The First Tilling

Some bunny better run for it, 'cause I got a new toy!


Now how the hell do I make this thing work!? I read the instructions and then skimmed 'em again! It all made sense on paper!


Ahhhh - NOW we're going! This is great!
(Although looking at these pictures makes me think I could probably stand to lower the handles a fair amount!)



Yay - my first season's rock harvest! I can't WAIT to take all of these in and show Brett! (actually, there were TONS of small rocks, some really BIG rocks, a bunch of twigs, and a 3 ft branch!)

I have a filling I'll miss a few rocks in this first harvest, they'll reseed themselves, and I'm sure to have volunteer rocks sprouting for years to come!


You don't scare me you big bad man with your noisy equipment!


In all honesty, I think Brett was disappointed with how much I accomplished tonite for spending two hours out there. I'd guess I got maybe a 10x8 foot section tilled, but that probably involved up to a few dozen passes, working down a bit more each time, churning up more rocks, stalling the tiller on the rocks and twigs, etc. Most of them I lobbed into the pod, although one of them clobbered one of my terracotta pots and blew it to pieces (swearing starts here).

I told Brett I was worried after I till out all the rocks and branches, there won't be much height left to the back yard! It really does seem like bad soil out there - very dry and dusty - not much holding it together. I plan to maybe get some good top soil, maybe some composted manure, maybe some straw/hay... I don't have anything else like leaves or grass clippings that I can churn into it... But I'm not gonna try and grow anything in that dirt until I can improve it!