Sheet Mulching

We started planting the lettuce beds today. We used a sheet mulching technique for existing beds. Spring is just around the corner for the northern hemsiphere and this is a great way to give your seedlings a fighting chance. It is accomplished as follows:
HOW TO REGENERATE AN EXISTING BED VIA SHEET MULCH
1. Weed out unwanted species, the topsoil should be mostly exposed before you begin
2. Sprinkle beds with blood-bone and gypsum for subsoil regeneration
3. Cover with a light layer of compost mix. Using a garden or pitch fork, poke deep holes through the copost layer and into the subsoil. Gently wedge the fork to and fro, then pull it out. This will aerate the subsoil and allow some compost to penetrate it. Do not turn the soil! This turns the soil structure (that took the soil years to accomplish) upside down.
4. Water well
5. Soak sheets of old newspaper* in water and spread several layers thick across the beds (and around existing plants), tucking in the edges and corners
6. Cover well with a mulch (hay works well and is cheaper than conventional woodchips)
7. Mark out where you want your seedlings to go
8. Using an old knife, cut a small X shape through the mulch and newspaper
9. Tuck the seedling's roots into the compost (under the newspaper X flaps)
10. Fold the newspaper X flaps back around the base of the plant.
11. Reform the mulch around the seedling to cover the paper, but still expose the plant leaves
12. Water well (in the morning and evening, midday will fry the foliage)
*The wet newspaper discourages new weed growth. After a time, it will bio-degrade int the top soil. Most newspaper agencies are printing using lead free inks these days, but it is still safe to check if you are unsure. Don't use magazine or glossy paper.

p.s. old cardboard makes a great foundation for garden paths. Mow, cut down or pull out any vegetation in the way (low as possible if you mow). Put down thick layers of cardboard wherever you want your paths to be, cover with a thin layer of mulch (hay, straw) and top with a thck layer of woodchips or gravel. The mulch will help the top layer to settle in and not get kicked around so much. Forming edges with rocks or bricks will help keep things in place.

-Matt