Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies. I am by no means an expert, but over the course of the past several years I have been learning by research and of course trial and error. There are so very many factors that come into play when gardening: sunlight, soil quality, water, types of seeds, time of year, and the list goes on and on.
This is our second year using raised beds and I love them. Last year they did okay, but I believe they were in a spot that didn’t get enough sunlight. I wasn’t even sure our budget was going to allow for a vegetable and herb garden this year. It’s kind of silly when you think about it, because planting your own garden saves money in the long run. Last week my sweet husband surprised me with organic plants and seed packets. After working hard all day, he came home one day last week and moved our raised beds from their not-so-ideal location to a sunnier and more accessible area of our yard. I am so grateful and anxious to work in my garden this spring!
There are many benefits to a raised bed garden:
- Beauty – My raised beds are positioned right outside the kitchen window near my rose garden. So as I am sitting on my back porch (which I also like to call my office, weather permitting) or working in the kitchen, I can look out and see the beautiful plants God created for me to enjoy. The beds are wooden and pleasing to the eye as well and have become a focal point in our yard.
- Pest Free – We have wild rabbits in our neighborhood and we have a little Yorkie that likes to get into mischief, so My Love put lattice around my raised beds to keep out our garden friends. We’ll watch the garden closely this year for birds, and if they start pecking at the veggies we’ll cover the tops. You could easily cover the tops with screen, chicken wire, or lattice.
- Weed Free – Raised beds are much easier to weed because it is contained. You can put a weed barrier down to prevent weeds as well. It wasn’t in our budget to do so this year, but I have used weed barrier in the past. You can also use wet newspapers as a weed barrier.
- Easier to manage – Because a raised bed garden is contained, the soil drains better, it is physically much easier to manage, water, inspect, and harvest. It also encourages children to help as well. When they see a huge garden it can be overwhelming, but when they see raised beds the job seems more inviting and less daunting.
- Cost Effective – You waste a lot less water when the only area you have to cover is that within the raised beds. Also, you only plant what you need at the time. If you store your leftover seeds correctly, then you can plant more when needed or save them for next planting season. If you choose plants that grow well in your region and that you would normally purchase from the grocery store, then you’ll be saving yourself a lot of money in the long run!
- Confidence and Success – Starting with small raised beds will be simple. You are likely to have success with smaller beds. You’ll gain more knowledge about gardening and confidence in your abilities. With each passing year you can grow the size and variety of your garden.
Here are some wonderful resources for raised bed gardening:
It’s pretty easy to build a raised bed. Here’s some simple online instructions for building a raised bed. When you get your garden underway, send me a picture. I’d love to see it!
Happy and fruitful gardening!
Mandy