The Raised Garden Bed Tutorial

Sweet and simple, based on Lasagna Gardening, here it is:

Step one: pick a spot
Be sure to consider what you want to plant in the bed and its light requirements.  For example, tomatoes like it hot and sunny so a garden box in a shady corner won't do the trick.

Step two: build a frame
This can be as simple or fancy as you like.  The simple (cheap construction) seen in the picture below lasted about 2 seasons before the wood decayed.  It was untreated lumber though so, now that they have non-leaching types on the market, I suspect the same frame built with treated lumber would have lasted longer.

Step 3: Fill it up!

Cover the grass with cardboard.  Then lay down 1-2 inches of wet newspaper print (you can soak it in tote while you gather other supplies.)  The paper layers will kill off any grass/weeds and also make an enviting buffet for earth worms, who will migrate from other parts of the yard to feast and (as a result) till the soil under your bed for you!

Then begin layering your organic materials.  I used what was available to me for free:



 Multched leaves (from our two big maple trees)

Coffee grounds (free from your local Starbucks)

manure - the first year I purchased this product, which is really nice stuff, but in subsequent years I have been able to locate good citizens in the area who have horses.  They are kind enough to let me come and (without getting in the way of their work) gather up some barn litter which works really well.  If you are using barn litter try to get the stuff that has aged awhile as it can be quite acidic.

I also put in peat moss, lime, and wood ashes.  I always use leaf multch in between each of the other ingredients because we have so much of that material on hand.  Here's the finished beds:

There are several benefits to doing your gardening this way. 

• The mixture is very loose, light, and aerated - allowing plants to spread out their roots with ease and spend more energy on food production.
• You can plant in it the same day you build it - horray for a complete garden in about an hour!
• The layers will naturally decompose throughout the season, releasing valuable nutrients to your plants all summer long.
• You can easily control the soil pH and tailor it to the plants you desire to grow.
• Because you are essentially creating soil from scratch it is "clean", meaning there are no weed or grass seeds in it!  That means very little time spent weeding and more time spent enjoying your beautiful garden!
• Tilling destroys the topsoil and the habitats of many beneficial insects that will work hard for you if you let them.  Building on top of the ground preserves that resource and actually enhances it by providing shelter.  It's very eco-friendly :)

Don't be limited by rectangle frames - experiment!  With some creativity you will soon see opportunities for layered gardening everywhere.  Here are some other layered beds we made:

Mint in a narrow strip along the wall.
We planted this primarily as a shelter for frogs
in the hopes that they would come and help remove unwanted bugs.



my favorite: a teepee for the kids - healthy snacks always in reach!