Preparing the beds

Under the watchful gaze of the friendly scarecrow, our winter wheat is continuing to flourish.

 

Behind his (her?) back, all is busyness, as 24 eager Gardener’s Apprentices…..

learn that today’s task is to ready the raised beds for Spring planting.  What, though, lies behind the mysterious shadow (a welcome moment of sunshine, that!) in the red plastic bucket?

And why would we need to use a measuring tape as well as a rake?

 

A peek inside the bucket revealed coils of string and scissors.  Hmm.

What exactly would we be doing?  Well, the beds would have to be raked…..

and any remaining large stones removed.  Fat worms, though, would stay firmly put.

Meanwhile, the dimensions of the beds (the length and the width) would have to be measured.

String would be cut to size…..

and tied…..

criss-cross across the bed…..

 

in order to mark out the planting areas.

 

Sweet William plants…..

 

and fuzzy-leafed sage…..

are ready to plant.  Seed potatoes…..

and peas, radish, lettuce and carrot seeds….

are on next week’s task list.