We now have a date for the builders to arrive to start construction of the conservatory. This means that there are some jobs to be completed… one of which we tackled this morning, namely the emptying of the “rubbish bed”.
I have written several times in the past about the woeful lack of soil in our garden when we moved into our house. This was because the topsoil had been stripped away and sold off when the house was built. The only solution was for us to build raised beds and create our own soil. We did buy some topsoil in to get started, but we have also made tonnes of compost over the 15 years we have been here. Perhaps our greatest success was the rubbish bed – constructed from upended paving slabs and filled with all sorts of waste material: cardboard, shredded paper, wood-chip, moss raked out of a friend’s lawn, fallen leaves, spent potting compost, garden compost, grass clippings, wood ash, teabags, to rot down in situ and generate soil and a bit of heat for the plants too.
The “rubbish bed” in all its glory in 2013
However, this bed now has to go to make way for the conservatory, properly drained patio and a new, block-built raised bed. So, in glorious sunshine this morning, we emptied out the most amazing compost/soil (all home-made) and transferred it onto other beds and into two dumpy bags that we then planted up with potatoes. The soil that we had created was packed full of earthworms and had the most fabulous texture. It’s a bitter-sweet activity – I am so proud of what we have created from “rubbish”, but very sad that this area of garden will no longer exist (it has been amazingly productive).
Most of the site of the rubbish bed is destined to become a patio, but part of the footprint will coincide with a much deeper raised bed… which, in its turn, will be filled with new compost all created from waste: we already have two of our neighbours trained to deliver their grass clippings, and a friend has some moss to contribute.
So, farewell “rubbish bed” and thank you. Here’s to much more in situ compost making and productivity.
Emptied out and waiting to be dismantled
The Snail of Happiness 
thecontentedcrafter
/ April 18, 2015I think you did good, do good and will continue to do much good earth creating work 🙂 Progress always means we say goodbye to something doesn’t it – fortunately you will continue to make more good soil in a different area of your garden – most inspiring! xoxo
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The Snail of Happiness
/ April 18, 2015My plan is to leave my garden (and the world) with more and better soil than when we started and that does seem to be happening. Not a bad aim for all of us, I reckon.
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insearchofitall
/ April 18, 2015I hope there is somewhere else in your garden you can create another compost pile. I’m happy you are getting your conservatory.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ April 18, 2015Oh yes… we have several compost bins all working hard for us!
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katechiconi
/ April 18, 2015I need to construct one of those, to take the green stuff the chickens and wild birds won’t look at, like banana skins, orange peel, tea leaves and coffee grounds. Luckily the grass cuttings are mulched back into the grass, or with a block this size I’d be able to compost on an industrial scale! Now, what about a post showing the plans for the conservatory?
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The Belmont Rooster
/ April 18, 2015GREAT POST. I can’t wait to see your conservatory! That will be great!
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gentlestitches
/ April 19, 2015yay to people feeding our earth. Looking forward to seeing your work. 😀
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narf77
/ April 19, 2015And thus, a new adventure in soil (and toasty warm conservatory delights) begins! 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ April 19, 2015I can hardly wait!
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KerryCan
/ April 22, 2015Did you move plants into other areas? Or was everything in the rubbish garden annual plants? This all sounds like an exciting, but disruptive, project!
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