2011 Spring DIG

This February and March I’m volunteering to double-dig (or sheet mulch) new food gardens for anyone in Central Austin who’d like one. Why? Because I want to inspire people to restore the soil and grow some of their own food. I believe it’s one of the most powerful actions we can take to help heal the planet. I’m happy to dig for new or experienced gardeners, and I’ll set you up with all the info you need to keep going on your own. You provide the materials; the labor and consultation are free.

If you’re interested, sign up! Email me with your contact info and I’ll get you on the calendar. Please forward this to friends!

“People feel that they're not important.
They've been made to feel that they don't count,
when in fact they're the only thing that counts.”

~ Jim Hightower

What is double-digging?
http://www.communitycrops.org/doubledig

Double-digging is a way to quickly restore depleted soil by digging in compost. It fluffs up the soil, adds nutrients and oxygen, and allows water to seep down to encourage deep roots. It restores even the crummiest soil. Best of all, once you double-dig, it’s done – you can simply add compost now and then from there.

What is sheet mulching?
http://garden2table.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-sheet-mulch.html

Sheet mulching lets nature do all the work for you – it works with the living soil instead of against it. Basically you put down layers of cardboard, compost and mulch on top of an area of soil, and just plant right into that. All the goodness from the compost enriches the soil beneath, reviving it and making it into a great environment for your plants. I’m new to this technique but it seems extremely promising – if you’re willing to be a guinea pig, just let me know.

Why are you doing this?
DIGs allow me to make a small difference in Austin’s ecology, one garden plot at a time.

Every backyard food garden is a small miracle: it restores the soil, cuts down on the water and chemicals used to maintain a typical lawn, and lessens the need to truck in produce from far away. Gardens create food and shelter for bees, butterflies and birds, and help prevent runoff during storms. In addition, going out to see what’s starting to grow and what’s ready to harvest is a joy – it slows me down and connects me to the seasons. Creating my garden also has inspired me to learn more about local sources of food, support local farmers, and make more informed choices at the grocery store – I hope it will do the same for you. The more gardens we have, the healthier Austin and Austinites will be. More gardens!

How much does this cost?
Nothing – it’s a volunteer project. You provide the materials, but the labor and consultation are free. However, I will happily accept breakfast tacos.

Are you insane?
Probably. But this is the best time to prep the soil for the spring planting season in Central Texas.

What do I need to do?
Four easy things:

Make sure you have a spot that gets 6-8 hours of full sun every day.
Call 1-800-DIG-TESS to locate buried cables and gas lines, etc.
Let me know you want to participate.
Buy some good organic compost for me to dig in, or cardboard, compost and mulch for a sheet garden. I’ll bring the tools.

Where are you digging?
I’m keeping this pretty central:

North of 71 / Ben White
West of 183
South of 183
East of 360

If you live *just outside* that area, you could probably convince me. Send me a message and give it a try.

What if I live in West Austin directly on top of solid bedrock?
Then we’ll need to create a raised bed for you. I will install it if you’ll get the supplies (untreated wood, soil, compost). I’ll help you figure out what you need.

How big a bed can you dig?
I’ll spend about two hours digging with you. We can put in at least 4x4 foot bed or possibly more.

OK, so I’ll have a new vegetable bed. Then what?
Preparing the soil is a big obstacle for a lot of people – but so is feeling like you don’t know what to do next. If you’re not already an experienced gardener, don’t worry: growing your own food is relatively easy. I’ll set you up with a suggested planting plan for each season and instructions for organic ways to fertilize and handle bugs and weather-related problems.

Sign me up!
Great! Send me an email and I'll let you know what dates are still available. Pick your day and it’s on!

Anne