The Garden…Spring
In our garden, as well as in the pasture, we labor for a regenerative dynamic. This means creative application of the five principles of soil health, elucidated by Gabe Brown in Dirt to Soil – Limit disturbance. Armor the soil. Maintain living roots. Integrate animals. Diversity, diversity, diversity!
New beds are prepped. Old beds amended. Paths re-strawed. Seeds are germinating. Plants are planted out. “Bona Vita!”
“The gardener starts out from here…He accepts contingency, his own and nature’s.”
Michael Pollan
Late Spring…Early Summer
Below, one glimpses experimental ‘chaos’ beds. The results…interesting, though somewhat niggardly in terms of harvest. Next time will be better: understanding through humility. The ‘wild’ chicory is lovely…even when it seeds into carefully amended beds and takes-over. The tomatoes are exciting…even when their harvest is delayed.
Ora et Labora – Pray and Work
Benedictine Motto
Summer
The beneficials were helpful allies. Next season, we will make the garden (and the pastures) even more attractive to them. At maturity, the garden has ‘chambers’ and sections…each with unique personality and challenges. Big enough that the whole family can labor without tripping over the other, small enough that we still share each other’s company.
Castricum Ranch 