Making Dirt

I need good dirt for my garden.
New property and only about 1 - 4 inches of dirt here and that is scattered, not consistent.

I am making a bunch of raised beds from pallets. (I have done this before).  That bending over is to garden is not to bad, just that getting back up part.  Plus knees are going..

Pushing 70 so will do what I can to make life easier.

Last fall when I rented a skidsteer for a few days I stock piled what I could of the dirt that had been scraped to the side from an easement road on edge of my property.  Lots of smaller rocks.

A bit of work to screen the rocks out, but cheaper that buying dirt.  (Found 10 - 12 yards of really good composted garden soil for $450 here in Helena, MT)  Can't afford that !!

I built a simple frame and screen to "sift" it.  Three shovel fulls and shake, shake, shake!  Then dump the remaining gravel where I want it.

Takes about 30 minutes or so to do a wheel barrow full.  Do 3 or so a day and it adds up.
Have about 2 1/2 yards done so far.


I am taking pallets apart a few a day also getting ready to build the raised beds.

Then is will be time to get the mulch going.  I have an abundance of ponderosa pines and plenty of pine needles so am thinking that collecting this will work for a mulch cover.  Not the best, but workable.

I have some compost from the chickens and our regular compost pile to add to the dirt,  Plenty of old straw also.  The dirt does smell wonderful but needs this extra kick.  In a few years I will have some great dirt !!