Alfalfa mulch on raised bed, tomato beds

Racine, Wisconsin — After reading about Ruth Stout in Jerry Minnich’s Wisconsin Garden Guide, we have used alfalfa hay for garden mulch with good results. We buy it from a farm just across the interstate and, where necessary, run it through the lawn mower to make it finer. It eliminates weeds, nearly eliminates watering, and nurtures big, healthy earthworms.

A total of four bales went onto the existing raised bed (based on a raised bed plan from Sunset magazine) and the two new tomato beds.

Amy did all the work, while I stayed inside making websites.

Related photos:

• These backyard garden beds 1 month later, on July 9.
• These same backyard garden beds 2 months later, on August 6th.