Blackout

This week we got the huge black tarp out and began preparing the first plot of our market garden.  It may not look pretty, but it is a proven method to effectively reduce weed pressure, improve soil health and prepare the soil for planting.  The heat attracted by the black tarp encourages weed seed germination.  But with the absence of light and air movement, the young weed seeds die because they can’t germinate. By using the tarps, we eliminate the need to do any form of deep tilling. This will preserve the natural topsoil that is already there and encourage the growth of the healthy microbes and worms that are already living within it. It takes about 3 weeks, but when the tarp is removed, the soil is healthy, weed free and ready to be made into permanent planting beds.