Inspiration and perspiration

Several weeks ago, I spent quite a bit of time digging up raspberry roots that were invading the area near the apple tree.  As I dug out the roots with the spading fork, I noticed that I was practically tilling the whole area.  Then it dawned on me that I might be able to plant something there.  The area is close enough to the apple tree to get some shade, but since it is the south side of the apple tree it gets some sun as well.  I looked for a crop that could tolerate a lower pH than the garden since I haven't adjusted the naturally acid soil under the apple tree.  I chose lima beans.  According to my Wyatt Quarles planting guide, the best pH for lima beans is 5.5 to 6.5.  (I can't eat lima beans; maybe I'm sensitive to the cyanide in them.  They burn my tongue and give me horrible heartburn.  My husband likes them, though, so if these beans produce, they will be for him.)
I mulched the area between the 2 rows with cardboard that siding came in. 
Here's a little loop of stem just emerging.

 

Here is the row of little bean sprouts.

 

The bean project was my inspiration.

My ongoing project (and this is where the perspiration comes in) is trying to get a handle on all the poison ivy.  While the house next door is vacant, I have been trying to pull up some poison ivy that is growing on the other side of the fence (which actually is still a couple of feet on my property).

You can see the large pile of honeysuckle, poison ivy, and sundry saplings that I have stacked by the fence.  That's about 3-hours' worth of work, and with long sleeves to cover my skin, pretty sweaty work.

 

I think I should remember to put lemonade on the grocery list.