Had a difference of opinion with Herbie about the vegetable garden this morning. He wants me to plow the whole acre up again and disc it to work the manure and improve the ground quality so that we can broadcast seed the buckwheat, millet, amaranth, chia etc. I did this the past 3 years and told him last year that I wanted to do it differently in 2013. I want to keep the pathways unworked, just plow the planting lines, with the space between the rows 2 ft, not 8 ft like we've had previously. Won't be able to drive a tractor or buggy between the rows. And then have block sections of the above plantings.
There were too many weeds last year, and purslane, 8 inches high and I spent so much time watering in the draught that I ignored the weeds until they were gigantic. The sheep liked it, but only in small quantities.
I would like to try permanent pathways, so hopefully some weed seeds stay on top of the ground instead of being plowed into the ground where they'd grow. I'd like to put thick layers of sawdust down on the paths to kill those pesky weeds so that it will be easier to keep the rows weeded.