My experiences with “Lasagna gardening”

Lasagna gardening is a gardening technique that is much like building a pan of lasagna. Layers. 

I must admit I kind of went at it backwards because a couple of years ago when I started I actually planted my garden first, then layered the mulch layer in and around the plants. I was amazed how it kept the weeding to a minimum and how well the plants did in out hot, dry climate. 

     To be honest, the ideal water system is a drip system that is put under the mulch. I don’t have the ability to do that because we pump out of a ditch and the filter system would be plugged constantly, so I just put the sprinklers on mine. Even with sprinklers I only have to water once every 10 days or so. That mulch keeps the garden nice and moist. 

     I have the best looking tomatoes this year on a piece that is on its second year of lasagna. I put a little chicken manure on there last fall, but that is all. The plants are doing so well, and it has even gotten the bindweed pretty much under control in that bed. I was a little late getting the tomatoes in this year so I am hoping for another week or so before I have to clean the patch. I may have to cover them for a few nights. 

     The melons are going crazy. Again, and this bed is on its first year with totally mulch. I have all ready picked several honeydew melons. The cantaloupe haven’t ripened yet, but they are getting really close. I may have to cover them for a while too. 

    The watermelons are looking pretty good and I have picked several of the new small variety I tried this year. They don’t get very big, but they sure make up for size with taste. I think maybe the Crimson Sweet variety may have just been bumped from the top of my all time favorite list. 

   The winter squash though are the shining stars. It must have been the loader bucket of horse manure that I dumped on there last year. Because the vines have climbed to the top of a 54-inch cattle panel and then spread more than 30 feet along that panel. At last count there are at least seven huge squash on there. I can’t really say what variety they are, because they are actually a cross breed, I think they are Hopi and Hubbard. 

    My conclusion about the lasagna garden system is that it is a lot of work to begin with, and some work once a year when maintaining the mulch layer by adding more mulch, but the labor saving when it comes to weeding more than makes up for it. It also has the advantage of continually improving the soil as the layers of mulch decompose, essentially continuing to build soil.

Swedish Fruit Soup

1 pound dried mixed fruit. 

1 cup raisins, either dark or golden

2 quarts cold water

pinch of salt

1 ½ cups sugar

½ cup minute tapioca

1 cup white grape juice.

Cut the dried fruit into bite sized pieces bring the dried fruit, raisins, 2 quarts water, salt and cinnamon sticks to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the mixture is thick and the fruit is tender, about 45 minutes. Add the sugar, 2 more cups of water and the tapioca. Bring to a boil and let it cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat, add grape juice chill before serving, or serve hot. My German ancestors would serve this over a baked pancake with heavy cream.