Sheet mulching is an alternative to digging new garden beds. Essentially, it is composting in place, and it's a technique often used in permaculture design because it minimizes soil disturbance. We started by clearing the brush from the site. Then, we put down a few inches of free horse manure from a farm in Bethany. Next, we put down a weed barrier of soaked cardboard (no color or gloss) that we got from D'Aniello's Amity Bicycles.
The whole thing will be covered with a layer of wood chips from the New Haven Parks Department (hopefully, weed free), and left to smother the ground and decompose over winter.
For more info on sheet mulching, visit this site.
(Awesome photos of all our hard workers thanks to Kate)
