Sleepy New Moon Garden Retreat Day

Today is my New Moon retreat day - I'll do less talking, less business, and more personal thought and action. To honor the birthday of Hsi Wang Mu, the Great Yin, I will spend today in yin mode, not doing, but rather being: Relax in my home, drink water, read a book, daydream, go for a walk, take a bath, take a nap, linger over dinner, and go to bed early.

But mostly I'll spend the day in our garden!

Rather than set an agenda, I'm going to catch you up on our huge garden project. We have four areas that we are working on, and I'm going to spend some time in each today:

1. The Duck Yard:

We fenced the ducks in to their new yard last month, after the apple tree came down, and moved the coop a little away from the back porch to help to keep the straw out of the house. My daughter and I took a grafting workshop two weeks ago and grafted five new baby apple trees from scions from our old apple tree. I hope at least one of them lives.

And last week we built a new grape arbor! We got most of the wood from Bring Recycling for $20. Now the grape will shade those west facing studio windows, for my afternoon painting classes.

2. The Veggie Beds:

Onions to the left and (possibly) spinach to the right.

Last month we moved all the dirt around into new beds, and sculpted out paths, then filled the paths with wood chips. 

We've got tiny peas up, and onions in - that's about it, so far. Today I hope to dig out a snowberry (which is moving to the from yard)  and put in a rhubarb or two.

3. The Family Zone:

Our small patch of lawn is healing from duck abuse, and we had a family get-together there last Sunday evening, with birthday cake and champagne. I hope to sit there later (if the sun comes out) and read a book.

4. The Sanctuary Garden:

Wall blocks arrived Monday!

Our front yard is the biggest project now. I'm putting in a retaining wall planter for small trees and shrubs to buffer from the street, and a small patio near the house (which will have a couple chairs, a table, and a tiny fountain!)

Today I hope to get part of the wall built.