Ludi
Senior Member

I'm northwest of San Antonio.

Hi Ludi, hope you don't mind me adding you? My family live over there in Austin. Where abouts in TX are you?

Thank you!

Happy New Year, and best wishes for you, your family and projects!

Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

/hug

I'm working in shallow soil over rock. The soil is clay embedded with many rocks just below the surface. What I've been doing is excavating the rocks and replacing them with logs, like hugelkultur but buried. The excavation is down to about 18 inches. Last summer the beds which I treated this way produced well in the drought and heat, whereas the unimproved parts of the garden died even with irrigation. I did all the initial excavation with pick and shovel but it hurt my hands so I'm now saving money to rent an excavating machine.

Wondering if you have any experience in the dry tropics or in shallow soil over rock. I am looking for ideas of what to do with land like that. I am searching all over online, in the forums, emailed PRI and my PDC teacher but without any solid feedback yet. If you could point me in any good direction, I would be so grateful. Sincerely, Natasha

Central Texas USA Zone 8 extreme drought