Growing Together: Open Forum

Round up is a no go. I would recommend a conversation about that not being used, especially near food. You may ultimately have to come up with a plan to manage the weeds, but roundup is horrible for human health and the health of the planet. You can find a lot of data to back that up on line. 

we use sheet mulching between garden beds , layering think pieces of cardboard and mulch on top. It does need manage with upkeep but it doesn't take much in a small space like yours. 

Good luck! Be the change! 

Thank you I have spoken with them before about it and have again recently - will pray that they stop - and pray it hasn't already affected what we have planted- we are looking for an alternate location hate to have to try to relocate 8 beds 🥹

Yes, sheet mulching works great and the kids can do it. You can leave it there forever. Add more mulch later if needed. Keeps the soil healthy so you can easily plant there later if you want. I typically do it in fall - a layer of newspaper, dry leaves, cardboard and mulch. With all the rain in California, I needed to do it quickly this spring so I just did cardboard and bark. 

Hello, 

I sure understand where you are.  I had to battle the perception that only environmental wackos should have a problem with roundup!  
here is how I solved it.  First I put down a layer of overlapping cardboard.  This will only last about 1 year. Next I put down a layer of crushed limestone in the paths to about 3" deep. This will set up hard after a few rains.  Final step is to lay a thick lawyer of pea gravel.  
I know it sounds like a lot but I am in the 19th year of our gardens and raised beds. I am all about low maintenance and durability.  
even in future years to come if any grass or weeds sprout they remove very easily from the pea gravel.  Your greatest challenge is to get people to NOT put plants with soil on roots in the walkways.  

hope this helps.  We are in our 5th year of no-till, pesticide-free, gardening for thirty families.  We have pollinator gardens, bird sanctuaries, water ecosystem, and a 49' by 60' space consisting of raised beds. Two king beds are for vertical gardening! 

happy Gardening, 

Donna Burrus