Initial Earthworks

Had a spare 30 minutes left on the mini-excavator we rented to put in the front swales and decided to try an 'ad-hoc' duck pond.  I've seeded the fill from that pond with Comfrey (bocking 14), Jerusalem Artichoke, cilantro, and a dent corn.  The feature will serve multiple purposes.  It will serve as a duck pond as we add ducks, and possibly geese to our flocks.  It allows us to trial another 'Seed Mix' for recently constructed swales in high clay high organic matter soils.  If it performs well, it is of the size to be able to supply a years worth of on-farm mix for swale expansion next year.  In the back of the photo are two artic kiwis with an autumn olive in between.  The cages and agribon are to protect from browsing and wind.  To the right of the pic above the shovel are the flags marking our first apple tree guild.  I still owe you guys a post about the front swale system and the apple tree guild.