I did most of the garden work myself last year, so I loved it when my men decided to pitch in to do the heavy lifting! Two days, seven hours each day, and our faithful re-built tiller transformed our garden.
Compost bins were cut open and the finished product removed. The mammoth beets (used for fall chicken feed), okra, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and kale were all pulled and harvested. Raised beds were taken out and prepared for the move to the new homestead. Cattle panels were stacked against a fence for the winter.
I tried several different varieties of sweet potatoes: an almost white sweet potato grown for this creamy sweet texture and a dark purple that is a power-house of anti-oxidants. It is important to remember as you prepare to harvest sweet potatoes that they bruise very easily, and care needs to be taken when you are harvesting not to toss them into the wheelbarrow. They need to be handled gently if you plan on storing them. They must cure off for several weeks in a dry, airy place to allow time for the starches in them to convert to sugars. 
As I am moving to more natural, organic gardening, more wildlife has found its way to the garden. Jim called me over to show me some of the young snakes that hatched this spring were thriving!
I used lots of newspaper covered with straw to prevent weeds, but it made perfect habitats for huge colonies of ants that were not happy with our efforts to dig up sweet potatoes. I tried to get a photo of the tiny baby voles, but they burrowed into the earth. Abundant worms assure me that a chemical-free approach is paying off.
Clearing the black plastic that covered last year’s raised beds was frustrating but necessary for the health of the soil. I know that many master gardeners have moved to no-till, but for me, nothing beats a tiller for soil prep. It was finally time to till.
I am preparing to sow a ground cover on the freshly turned soil. I am thankful for such wonderful men who help me when I need it most. Thanks, Jim and Josiah! Is it Tiller Time for you? Be blessed!
Anne May
