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Home » garden » P+M Upstate Adventure: Removing Grass and Turning Soil for Garden

P+M Upstate Adventure: Removing Grass and Turning Soil for Garden

Posted:1/6/16
Updated:1/6/16

In case you missed it, Matthew and I bought land in Upstate NY! You can follow the entire series here.   Now we’re ready to work!

Buying land was the result of wanting a garden that came with no rules.   So it’s no surprise that the first thing to build on the land is a garden!  It’s funny to think about where the garden started from.  In 2009 it was 32 square feet and then it became a few hundred square feet, getting bigger by the year.  Now it has a few acres to grow!   

The future garden is 56×40.  That’s huge!   We started smaller but I complained it wasn’t big enough so we expanded another few feet (thanks Matthew!).  Now that I can stand inside the garden space I realize how big it is and how many plants it would take to fill up the area.   Maybe I went a little crazy, but at least we have room to grow!  

It’s hard to figure out what steps to do first when you’re starting from the beginning (and in Winter).   I suppose our steps could have been in a different order to make things easier on us, but with us spending sporadic weekends up there and wanting to use the equipment when we have it to avoid extra rental day costs we’re doing things as we can.  For example, over Thanksgiving we put in the fence posts because the weather was nice and we had a free weekend.  Now that the posts are up, there’s no way a truck is going to be able to empty soil/compost into it easily when Spring is here.  That means they will have to dump it nearby and we’ll have to move it into the garden ourselves.  It’s extra work, but we think in the end it’s going to make the process completed quicker.  Plus to be honest, the process is sometimes much more fun than the complete project.  

With the garden being the first thing we want completed we wanted to get a jump on turning the soil.  We rented a skid steer for a weekend to remove the top layer of grass and turn the soil under neath.  We are in the Catskills so we knew it was going to be rocky but we weren’t sure how rocky it was going to be.  Our land is former farm land, but it sure is rocky too.  Over the next few visits we’ll be removing as many as the rocks as we can.  There’s lots of rocks. I guestimated millions.   There’s no way we are going to be able to remove all the rocks, but there are some big ones (that I can’t even lift) that need to be removed as well as endless smaller ones.  The goal is for every rock that’s larger than a tennis ball to be removed.  You might think this sounds easy, but there’s tons of rocks and we dug deep to turn the soil… so rocks are everywhere. I see them in my nightmares!   I tried to find a easier way to do this but without some heavy duty farm equipment, it seems by rake and hand is easiest.  You’ll see me sitting in the dirt often in the next few months.  It might look like I’m not doing anything but I really am!  I’m going to become a expert rock picker.   The rocks are going to be used to line the exterior of the garden too, we’re trying to give back to the land whatever we dig up.  We think lining the outside of the garden with rocks will help keep pests from digging into the garden.  Since we won’t be able to guard the garden on a daily basis we’re trying to protect it however we can.  It’s going to be a learning process with some heartbreak involved. 

In the pictures below you’ll see our garden posts up.   I’ll be doing a whole series on how we built our garden fence.  Right now the fence posts are in (hard work).  Next, the fencing material and wood needs to be attached to make a complete fence.  This is going to take time, some friends and some hopeful warmer days.  I’ll be documenting all the steps so by end of Spring you should see a entire DIY fence post coming!  

Now let’s first see the damage we did over the weekend.  

Before:
Removing Grass For Garden_38

After:
Removing Grass For Garden_36

Before:
Removing Grass For Garden_1

After:
Removing Grass For Garden_39

Once you start digging, there’s no turning back!

It’s funny.  Matthew and I were plotting out a work driveway and then suddenly the delivery truck came with the skid steer on it.  As soon as it parked, Matthew ran up, signed for it and drove to the garden.  I was still standing in the future driveway with posts in my hand.  Needless to say, we didn’t look at the driveway for the rest of the weekend.  Also Matthew never came out of the skid steer.  
Removing Grass For Garden_2

Because I’m been giving costs on everything, the skid steer cost 637.84 to rent for the weekend.  We have been renting our equipment from Windham Eqipment Rental.  The bad thing is that we don’t have a equipment rental dealer very close to us, so the actual delivery is about the same price of the equipment.    This is something that isn’t ideal, but we have to deal with it.  

Matthew was very excited for the skid steer.  We were also very worried.  We knew that when putting in the fence posts it was going to be rocky underneath but we were still unsure of how rocky.  We went back and forth with either renting a skid steer or a excavator.    We asked people for advise but everyone told us opposite thoughts.  Eventually we just went with the skid steer and crossed our fingers that it would be able to dig into that rocky soil.  Unfortunately the rental place didn’t have a bucket with teeth so that was another big worry. Good news, it worked out, skid steer did it’s job and did it really good!

And now the moment of truth… first dive into the soil.  Would it work?
Removing Grass For Garden_3

Maybe…….
Removing Grass For Garden_4

Yes….!
Removing Grass For Garden_5

Excited Matthew.
Matthew is a boss.

