Big Step

Yesterday, after lots of effort, lifting, sifting, and digging, we wrapped up the retaining wall project. The long side of this wall is nearly 40' from the stairs in the background to the leading edge near the camera.

We've filled behind the wall with over 60 wheelbarrow loads of "Roger's Magic Dirt" mixed with a modest amount of what passes for topsoil on our property. As I wrote in an earlier post, Angel & I sifted all the dirt behind the wall and let the rocks fall against the bottom part of the wall to improve drainage. The remaining soil is sandy and powdery with tiny pebbles. Mixed in with the Magic Dirt, we're hoping/expecting that the local soil will provide trace minerals.

You can see several plants that Angel put in place after I finished the small section of wall that moves off to the right. Once these grow and fill in, this ought to look pretty good. This part of the yard is very visible from the street and it is intended to provide a welcoming transition between indoors and outdoors.

Eventually, we're planning to put a poured retaining wall basically at right angles to the long edge of this one. When that happens, I'll remove the small bit and curve the long wall around to meet the poured wall. The poured wall will give us enough space along the south edge of our property to allow a small truck to drive to the east section. Having truck access opens up huge possibilities, including a greatly expanded vegetable garden and rain catchment.

There is one problem with this plan, namely the fencing. Much of the property around here is developed but not fenced. Oh, some of the properties have fences – some nicely done; others more funky, but the town has lots of unfenced properties. Several of our neighbors walk across our property to reach a nature trail at the eastern boundary of our lot, and we do not want to fence them out at all.

The deer, raccoons, coyotes, and so on are quite another matter. Deer decimate the gardens. Raccoons and coyotes do the same to chickens, rabbits, and house cats. If we go to the trouble of building a high intensity, small-scale urban ag system, we're going to need to keep the local critters from wiping it out. We'll revisit this as the story unfolds and we learn more.

After all the recent lifting and shoveling, it would be good today if I were to give my body some rest. The Amigo's knees and lower back feel a bit abused. On the other hand, there is so much to do... and it is so very satisfying to see the results of one's efforts.

Maybe one more cup of tea...