We're on old farmland, I guess, not hardly a tree in sight, and it gets verrrrrry windy around here. We have heavy clay soil, and I have absolutely no idea how to start with it. I want to have a raspberry patch, a strawberry patch, and a small garden for tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and herbs. Do I need raised beds for all these things? Or should I spade up the clay and add compost? All of the above?

I'd like to just let the raspberries grow into a hedgerow, because we have plenty of room to mow down suckers.

Thanks for any hints you can give me to get me started!

Good luck!!
Shannon

Clay is a pain in the neck to work with for the first few years. Once you've gotten some compost into it, it is much easier.

Diane