Slowly converting our front 'lawn' to flower beds. Dug up some turf earlier this summer - grass and clover roots holding lots of soil. Didn't want to toss the soil, but also didn't want those grass roots in my soil bin. Finally got out the wheel barrow yesterday and screened most of the dirt from the roots and grass. Why work so hard? Just buy some topsoil. But quietly working at it, gloved hands working the soil, slowly reclaiming it, was a nice time to relax and reflect in the light rain. Got half a wheel barrow full yesterday. Another half today. Today, four or five black capped chicadees landed in the mountain ash next to me and started scolding me. fearlessly sitting on branches barely three feet from me. After about five minutes they flew off. Dirt is so critical. Now I've got all this clean dirt. Can mix it with some compost from that pile - saw lots of worms in there yesterday - and a little sand and I've got good soil. Instead, we are urged to be consumers and disposers. Throw the kitchen wastes in the disposal; throw the dirt clods in the garbage. Then go to Home Depot and buy the compost and buy the top soil. But working the dirt felt good, felt real, felt calming and connecting. New dirt.
Slowly converting our front 'lawn' to flower beds. Dug up some turf earlier this summer - grass and clover roots holding lots of soil. Didn't want to toss the soil, but also didn't want those grass roots in my soil bin. Finally got out the wheel barrow yesterday and screened most of the dirt from the roots and grass. Why work so hard? Just buy some topsoil. But quietly working at it, gloved hands working the soil, slowly reclaiming it, was a nice time to relax and reflect in the light rain. Got half a wheel barrow full yesterday. Another half today. Today, four or five black capped chicadees landed in the mountain ash next to me and started scolding me. fearlessly sitting on branches barely three feet from me. After about five minutes they flew off. Dirt is so critical. Now I've got all this clean dirt. Can mix it with some compost from that pile - saw lots of worms in there yesterday - and a little sand and I've got good soil. Instead, we are urged to be consumers and disposers. Throw the kitchen wastes in the disposal; throw the dirt clods in the garbage. Then go to Home Depot and buy the compost and buy the top soil. But working the dirt felt good, felt real, felt calming and connecting. New dirt. 
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