Raised beds

[skinyea]

changing things around the next several years. Have been using mostly raised beds. have 24 at this point. then 30 more containers.

as the beds rot out, am changing them out with deep metal beds. 3 feet deep.

Using HK method that have been practicing for years. somewhat before Meadowlarks posts but certainly fueled by them to do more.

over the next several years will be replacing all wood raised beds with 3 feet deep metal beds. the math says can do 18 beds n the place of the 24 wood ones.

cut down 20 trees about 10 years ago and the wood has been behind my property line kind of rotting away. perfect for HK.

Runnng deeper roots my thinking s putting plants closer together than usual. using the wood from the trees, sticks, cow poop that ws traded for 2 years ago and compost from my 12 different compost beds and some native dirt , will go to the 1st 6 new beds this Feb. will replace the rest as wood rots out

60 Gardening s much different than gardening at 40. the thought of never bending down to garden again makes me happy.

Thank you, Meadowlark, for making me think more can be done on such a small plot of land!

this year my estimate s that will not run out of garden veg till March. and 2026 garden starts hitting n April. 2026 garden will last all year round. will not spend $1.00 on veg at a store.

 

[oneeye]

changing things around the next several years. Have been using mostly raised beds. have 24 at this point. then 30 more containers.

as the beds rot out, am changing them out with deep metal beds. 3 feet deep.

Using HK method that have been practicing for years. somewhat before Meadowlarks posts but certainly fueled by them to do more.

over the next several years will be replacing all wood raised beds with 3 feet deep metal beds. the math says can do 18 beds n the place of the 24 wood ones.

cut down 20 trees about 10 years ago and the wood has been behind my property line kind of rotting away. perfect for HK.

Runnng deeper roots my thinking s putting plants closer together than usual. using the wood from the trees, sticks, cow poop that ws traded for 2 years ago and compost from my 12 different compost beds and some native dirt , will go to the 1st 6 new beds this Feb. will replace the rest as wood rots out

60 Gardening s much different than gardening at 40. the thought of never bending down to garden again makes me happy.

Thank you, Meadowlark, for making me think more can be done on such a small plot of land!

this year my estimate s that will not run out of garden veg till March. and 2026 garden starts hitting n April. 2026 garden will last all year round. will not spend $1.00 on veg at a store.

Sounds very interesting, can you post some photos friend? Everyone loves to see other people's projects because they learn a great deal. Keep us posted?

 

[Meadowlark]

....Thank you, Meadowlark, for making me think more can be done on such a small plot of land!

It is amazing how much produce one can get from small plots of land. That fact gives me a lot of hope for the future.

I'd really like to see a picture of those metal beds...sounds really interesting.

this year my estimate s that will not run out of garden veg till March. and 2026 garden starts hitting n April. 2026 garden will last all year round. will not spend $1.00 on veg at a store.

That makes me smile and will keep me smiling all day at least! Tremendous gardening success @skinyea

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I had wood around my beds, but I have been gradually changing them. We are on straight clay here as the sub soil, so I have been digging out the clay, replacing it with wood and putting the clay as a bank around the edge of the bed. It doesn't rot and it keeps the temperature pretty constant. I am also introducing wild flowers to it and it is starting to look nice, primroses, spotted orchids, oxeye daisy; nicer than wood or metal.

 

[GFTL]

Your bed Ideas sound great. I have a few wood beds that I've considered making taller or replacing. My easiest and most productive beds are IBC wicking beds. Just add compost and leaf cover in the fall then add water once a week while growing. My raised beds and ground beds are irrigated.

 

[skinyea]

Raised beds are definitely the way to go as I get older. Much easier to garden in.
These are 3 feet high.
Old rotting tree limbs, sticks, cardboard, leaves, finished garden compost finished cow poop and regular dirt.
Will fill with more compost and dirt between summer and fall garden.