Back To Our Roots Vol 1

Gardening

I curated this page for all those who are interested in seeing the corresponding images to Goshen Acres's first book: Back to Our Roots : Gardening.

The main Garden

Journey with me through the build and evolution of the main garden. This was made with no tilling or disrupting of the soil. It was made over a period of 3 years, 1/3 segments built at a time. This garden is where I plant my main plants for daily eating and harvesting for winter storage. The first segment is now 6 years old and mature.

the wonder.jpeg

main garden.JPG

unloading greenhouse to new future garden spot.JPG

very first task.. moving the greenhouse to its new location.JPG

The third section of the main garden completed was using the Ruth Stout method using barn

building the back to eden garden year 1.JPG

building the main garden first laying cardboard then mulch.JPG

compost pile that helps me top my new gardens.JPG

main garden 1st year was a little difficult to plant because it hadnt started to break dow

1st year bte.JPG

1st year back to eden; even though I had to plant in the wood chips it still grew a nice g

zinnias gracing the in the garden medicinal garden entrance.JPG

The first year Back to eden garden was a bit tricky to plant in. The wood chips were so

building the fence around what will be the main garden.JPG

The second section is being prepped with cardboard and wood chips.JPG

Gathering wood chips!! Wood chips can be hard to come by so when you find some you get lo

year main garden back to eden addition.JPG

The second section is done using the back to eden method.JPG

laying down weed barrier along edge of garden to keep grass from encrouching in.JPG

load after load of wood chips is shoveled and distributed for a new top layer in the sprin

in the spring before planting the main garden.JPG

walking down the main garden with the plastic still over the ruth stout.JPG

Most of the third section is complete and ready to be planted in. This was laid on top of

spring task of spreading the barn cleanings onto the ruth stout section.JPG

In the spring after a new topcoat of mulch is laid I have found that laying a large peice

The medicinal Gardens

In years 3 and 4, I decided to build 2 medicinal gardens that house many of the plants we utilize here and also in Goshen's salve, tonics and lotion products. To start this project, I first researched what plants I would want to harvest and then sorted them according to their characteristics of being invasive or not. 2 gardens were eventually built, the "In the garden" and "Out of the garden" medicinal gardens. Plants that had the capability to spread went in the "out of the garden" garden and the rest went in the "in the garden" medicinal garden. This would help with maintenance and containment. Plants included are Mugwort, White horehound, Yarrow, Sage, Lavender, Wooly lambs' ear, Calendula, Hyssop, Anise hyssop, Echinacea, Evening primrose, Black fennel, Wild lettuce, Wormwood, Feverfew, Celandine, Chamomile, Thyme, Self-heal, borage, Calendula, Rugosa Rose, skull cap, Shepard's purse, Lemon balm, Rosemary, Marshmallow, Clover, Violets, Comfrey, Dandelion, Plantain, Sesame, Wood betony and always adding to the plant library.

medicinal garden sign.jpg

This old wagon will look very nice in my medicinal garden.JPG

site of outside the garden medicinal garden.JPG

new out of the garden medicinal garden.JPG

laying down carpet to kill the exisiting briars.JPG

After the winter of the carpet laid on the ground, there is now an easy clean up and prepp

This site had many briars and small saplings that could not be dug out so I laid down old

cardboarding and laying down the mulch for the out of the garden medicinal garden.JPG

The new outside the garden medicinal garden is beginning. There was to much sod, briars a

the new outside the gsrden medicinal garden is complete.JPG

wooly lambs ear.JPG

laying down weed barrier along edge of garden to keep grass from encrouching in.JPG

planting and establishing the in the garden medicinal garden.JPG

in the spring before planting the main garden.JPG

the in the garden medicinal garden in its 3rd year.JPG

the main entrance to the inside the garden Medicinal garden. We found some large grapevin

The in the garden medicinal garden contains the plants that are less invasive and easier t

white horehound.JPG

self heal.JPG

manarda bee balm.JPG

marshmallow plant.JPG

looking across the in the garden medicinal garden into the ruth stout garden method.JPG

in the garden medicinal garden matured.JPG

hyysop.JPG

in the garden medicinal garden.JPG

The overflow Garden

This is another garden that I created in 8 hours to plant primarily extra grains for the chickens if we should need them, potatoes, corn and extra plants after the main garden planting. This garden was made on top of sod and planted in, the day I built it.