I'll keep posting in this one topic to keep from adding to confusion. I will keep pictures, updates, etc. as I get the most from my garden this year. So without further ado, here is what I have thus far, enjoy!
Saturday 3/24/12. Awoke to a perfect day of partly cloudy and just over 50 degree weather. I picked up my cousins Ram and rented a front tine tiller and picked up some fresh soil and manure.
I had already bought the tools and fencing needed so I got to work with Dunkin Donuts in hand. The existing garden is the area covered in hay, I almost tripled the size this year.
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Taking up sod by hand is no easy task, and I tried several different methods before settling in on one that worked. Finally about 2 hours later it was all cleared.
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I even transplanted the sod in bare spots in my backyard.
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I raked out the hay lightly in the area and then bagged the rest. Then I gave it a deep run with the tiller to break up the underlying soil
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Next I took my bags of manure (4) and did a quick rake to spread it out, then a slow till. Then the soil (4), rake, and slow till.
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I used the grading rake to smooth it over a little bit then started with my fencing. What was rusty chicken wire and wooden stakes has now been replaced with green coated welded wire and green T-stakes placed every 3'. I also picked up some chain link fencing clasps and used those to secure the fence to the fence
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So I'm all set and ready to plant but I held off and mowed the lawn instead. Good thing as we are supposed to have a fairly chilly week in CT so I'm waiting till next weekend to get going with seeds and the drip irrigation. More pics to come once that is done and my herb gardens are setup.
Hope you enjoyed, took me the better part of the day but I did it right and made sure it was clean and up to my OCD standards, lol.