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Garden Gate:  I have a confession to make.....  |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 6:24:58 PM
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Please don't be too hard on me....
I would rather dig up my whole garden with a shovel than have it tilled.
My hubby just shakes his head at me. We have a perfectly good tiller at our disposal whenever we want.
My girls think I am crazy.
I was out in the garden today digging up 4' x4' squares for my modified square foot gardening (no boxes, because we'll probably be moving soon), enjoying the warm air, the sunshine, the birds singing, my 2 dogs next to me and the peacefulness, and it occurred to me that when the whole thing gets tilled up at once, I feel pressured to fill the whole thing at once. I've always felt this way. And, how much I love the quiet over the obnoxious roar and bone-shaking rattle of a tiller.
Give me a shovel any day, and though I may be sore for a few days, I know that I am gardening the same way my dad and my grandparents and their parents did. Quiet. Peaceful. Enjoyable! 
Anyone else?
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 6:39:59 PM
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Brenda, that really makes alot of sense. But I would only last one of those 4x4 beds! It takes all I have to do a few 4x8 raised beds. You must have lots of energy. I think my dad used a shovel or spade on his small gardens. But my grandad used a horse and plow. Now that's the way I would do it if I could find someone around here with a horse and plow. That would be so neat. And quiet and peaceful. Plus free manure! But I admire your plowin' through attitude. Go for it!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 7:41:33 PM
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I have a hand-held tiller---you just stick it in the ground and work it back and forth. I dug up my two raised garden beds with a shovel last fall, now I'm just waiting for it to get dry enough to use my tiller. I'm even thinking of getting an electric lawn mower because they're quieter than a gas-powered mower. I agree with the horse and plow method--I've seen Amish farms where it's all done that way and their fields always look great. Sometimes the "easiest" way isn't always the best--or the most rewarding.
Cindy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2010 : 8:29:50 PM
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I agree! There are days where I wish I had the $$$ to rent or buy a tiller, but at the same time, I have dug over 3/4 of my garden from last year already which was a chore to get done last year. In the process I have noted certain things about my soil that I need to amend for better growth and I have gotten some weird things out too- like 10 paving bricks that were below the digging level last year!!
In a way I feel like I am being a better steward of the land. I know better what is goin on with the garden and soil. I can see how many worms are active (not as many as I would like to see), and make plans to better the soil and good organisms (Mulching, compost, and weed control).
There are a few things I need to buy. I want one of those gardening fork things and a good hoe.
Oh and I also enjoy thinking about all the calories I am burning and all the calories I am not consuming because I am not 10 feet away from the kitchen!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2010 : 4:09:24 PM
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Brenda:
My dh insist that the shovel does a better job!!!!! I hate the shovel. But, I say, whatever works for whoever is doing it! LOL.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2010 : 5:31:05 PM
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Brenda, I tried to get my little tiller cranked today so I could do a few rows to plant some things. It would not start. So I went out there with my shovel and did about 6 turns. I am going to take my tiller somewhere and get someone to get it going. It's too hard! And I have really clay soil. And it's still a bit wet. And I am a wimp! I tried though. So if you get all your done, ya wanna come help me? I'll feed ya real good.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 05:13:41 AM
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Brenda, the no till method is so much healther for the soil. It is proven to retain more of the nutrients in the soil because tilling can bring up the nutrient rich layers that are inches down, and expose them to the air were rain can cause the good stuff to run off. Plus it kills the worms and other good creatures. It is not natural to mechanically till the earth. In my area they are offering incentives to farmers who practice no till methods. Your instincts are telling you right.
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 05:29:40 AM
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be hard on you!?! never. When I first read the post title, I thought you were going to confess to some short cut or easy out on some project. But, no.....you did the hard thing.
I'm certain you have muce more pride and rewarding feelings about your garden. Good job!!
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4860 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4860 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 05:33:44 AM
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I've always heard that shoveling is better. Tilling digs up too many buried seeds up to the sunlight and then the weeds thrive. I shovel up my flower and vegetable beds too. It takes awhile and a lot of strength which inspires me to exercise all winter. This way I am garden ready by spring!
Dawn in IL |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 08:50:23 AM
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Brenda - I so agree. We are tilling again this year but hopefully after that switching over. Last year we dug 9 beds by hand and I got in such good shape.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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blueshelties
True Blue Farmgirl
66 Posts
Angelyn
Toney
Alabama
USA
66 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 06:31:19 AM
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I so agree with you My hubby is more into technology but I like all things oldfashioned. There is such a peacefulness about it.
Angelyn
Live the life you have imagined. H.D. Thoreau |
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Lainey
True Blue Farmgirl
2401 Posts
Elaine
Waco
Kentucky
USA
2401 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 10:29:15 AM
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Brenda, we have a tiller but hardly use it. My hubby uses the shovel to turn our garden most every year. He thinks it works much better too. I was going to help him this year but with my abdominal wall tear he thinks it might not be the best thing for me. I'm looking so forward to getting out in the garden and getting my hands dirty!
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' |
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prairie_princess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Elizabeth
Carpenter
WY
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2010 : 7:47:10 PM
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I've only ever used the shovel to till my raised beds.... I don't think i'd use a fancy tiller if I could... I prefer doing things the hard way because I get more excercise that way, makes me feel like I did something good for my body. I never knew using a shovel to till might also be better for the soil! Good to know!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
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LBP
True Blue Farmgirl
81 Posts
Linda
Goodview
VA
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2010 : 10:28:59 AM
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| I do a combination of both! For root vegetable like carrots (which I have absolutely no luck with), beets, turnips, etc I turn the ground with the double dig method. Then I till over it with a tiller to smooth it out. |
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Garden Gate: I have a confession to make..... |
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I have a confession to make.....
