Sheet mulching
A sunny spot at the bottom of our property was the best place to establish a small orchard, but the soil was compact, arid, and covered in weeds. Although the only access to the site is 100 steps down from the street, we realized sheet mulching would be the best way to suppress weeds and jumpstart organic material in the soil.
I started by collecting cardboard boxes from our neighbors and trucking compost and mulch in the back of our Tacoma. We then embarked on the “lasagna method” – a recipe of wet cardboard, compost, manure, and a thick layer of mulch on top. We made a few rookie mistakes, like starting the project in July when there was little rainfall to help with decomposition (we hand-watered it instead, adding unnecessary labor and wasting water!)
A few years later, there are weeds and flowers growing on the site, but fewer of the gnarly thistles. And the soil feels much more soft and healthy. We should probably re-apply a new layer of cardboard and mulch soon, but we haven’t yet mustered the energy to do it all over again.
