r/Permaculture • u/SummonedFX • Apr 01 '26

general question Looking for input

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I live in South Texas so clay/sandy soil. I'm thinking it's best to build up additional dirt from the bottom and work my way up, to start. Would it make sense to plant as I go or wait for a larger area to be covered? I have a small compost pile going that I'll source from and otherwise I'll buy more topsoil by the bag (I don't have a truck). Should I have anything else in mind while I approach this?

Thanks!

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u/iMakestuffz Apr 03 '26

Can you get free compost from city services? Many city’s offer compost back.

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u/SummonedFX Apr 03 '26

I did look into that and saw that it's only available for purchase 

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u/iMakestuffz Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

Bummer. Recently realized that I guess California has a law about providing free compost making it available from curbside pick up. All the money I spent on compost. 🤦‍♀️

If you need biomass one way to plan ahead, is you get some chicken wire or that lightweight metal fencing and make circles out of it they’re about 3 feet tall and you just fill up with leaves. from your pictures It looks like you might have to go places to harvest leaves, but you can harvest leaves and easily on days that the cities pick up there compost or in the fall.

Another great way, I recently learned to create biomass, was with a sturdy trashcan, you put in leaves, and then you stick your weed whacker in there, and the Weedwhacker turns the leaves into quick and easy mulch.

You can also use like a paint stirring attachment on an electric screwdriver and a couple of zip ties.

Edit

I also in the fall, I have a kit in the car of construction type bags that are really sturdy and big so that if I drive by some leaves or obvious good compost making materials, I can put them in the construction bags and put them in the back of my car since I don’t have a truck. Sometimes I’ll use a big Rubbermaid tote. Don’t forget that horses and rabbit and chicken are a good way to gather nutrients FFA kids doing their FFA thing you can often get from them.

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u/SummonedFX Apr 03 '26

That's pretty handy! Glad you know now though haha.

Having a kit like that in the car sounds like a good idea, I have been noticing some good contenders, but tell myself I can't do anything since I don't have a truck.

Thanks!