Reply #27: My raised beds

[LiberalEsto]

I used concrete cinderblocks arranged in rectangles to make four raised beds of about 8 feet by 4 feet, with a cross shaped walkway in between them. There is planting soil in the holes of the cinderblocks, and I grow garlic in them, which helps cut down on pests a bit.

The garden is surrounded with 7' high black plastic bird netting on green metal fence posts to keep out deer. There's also 24-inch chicken wire at ground level to keep out the rabbits, which have learned to rip holes in the netting to break in.

The soil was improved Square Foot Gardening style with peat moss, compost and vermiculite. There are tall trellises made of metal electrical conduit, with lengths of cotton clothesline strung down to train up tomatoes, pole beans and cucumbers. (Instructions are on the Square Foot website http://www.squarefootgardening.com/). These trellises allow me to grow more plants in a limited space.

Hope you find this helpful! :)