Let's see those '09 gardens

[shilala]

Originally Posted by MarkinCA

Thanks for the video tour of your garden Scott. Looks like you put in alot of effort on the black matte in the garden, but I'm sure it helps in retaining moisture for the plants. The tobacco plants look great on the border areas too

The plastic is earth fabric called Dewitt Sunbelt. It lets water through and it lets air through, but it holds weeds down, holds moisture, and heats the garden. Last for years and years and years. I've never worn a piece out yet. It's easy to roll out and pin down. Almost effortless.
In the Spring I pressure wash it and the black cooks any soil-borne disease out of the dirt.
I've been using it for about 15 years. I have been no-till gardening for that long. I do a hybrid of square foot gardening/shilala gardening.
I use lots of compost, super absorbent polymer, and common sense.
You can't beat good dirt, though.
The dirt in my yard here in town (creek bottom flood zone) is incredible compared to the dirt on the hill where I used to live.

I've always wondered what the Indians thought when they watched the crazy Europeans building their settlements (that turned into cities) on the best farmland in the world.
Then we go cut down trees and grow food on mountaintops at twice the effort in lousy soil.
There's no substitute for stupidity.