season extenders. By experimenting we may be able to fashion a good bed for cool weather greens and push the season out on both ends.
This fall, we expect to be able to place a plastic sheet over the arches to retain heat and act as season extenders. By experimenting we may be able to fashion a good bed for cool weather greens and push the season out on both ends.
Our other big change this season was piling on heavy mulch around all our plants. Previously we’d been challenged by weeds, especially grasses, swallowing up the beds and making a lot of maintenance necessary as well as challenging our plants – and usually winning.
Not only have the weeds been largely stifled, but those that punch through are generally easier to pull out since the ground beneath the heavy mulch layer is very moist and doesn’t hold the roots as tightly. Water is retained more efficiently giving us less reason to irrigate and the soil is considerably healthier than if we allowed it to dry and harden as it has in the past. Our heavy clay soil holds moisture well if protected from direct sun, but if allowed to dry turns to concrete, even in the raised beds.
One of the major revelations for veteran participants here who are new to gardening is that they quickly realize that productive gardens take time to build and produce. Despite some marketing claims to “instant gardens that will keep you alive in emergencies,” a productive garden takes time, effort, and knowledge to bloom and grow. While there are some shortcuts available, the fact remains that vegetables produce better yields when a garden is properly constructed, tended, and maintained.
If you’re a post-9/11 combat veteran who might like to participate at Valhalla, we’re easy to contact. If you care for a special vet or for our veterans in general, then you can help put them on a real, proven road to successful transition.
We can’t do this alone. Please donate what you can to Valhalla and be part of our continued mission to help veterans grow and transition to civilian life successfully. When you contribute to Valhalla Project you know that all donations go directly into our programs.
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Great garden ideas... I would have to add a finer mesh to the panels as squirrels are the bane of my gardening and bird feeding efforts this year :( They have stripped my apple trees already and are now concentrating on my tomatoes :(
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