Garden C is ready for planting, although its far too early to plant the seeds as we always get freezing mornings in April and the soil is definitely not warm enough. However, I managed to get it mulched using techniques based on lasagna gardening.
First a player of paper and cardboard, this a thin layer of aged wood chips, and then a layer of old hay on top of that. I also have some grass clippings I will be adding as time allows but for now moving on to Garden A, where I will plant the potatoes this year. The idea is to have a weed barrier so that there is less work during the summer. I just make holes for the seeds/plants and move enough mulch away from the hole so the plant can get established. Also, soil here in Bowlus is sandy, the mulch helps keep the soil from drying out! Finally, the mulch quickly decomposes adding nutrients back to the soil.
Garden C will be my Three Sisters Garden this year. The Three Sisters Garden is based on practices used by Native Americans where you plant corn, squash, and beans in the same garden. They are companion crops, meaning they grow well together. The corn acts as a pole for the beans while the beans add nitrogen back to the soil (the nitrogen won't be available until next year) The squash, once it is established, acts as a natural mulch. Shades the soil and helps reduce the weeds.
Finally, the tires will have old windows set on top of them to create temporary cold frames, will heat up the soil more quickly and protect the plants from a late frost.