FINALLY I made a start on the vegetable beds. Fitting out the garage has been such a big task, I have had very little time to plant all the wonderful seedlings that have sprouted in my seed raiser.  Yet today, I made a start, and like each year at mid-spring, I'm very excited.

First I prepared the garden bed by putting down a little charcoal over the base.  My sister has a wood fire, and I thankfully accept any she can spare when I prepare a vegetable bed.

Then I introduced cow manure, of which I now have an abundance of, thanks to my heard of cows, although I won't subject anyone to photos of that :).

From piles of top soil left after the house site was cut, I picked a section that I felt held the richest soil.   Fifteen wheelbarrows of soil later, I had two raised beds filled.

Then I began to transplant the seedlings.  I moved the pumpkins to the edge of the raised beds, this way as they grow out, I can train them to cascade out over the grass.

With a good foundation of fruit and vegetables now planted, I am feeling  more confident of my future food stores.