Chris Dunn's Home Patch Preparation 

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas,

I received the following update and posted pictures from Chris Dunn of Lomita, CA yesterday.

Here's what Chris had to say:

"Hey Stuart!

Well, the home patch is finally getting the fall prep it deserves! I've spent so much time on the new patch, the patch right out my back door has taken a back seat. ;)

The new patch is kicking butt and the cover crop is up to my waist!!!! It will get weed whacked in a few weeks, a soil test will be taken then amendments added per my mentor:)

These are pictures of the home patch! Its 650 ish. sq. ft. and it will be home for one plant this year, not two like last year. Today, I added 100 pounds of gypsum, a little perlite, some worm castings and about 20 large bags of leaves. Tomorrow it will all be tilled in! I will then spread 10 pounds of mychorrhizal fungi throughout the whole patch. I will then plant a cover crop of vetch, winter peas and winter rye.!!!

Only 3 more months and we can get started; boy am I excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Hope all is well with you and the family!

  Chris Dunn"

(I still need to remove some broccoli before I begin my soil preparations for this year.)

Ok, I am one sore guy! Started at 9 a.m. yesterday and finished about 4 p.m.! It was tough day, but any tough day in the patch is better then most of my days at work. ;)

These are pictures of the tiller, the mychorrhizal fungi and cover crop that is now all resting in the patch and ready to go to work!!! I tilled every which way possible, raked smooth, broadcast a good amount of myco then a cover crop which should work hand and hand with the myco!! Should have my soil just about right for spring. Let's hope at least.:)

The last picture is the patch all finished. Its going to be about 650 sq. ft. and will hold one plant this year. I have 3 or 4 seeds I really like and am still undecided on which one I'm going to pick.

Until next time!

Chris Dunn