Some of us (Lisa, Oakes, Alan, Elisabeth, Melanie, Erika and Mike) met today for about 3 hours to plot out the garden and to discuss the strategy for next week’s Big Dig.
We figured out where the garden should be based upon distance from the playground and from the street. We pounded stakes flush with the ground into the 4 corners of the plot, and then marked the garden with spray chalk that Mike had bought. Pounding in the first stake, we woke up a nice fat worm – a good sign! It seem much smaller than I had remembered it being from the fall! We also marked where the gate would go.
There was some discussion about modifying the garden layout, and some discussion about maybe making the paths narrower and having a central gathering spot to conduct tours. Mike gave a demonstration of how a pickax can be used to skim sod off the surface. There was quite a bit of discussion about what we could do with the sod. Gordon Jamieson (an abutter) dropped by and talked about how we could fill some of the holes near the fence with the sod- this would also help with drainage issues he and his neighbors have been having.
We then started talking about our equipment rental decisions. Initially, it seemed like most of us were in favor of not renting the auger to help keep in range of our budget. To help with this decision, we dug a hole where one of the post holes would be. We did not have the proper equipment, but we managed to dig down 14 inches without hitting ledge. We were stymied by a couple 
of good sized rocks, but our experiment was pretty encouraging. The soil seemed really nice and workable. We filled in the hole so no one would trip on it.
Some of us (Lisa, Oakes, Alan, Elisabeth, Melanie, Erika and Mike) met today for about 3 hours to plot out the garden and to discuss the strategy for next week’s Big Dig.
We figured out where the garden should be based upon distance from the playground and from the street. We pounded stakes flush with the ground into the 4 corners of the plot, and then marked the garden with spray chalk that Mike had bought. Pounding in the first stake, we woke up a nice fat worm – a good sign! It seem much smaller than I had remembered it being from the fall! We also marked where the gate would go.
There was some discussion about modifying the garden layout, and some discussion about maybe making the paths narrower and having a central gathering spot to conduct tours. Mike gave a demonstration of how a pickax can be used to skim sod off the surface. There was quite a bit of discussion about what we could do with the sod. Gordon Jamieson (an abutter) dropped by and talked about how we could fill some of the holes near the fence with the sod- this would also help with drainage issues he and his neighbors have been having.
We then started talking about our equipment rental decisions. Initially, it seemed like most of us were in favor of not renting the auger to help keep in range of our budget. To help with this decision, we dug a hole where one of the post holes would be. We did not have the proper equipment, but we managed to dig down 14 inches without hitting ledge. We were stymied by a couple of good sized rocks, but our experiment was pretty encouraging. The soil seemed really nice and workable. We filled in the hole so no one would trip on it.
Based upon the conditions that we found and what it seems like we need to accomplish next Saturday, we then came up with something of a plan. Everyone who was able would show up at 9AM. Some of the group would immediately start digging the post holes by hand. The rest of the group would resolve which, if any, of the garden paths would remain sod, and would mark them with the spray chalk. We would then start skimming off the sod and figuring out what to do with it.
If the post hole diggers decided that digging the post holes by hand was impossible, Mike would call up Taylor Rental and add an auger to our order. We decided that with what we had to accomplish, it was better to rent the rototiller for 1/2 day and work in the morning to get everything ready before it arrived. Taylor Rental was chosen because they will deliver and no one wanted to mess with either renting a truck or borrowing a truck and wrestling the rototiller out of and back into the truck.
Some of us then wandered down to check out the snow fence at the bottom of the park. It is in pretty bad shape- hopefully this is not the fence we will be getting. It is 4 feet tall, and not incredibly ugly. It seems workable.
So- next Saturday, 9 AM, bring suitable tools. I (and maybe also Melanie) will bring a wheelbarrow. Someone will follow up about the actual delivery of the fence. Alan and Elisabeth will finalize fence post decisions based upon what people have volunteered to donate and what can be acquired. A choice will be made between the 2 ugly gate candidates. Mike will send his soil samples to be tested.
