Last winter was so wet from December onwards that this year we are taking no chances when it comes to preparing new veg beds for the spring ahead of the winter weather. To speed up the digging and disturb the soil life as little as possible, we are just turning the sod on top of the adjacent sod, a little like preparing an Aran bed – known to some as a ‘lazy bed’.
Before the sods are turned over, compost or well-rotted manure is laid down the centre of where the bed is to be dug. This organic matter is then sandwiched between the sods to break down and feed the soil life over the coming months.
We then will cover over the dug over new veg beds with black plastic sheeting to prevent leaching of nutrients and weed germination, as well as encouraging worms and other soil life to thrive in the darker environment under the black plastic.
Turning sods to cover manure creates a raised bed in appearance which is less likely to become water logged in the event of downpours, especially with winter black plastic on top.
Trevor is co-founder and was, until his appointment to Government, a board member of Sonairte, the Irish National Ecology Centre, near Julianstown, County Meath which is an Agricultural Training and Visitor centre with a 2.2 acre walled organic garden. He is also a member of Amnesty International, the Dublin Food Co-op, the Irish Organic Farmers’ and Growers’ Association, Organic Trust and a former member of Macra na Feirme. A former teacher and fluent Irish speaker, he relaxes by reading, walking and playing music. His favourite form of relaxation is tending to his prolific organic garden at home in Balbriggan, North County Dublin, an area known by many as Fingal.
