one small good thing about that is that the house that was on the property was demolished, leaving quite a hole to fill. so, lots of room for large scale amendment. it will require some heavy equipment to mix it all, i am sure.
but the soil in this particular neighborhood sucks badly. it is the ancient bowl of lake michigan and is more like black sand than soil. even then it is less than 1' deep, then it is plain sand. very alkaline.
i am figuring on a bomber load or 2 of compost. would like something that will take longer to decompose, also, wood chips, or??
i have lovingly amended the couple sunny spots in my yard, and now have very nice soil there. i may plant some roses.
so, my most pressing question for right now is fencing. i plan to have some chickens, and wonder what is needed to keep them on the property. it will have to be little dog proof, anyway, as my dogs will be hanging there with me. but will chickens fly over a 3-4' fence? do people pinion them? or do they just have to stay "cooped up"?
also looking for some heirloom fruit trees. i have an italian plum and a montmorency cherry right now. the plum has given me about 3 plums in 25 years, but the cherry bears pretty well. i do love the italian plums, and will likely plant a couple of those. love the pie cherry, but will plant a couple sweet ones now that i have room for pollinators. (will have bees, also.)
looking for a couple of interesting and appropriate apples.
also have a couple grapes now, which the robins beat me to every year. will have to cover them with nets if i want to see any for myself, i guess. the garden is as much for the birds as for us- berries everywhere, thickets, a water drip. will get a little more serious now that it will add up more.
so, any advice is very much appreciated. i have been a gardener all my life, but this aims to be bigger than that.
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