workshop

Martin has started putting his workshop together. Some of the insulation is done and he is currently building lofts to store lumber, tools, materials, etc. etc.

coconut coir

 My sister-in-law gave me three packages of coconut coir bricks.

I had never used them before, but had heard of them and was considering trying them.

Since the soil at an tigin is so sandy (read here - sand not soil) that I need to do some serious soil amendment to get the plants I want to grow. 

We have started hauling manure.

I added peat moss to the hedgerow.

 But with the pines and oaks surrounding an tigin, I am worried about the acidity of the soil and peat moss is acidic. 

Anyway, the rain barrels were full to overflowing and the coconut coir is supposed to soak in ten gallons of water. We just opened up the packages and put one and a half in each of the overflow rain barrels.

Instant swamp!

I am looking forward to adding them to the front yard, the area that I am prepping for a perennial flower bed.

If you have any words of wisdom for soil amendment, I would be thrilled to hear from you.

septic tank

 Martin spread the sand and what passes for topsoil over the septic tank. Eventually, we will do the same over the leach field. Then we will add a bit of soil amendment (anything is better than what we have), spread grass seed, and hope for the best.