First strip is done lightly and then Matthew goes over it to go much deeper to turn the soil.
Removing Grass For Garden_8

Removing Grass For Garden_10

Removing Grass For Garden_11

This is another example of if the posts weren’t there it would have been easier…. but it all worked out.
Removing Grass For Garden_12

I waited my turn.
Removing Grass For Garden_9

But it took a long time because Matthew won’t stop.
Removing Grass For Garden_13

Removing Grass For Garden_14

When it turned dark and I dragged him out of the skid steer then we said goodbye to the land for that day.
Now next day!  Today it was about really digging into the soil and getting it all flipped.    You can see below in the pictures how deep we were going and how rich the soil is.
Removing Grass For Garden_19

Removing Grass For Garden_21

Removing Grass For Garden_15

Removing Grass For Garden_24

Run! Skid steer is coming (just kidding, noone is in it, safety first).
Removing Grass For Garden_20

After it was all dug up then we had to start the job of removing the rocks which will be continued throughout the next few months.
Removing Grass For Garden_29

There’s small rocks.
Removing Grass For Garden_16

And there’s big rocks (some are bigger than this).
Removing Grass For Garden_18

This looks like a still from a horror movie.  That’s what it felt like too. My back hurt like heck.
Removing Grass For Garden_22

Picking rocks…..forever.
Removing Grass For Garden_23

I was without our cats for a few days so I was excited to find some worms to say hi to. Hey, I’ll take what I can get.
IMG_20151128_094359062

For the smaller rocks, I filled up a 5 gallon bucket and then would drag them out of the garden.  A few times I got tired and threw the bucket.  It happens.
Removing Grass For Garden_30

Removing Grass For Garden_25

After we finished turning the soil then Matthew threw in the last few fence posts we had to do to complete the weekend goals.  I make this sound easy but putting the fence posts (and digging out the ground) a few feet into the ground is hard work.  I’ll get into this more in the DIY fence post.  
Removing Grass For Garden_35

The garden doors are going to be where the open spot is below.  You can see we dug deeper in this area to allow the doors to be able to swing.  
Removing Grass For Garden_33

I forgot to mention that all the top layer of soil that was removed was moved to a pile that eventually will be used to build small hills to plant trees along the driveway entrance.  This is much future thinking, but that’s the plan for now. 
Removing Grass For Garden_40

It was a successful weekend!  We went from the beginning of the weekend…
Removing Grass For Garden

To the end of the weekend of having the posts in and the garden dug out!
Removing Grass For Garden_36

It was fun, we worked hard and we got to get dirty. I was basically a mud bear.
Removing Grass For Garden_31

Removing Grass For Garden_26

Removing Grass For Garden_27

High 5, garden warriors!
Removing Grass For Garden_28

Removing Grass For Garden_34

PS. Bye bye from me on the skid steer…. until next time!  
Pamela driving skid steer.

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  1. Cecile says

    January 19, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    O M G – I can’t believe you guys did so much on one weekend. And those ROCKS…. !! This makes me think about past generations – who had to do all this by hand…with a horse to help – hoepfullY
    You guys sure aren’t quitters – that’s for sure!! ; o )

    Reply
  2. Sue Addy says

    June 27, 2016 at 2:05 am

    Kudos to you guys! that seems to be a lot of work.

    Reply
  3. [email protected] Friendly Homemaking says

    January 17, 2016 at 11:03 pm

    How exciting! I agree you have made such progress and I look forward to seeing your beautiful garden grow!

    Reply
  4. John/Kitchen Riffs says

    January 13, 2016 at 11:29 am

    That skid steer is awesome! (And I never knew that’s what they were called.) Who wouldn’t want to play with that? Super fun read. I know that part of the world, and how rocky it is. You’re going to be building some muscles. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Mary Frances says

    January 11, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    Firstly, congratulations!! This is an adorable post! It looks like you two had a fantastic time! Can’t wait for more posts 🙂

    Reply
  6. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says

    January 11, 2016 at 8:26 am

    I am so excited for this adventure for both of you. You have made such good progress already too – I bet it was a lot of work, but SO worth it.

    Reply
  7. handmade by amalia says

    January 11, 2016 at 7:37 am

    A land of your own to garden. Wow. This is so exciting. I’m happy for you and looking forward to seeing the garden grow.
    Amalia
    xo

    Reply
  8. Lux G. says

    January 8, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    Looks like a great way to start the year. More space for gardening. The planet will love you more. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Asha says

    January 8, 2016 at 11:18 am

    Wow, I am always impressed at your dedication and hard work. Both of you did it over the weekend, now that is fantastic. I can’t wait to see what wonderful produce you get. Great job.
    HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Wishing you the best.
    xx

    Reply
  10. Anna @ shenANNAgans says

    January 8, 2016 at 1:43 am

    HOLY SMOKES lady! You guys are amazing, that is some seriously hard work you are doing there. I have memories doing that sorta thing as a kid on the farms, maybe its because I was little, but I still remember the exhaustion and sore achy hands from digging. I totes look forward to what you get up to next.

    Reply
  11. Shashi at RunninSrilankan says

    January 7, 2016 at 11:29 am

    Wow Pamela – you and Mathew have been working so hard! Digging and rock-removing is no easy task – but high five for getting so much done in a weekend! Looking forward to the next installment on this adventure… 🙂

    Reply
  12. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    January 7, 2016 at 11:22 am

    I know what back breaking work that is even with the help of a machine. I will be following along on your adventure. BTW, I don’t think your pretty pink work outfit will ever be the same. 😀

    Reply
  13. Sues says

    January 7, 2016 at 8:14 am

    This is awesome!! Congratulations on the land- can’t wait to follow along!! 🙂

    Reply
  14. DAD says

    January 6, 2016 at 4:36 pm

    Keep going my little mud cake.Getting there little by little Some day you will say”did we really do this”♥

    Reply
  15. Amy @ Elephant Eats says

    January 6, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    Obviously I’m VERY far behind on blog reading, but I just saw this post pop up and had to check it out…i had seen your instagrams of digging upstate and was wondering what you two were up to. Congrats!!! So excited for you 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you grow! Also, very excited for your house one day 😉

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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