July 24, 2012  Soil preparation is an important part of developing a healthy environment for plants to grow in. A main feature of the Orchard Gardens is obviously the area where a variety of fruit trees will be planted near the center of the site. Our construction team found a layer of caliche below the surface soils and therefore need to excavate deeper and bring in suitable soils for the trees to be planted this fall. They will be adding 18 inches of topsoil to the surface to also improve the conditions of the existing soil profile. Here is how the orchard looks as the excavation is in progress this week: