Late March- Early April
In spite of our doubts, we are going ahead with the upper beds and our new DR PRO XL-DRT. Yes, we sprung for the tiller as well. The plantings will get done this year by us or not at all. ISTG, I will stick the rods in the bare clay if I have to! For better or worse. All the cliches.
Everything I've read about willow says how resilient it is, give it water and sunshine and it will grow. But we are planning to get out there with the tiller and a trailer full of compost as soon as it stops raining! I am encouraged by the fact that it's still early spring in this area. I planted my first batch of rods in pots in mid-May last year and they did fine. We'll see.
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I am not much for mechanical equipment. Whoever said "give me a block and tackle and I'll move the world"* had me pegged. Probably it was a lever big enough or some other device appropriate to the era of big ships. It's true, I resist machinery.
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| Not tractors, but still big equipment |
Luckily that is not the case for my mechanically-brained partner, who has put our new tiller together and pronounced it ready. Then we made the mistake of trying to lift something too heavy, even together, and have had to sit out a few days before we go back to the farm to try it out. Old back issues for the both of us, but we will get out there soon. The dirt needs to be even drier, and easier to till.
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More delays - as the sun comes out, an injury from my fall resurfaces, and Lynn's hip has flared up too. This is frustrating because the rain could stop and the summer droughts begin early, and I am not prepared to irrigate yet. I am dependent on these crazy heavy rains and the high water table in the field. We WILL be better prepared next year.
* The quote is: Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. -- Archimedes