Step One: Wheelbarrow over a lot of rocks. Arrange them to make a border.
The rock border
Step Two: Lay out cardboard to smother grass, weeds, etc. (In retrospect, I would lay out the cardboard before setting out the rocks, that way the cardboard could be under the rocks. It was hard getting the cardboard over the greenery right by the rocks.)
The hens inspecting my work
Step Three: Cover the cardboard with several wheelbarrow loads of compost.
compost!
Step Four: Follow Whiskey’s lead and take a little break.
Whiskey enjoys life
Learn from my mistake and don’t let the hens peck through the compost at this point. They will scratch the compost out of the bed, and also pull up the cardboard. Even though the hens look so cute pecking at the compost, don’t let them!
The hens love pecking through new compost
Step Five: Cover the compost with soil
Step Six: Mulch. Plant whatever you’re going to plant.
Raised bed, mulched and ready to plant!
Step Seven: Protect your hard work from dogs and hens! I used branches we had from tree trimming to make supports, over which I draped plastic netting. This has worked to keep the dogs and hens out of the bed so far!
Branch frames to support netting
Step Eight: Water and wait. Celebrate when your seedlings sprout!
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