How to use this information

Do the best you can. You can make the beds into any shape or design or from any material you want....

andy lopez

Invisible Gardener

The Raised Bed

The above was dig down a few feet then filled up to almost top with mixed organic potting soil and compost and rock dust. Note water bib at end.

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.

Garden Filter

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. Get your Garden Filter Here

Putting together the Raised Bed

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.

Gopher Protection

We put a wire mesh along bottom of this one.

raised bed with soil

Treat the wood

The wood should be treated with OTKO. A natural citrus that will soak into the wood and protect it.

another raised bed

this shows how to protect it with a row cover