It’s like there is almost no topsoil here. A hand’s breadth’s worth at most. And then it’s the hard-packed, concrete-hard, dead layer that no grass or bush roots penetrate, although cherry tree roots and earthworms manage.

And rocks. So many rocks. When the soil is so densely packed, even the smallest pebble stops the spade dead, because it has no wiggle room.

At this pace I can dig every weekend and still not be done before the ground freezes. Ugh.