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If you decide not to use a raised bed
then you must prepare the area first.
Draw a plan for what you want to grow in your raised
bed. Keep the tallest on one side with the smallest to the opposite side. If you have more
then one raised decide which plants will grow where. Change this design
every year so as not to grow the same plants in the same place year after
year.
Location
Choosing a location for your raised bed is very important. The
location needs to be close to the kitchen to provide easy access for the
cook. The location must provide at least 6 to 8 hrs direct sun,
with the more the better. Must have proper drainage. So take a
walk around your place and see if you can pick the perfect spot.
Another consideration is water, it must have a close source.
Never use city water in your raised bed. Many
cities have chlorine (or ?) in their city water. Chlorine kills
bacteria, that is what it does best. However an organic garden requires
natural bacteria in order to function correctly. A garden filter will help
keep your garden alive! You will notice an increase in in
worms and in the gardens overall health. You can make your own
garden filter by converting your shower filter. Info on a gardening filter
is coming, ask me about it.
Putting together the Raised Bed
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A good raised bed should be at least 4ft x 10 ft x 12 inches high x at
least 2 inches thick. Use non treated wood. The wood can
be screwed together for easy break down when needed. If you have
gophers in your area, you will want to screen the bottom
with extra heavy chicken wire. The size of the bed depends on the
area and amount of space you have to use. An ideal situation is to have two or
more raised beds. One 4ft x 12ft x 12 inches x 2 inches can produce enough food for
a family of four. More beds allow you to rotate the beds and allow one bed to grow
green cover which can be turned over.
Filling in the Raised Bed
The following should fit just right into the raised bed. You will have to use what you
find in your area. Start out with a good layer of old horse manure. To this I add either
LLama pellets or Rabbit pellets (nature's time released fertilizer). Add 20 lbs of rock
dust or any other trace mineral source. Add 20 lbs bone meal, 20 lbs alfalfa meal and 2
bales aged wood. Mix well. Water well (water slowly to allow soil to absorb). To this
mixture add 500 lbs compost (if you have it) other wise add enough old horse manure to fill
up to 4 inches from the top. Add another 2 bales aged wood or KRA wood product or any
light soil. Add another 20 lbs rock dust, 20 lbs bone meal, 20 lbs alfalfa meal. The aged
wood will insure the PH will be at the right place. A good PH for the garden is 6.5 to
6.8. Blend everything in together, watering as you go. Finally add enough mulch to fill the
raised bed up to the top. Remember that this soil will settle after a few days, so keep a
few bags of mulch handy to fill to top when needed.
Andy Lopez
The Invisible Gardener
copyright
Tell Em Andy Sent Ya!
Last Update:
March 9, 2013
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dont panic its organic gardening
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