“Lazy people are always anxious to be doing something.” ~ Luc de Clapiers
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Some people collect Pokemon. Others collect shoes or handbags or jewelry. I collect leaves, and today, I am building my wall.
Leaves are the quickest and easiest way to add carbon to soil and amend crappy growing conditions (which I no longer have, thanks to my worm/fungi/bacteria crew). This bag-stealing habit certainly beats raking leaves from my own property. Why put in all that work when my neighbors are so willing to pay for it, then give it away?
But for borders? I can’t stand them. Wooden frames and pretty bricks lock me into a space. Serendipity 4×4 ‘piles’ find their own places within the space, all with a compost bottom and fluffy, leafy top. The turf grass border does a great job of keeping the grassy riff-raff out (aka Bermuda, nutsedge); it is easily kept with a mower or occasional weed-whip. Walking areas are mulched or — with heavy traffic — re-purposed swingset wood boardwalk planks.
Throughout, little sprigs of lantana and milkweed (as well as other veggie volunteers) are popping up keeping the insect population happy. The insects keep the green anoles happy, and the green anoles keep the big birds happy.
Everyone’s happy. All is well in my crazy, unkempt, unmanaged organic garden space.
Monarch Garden Squatter
Keyhole and Lasagna ‘Pile Gardens’
In the [neglected] garden thus far:
- Thai Basil, Jalapeno Pepper, and Eggplant (18 months straight — and still cranking out food!)
- Japanese Lettuce (tastes like wasabi)
- French Sorrel
- Lime Balm, Spicy Oregano, Thyme, Fennel, and Stevia
- Brussels Sprouts
Up and coming into keyhole garden and three other ‘piles’:
- Turnips
- Beets
- Swiss Chard
- Snap Peas
- Butternut squash
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