What’s the best thing to do the end of the year? Start a garden! Yesterday, we did just that. I’m new to gardening and have a lot to learn. Luckily, I’m learning from an expert: Dan. Dan and his wife Lori have a lot of experience growing organically in Guanajuato. So we’ll be taking their lead and benefitting from their past failures and successes.
We’re going French Intensive, a biodynamic form of gardening that yields a lot of food in a small space. We began by sifting the soil (lots of worms = good sign!) in order to aerate it. Meanwhile, we mixed in some rich, manured soil donated by Dan’s neighbor. Using aerated soil allows the roots to go straight down, instead of breaking out horizontally. In turn, you can place seeds very close together since their roots head south, avoiding their neighbors to the east and west. Additionally, since there are so many plants, there is not enough room for weeds. So if done correctly, French Intensive yields high produce with very little weeding if any.
It took us most of the day to get in one bed. This is an experiment for all of us. One that we’re all looking forward to!
Bethany, Madre Lourdes & Dan. Madre Lourdes is impressed with the soil sifter.
Erik starts a second garden plot.
