
We mowed the grass fresh and staked out some plots with string.
First process is to lay down newspaper in thick clumps right on top of the grass until the plot is totally covered. We used a normal 'fold' of paper about 6-7 pages thick.
First process is to lay down newspaper in thick clumps right on top of the grass until the plot is totally covered. We used a normal 'fold' of paper about 6-7 pages thick.

Next I took a shovel and spread manure compost (From Pam's horse farm) on top of the newspaper. Some folks say this has to be 7-8 inches, but I didn't have enough, so I let it be 2-3 inches thick.
You can see where we are starting the paper for the next bed at right.
You can see where we are starting the paper for the next bed at right.

Now you can see we've got both plots laid with a layer of manure compost.

Next we put on a thick layer, about 4-5 inches, of aged grass clippings, to cover the manure compost. This had aged about 2 weeks, but in the summer heat had already turned grey and nicely rotten!

Here both plots have a thick layer of mulched grass clippings.

Now, a layer of straw, about 2-3 inches thick, on top of the grass clippings...

So, now both beds have in layers (bottom to top): paper, manure, grass clippings, and straw.

I decided to give it a good watering, just to get things started.