Spreading Mulch, Building Sponge (Take Two): Our Paid Workday is Back On!

Well, river valley friends, the sky had other plans for us last weekend. If there’s one thing a garden teaches you pretty quickly, it’s that the weather runs the show. We can’t control that and I believe it was Marcus Aurelius who said, “Get over it, Bryan.” No?

But the heat is still coming, our young forest garden still needs its summer blankie, and those woodchips aren’t going to spread themselves. So, we are officially calling a “Take Two” on our hands-on community mulch workday!

We’re trying this again this coming Saturday, July 18th.

Why We’re Mulching (And Why It Matters)

In our humid Arkansas summers, and in every garden, bare dirt is a liability and wasted opportunity for harvesting sunlight. Without cover, the sun bakes the soil biology, and any rainfall we do get just evaporates right back into the sky. Buh-bye.

By tucking in our beds with a thick layer of woodchips, we are creating what permaculturists call a “sponge.” This organic blanket:

• Traps moisture deep in the root zone so we can water less.
• Keeps the soil cool so young plants—like our newly shaded pawpaw—are able to manage the heat better.
• Feeds the soil web, turning tough clay like ours into rich, spongy loam over time.

This isn’t just about farm chores; it’s a living, working model of how we can build badly needed communal abundance and climate resilience from the ground up.

The Workday Details

If you’ve been wanting to see a few permaculture principles in action, or if you just want to spend a summer evening doing some grounded, community-focused work with your neighbors, we’d love to have you on the crew.

• When: This Saturday, July 18th | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (working in the cooler evening hours).
• Compensation: $12/hour.
• What to expect: We’ll be wheeling and spreading mulch around our young tree guilds, pathways and on the windbreak (Rowdy’s Run). We provide the tools, the gloves, and plenty of cold water and shade.
• The Perks: We’ll have dinner and refreshments ready for everyone during the event. Come get some mud on your boots, earn a little extra cash, and let’s build some soil sponge together.

Space is limited so we can make sure we have enough food and tools for everyone.

Want to grab a spot? To RSVP, get the direct farm address, or ask any questions, shoot a text or call me at (479) 841-2629.

Let’s try this one more time—hopefully with a little more cooperation from the clouds!