Six Pots, Patience, and Growing Pains

Today marks the beginning of a new experiment with six 90-inch cube pots, each carefully layered to support future growth. I prepared them with a rich soil blend of coconut fiber, chicken manure, and perlite, then hydrated them strategically—city water for the bulk, followed by rainwater on top. Between the layers sits a middle section of vegetable scraps and worm compost with red worms, creating a living foundation for whatever plants will eventually call these pots home. The pots now sit on wet sand, where they'll begin the slow work of wicking moisture upward. This process, I've learned, can take weeks to fully saturate a pot of this size, so patience is part of the plan.

The real question now becomes one of selection: what variety of edible plants will we introduce to maximize the garden's diversity and productivity? Before that decision, though, there's a practical matter to address. The exposed sand between pots has begun attracting algae growth, which isn't catastrophic but does slow water movement downward and consumes valuable nutrients in the process. We'll need to cover the sand soon to minimize sun exposure and keep the water system flowing efficiently.

The pond itself continues to thrive, which is encouraging. The fish are active and alert—a reliable indicator of good conditions. The water clarity could be better, I'll admit, but it's not yet a concern. The slight cloudiness appears to be managing itself, and the fish behavior suggests the system is holding steady. The plants around the pond look reasonably healthy overall, though they're showing more yellowing than I'd like. It may be related to tannins in the water, which could be mildly suppressing growth, though the exact cause remains unclear.

As we move into the next phase of this experiment, the focus shifts to patience and observation. The pots will continue their slow hydration, the sand will be covered to keep algae in check, and we'll watch closely for any changes in both the pond ecosystem and plant health. There's work ahead, but the groundwork—literally and figuratively—is in place.