Raspberry Patch!

Hello!
Wow… we are about six weeks out from when we are booked to fly back to Japan, and I’ve just managed to finalise booking all the accommodation and locations we intend to be! That was QUITE the challenge this time.
Anyway … more on that another time!

Raspberry Patch!
Oh my! Look at it!!!
We made a start and I ended up just biting the bullet and saying “Lets just dig up the LOT and start again.”
I am sure Jeff was more than thrilled!

It took us one day to clear the patch – I was also setting aside canes to replant or give away

And seriously! How is it possible to dig up this much ‘archaeology’ in a patch that has been used for years??
And why the coat hook? I’ve tried to envision a reason WHY a coat hook ended up buried in my raspberry patch, but I am failing.
Suggestions (no matter how outrageous) welcome!

Anyway, we got to this point (below) before having to quit for the day.
(Ohhhh my creaking bones and aching muscles!)

The next day we got back into it.
We re dug the entire patch to help get out extra weeds and a few more potatoes (yes… there are ALWAYS potatoes!)(And another bit of crockery or two)

So good!

Anyway, I didn’t want to use the clothes line like I have in the past to give the canes some structure to help with the wind
We used the bamboo to make a more rigid framework to tie the canes to.

It turned out looking pretty neat and reasonably solid.
Then I dug trenches in each of the sections, added compost and manure and chose the best canes to put back in.
Also leaving a good space to be able to walk around for picking – not like last years disaster of a jungle with added excitement of the tiger snake!

I was so over it by this stage but couldn’t quit…

And the finishing touch was to tie them all to the structure!
I reckon it looks a million bucks better!
Not sure what the harvest will be like but it was high time to do this. Too many weeds were ingrown into the raspberry plant bases to be able to get out and lots of canes just growing wherever they pleased. It was anarchy out there!
Once we put the net back up we can mulch it… no point until then as our precious chooks would just kick it all out of course!

Anyway, not much else has been done in the yard but I am happy to have this massive job out of the way!
Hope everyone is doing well!
xxx