How To Dig A Raised Bed
Sue Merriam Why a raised bed? A raised bed is an important part of a healthy and strong organic garden. Plants grow best when they are in loose soil. A plant's roots are fragile, and it's easier for them to push dirt that isn't compacted. Also, it's easier for the water to get in. That's why gardeners always till their soil in early spring, before they plant their gardens. Unfortunately, all that tilling isn't the best for your soil. It destroys earthworms who will naturally till your soil if it's healthy enough. But if you and your family keep trampling on your growing space, your soil won't stay loose from one growing season to the next. That's where these wonderful beds come in. A Space For Growing and a Space For Walking. A designated space with the earth piled high and deep serves several useful purposes. First and foremost, they clearly mark your growing space - people are less likely to step on a raised bed. Also, by growing everything on these loosened areas, the rain goes deep into your soil and the excess water runs off. Plants can't stand to sit in puddles. Best of all, these beds are much easier to weed and tend. So How Do We Dig Them? If you don't already have an area cleared for your garden, you'll need to do that first. Think of it as an opportunity to get your garden off to a good start! Last fall, I cleared a space that was about fourteen feet in width and forty feet in length. I've found even that much space won't be enough to provide food for my family of five throughout the year, so this fall I'll be digging again. Here's what you'll need: A large ball of twine Scissors Stakes or several strong sticks A good shovel I mark off my area using stakes and twine and then start clearing away the grass and weeds. Save your weeds and grass for the compost pile. Next, you'll need to mark off the areas for your plants to live. A good width is one where you can reach to the middle of the bed easily without having to stand on the bed itself. That means your bed will be about four feet wide. Give yourself a good three feet of walking space between rows. That's room enough for a wheelbarrow to get through, should you need it. Once all of your beds are marked. Dig in the bed area so the soil will be loose down deep. Then start digging on both sides of the bed. The goal here is to take about four inches off of each walkway and add them to the beds. Because you'll be walking - and pushing a wheelbarrow along these pathways, try to make them as level as possible by digging horizontally rather than vertically. Once your beds are in place, add plenty of compost. And you're done! About the Author
Sue Merriam is author of Organic Gardening and Homesteading, a website that gives tips on organic gardening, homesteading, frugal living, and healthy, frugal cooking. Sue Merriam may be contacted at http://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com. Click here to view more articles by Sue Merriam. Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com
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