We had to move our olive tree to make way for a couple more veggie beds (or, to be more specific, one strawberry and one veggie bed). It really needed to be moved anyway as it’s been very stunted. Partly because of the ring-barking instigated by our tenants and their weed-whacker and partly because our soil is really heavy clay; something olives wouldn’t like. So Frank dug a new hole, mixed sand, compost and soil together and yesterday he planted the olive tree in that.
Here it is in its new position. I have high hopes it will finally do something (though the ring-barking scars still look pretty awful).
Transplanted Olive Tree
Of course, nothing is done in our garden anymore without help from the chickens. They were ever-present and “helpful” throughout the transplanting. They especially seemed fascinated every time Frank picked up a shovel. I thought Rosie was angling for a manicure at one point.
Here’s Isabel checking out the freshly laid mulch (which Frank said was a waste of time since they’d just move it all over the yard – I protested – I was wrong.) Note the mulch under Isabel in the two photos; a classic before and after shot.
Here is the mulched tree one hour later. Bronwyn is inspecting their handiwork. I replaced the mulch after locking them in their coop last night. I am hoping (no doubt, in vain) that they’ll forget about this great hunting ground and leave the mulch alone in the future.
Once the transplanted olive tree was fully inspected, the girls turned their attention to the spot where, until recently, it had stood. If only they would use their powers for good, they might create and turn over our new vegetable beds without Frank needing to strain his back. If only.
Once all the excitement was over, I sowed some spinach seeds in the pot where I’d tried fennel from my kitchen spice rack (not a single sprout). There’s no space in the veggie beds (yet) for the spinach but I only put in 4 seeds and will leave them in the pot permanently. I figure they’ll do better there during the winter than they’d do in the ground anyway. The pot will get full sun and the soil will warm up nicely.
Laura Rittenhouse's Gardening Journal 
I have been planting seeds out into pots so that I have seedlings available whenever I have an empty spot. You do seem to have some willing helpers there.
I feel a bit silly growing things in pots when I have so many veggie beds but I’m finding there’s never going to be enough ground for my plantings so I’ll stick to filling pots as well. I haven’t started permaculture like you have but maybe I’ll resort to putting some spinach (or whatever) under a rose bush eventually.
They’re definitely willing but there’s work do be don on the “helpers” concept.
Are your chickens interested in the leaves on the olive? Mine got into my newly planted orchard and stripped 24 trees almost bare in under an hour.
Oh No! Thanks for the warning. So far they’ve ignored the olive (and every other tree). I don’t know if they just haven’t tried it yet or if there are too many other goodies for them. One more thing I’ll have to keep my eye on.
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