“Almost everything will work better if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” –Anne Lamott
Summer is a season when we “unplug” the garden for a few months. Acknowledging that we live in drought conditions and wanting to ensure that there is enough well water for residents and retreatants, we cut way back on planting and growing in the garden. With stored water in our round little tank, “Chubby,” we maintain a few tomatoes, a small patch of lettuces, and some basil.
Most beds are quiet, not actively growing. But that does not mean nothing is happening! They are in the process of being readied for the first drops of rain, come autumn. We are setting out layers of nourishment that, combined with fall and winter rains, will create new, happy, healthy soil to support vigorous veggies in the colder weather.
First, spent plants and even weeds are piled on the existing soil. Then brown paper is laid across to block light so unwanted seeds will not – we hope – sprout. Then comes compost, then wood chip mulch, then a thick layer of straw to further protect everything below from being baked by the hot summer sun. And finally, just to further keep things cool, a shade cloth is stretched over all. With the coming of rain, the layers will break down and intermingle and become rich soil added to the original soil we’ve protected below.
That’s the plan. Will it work? We don’t know; it’s new this year. Always the garden, like Practice, invites us into adventure. We experiment with rhythms and seasons, with forging ahead and unplugging. There are no guarantees, just the invitation to join in, see what Life has in store, and play.
Gassho,
Penny