The Times They Are A Changing

Yes, I know winter is about to blanket us and in some places it already has. Yet, in my opinion this is the perfect time to start planning a garden for spring. I am a complete advocate of people knowing and growing, at least, some of their fruits and vegetables. I know I have no interest in car motors or reptiles as pets. So, if you don’t have any interest in gardening, I understand. But, if you have even an inkling of desire to take responsibility for part of your annual diet, let me show you how even the beginner can start a small garden and grow food. After all, growing vegetables from the earth is one of the most basic and “down to earth” things you can do.

First of all, I am an avid fan of the raised bed gardening method. It’s pretty easy, it can be done small or large and, most importantly, it’s up a foot or so from the ground so there’s less strain on the back when your bending over.

Now is the perfect time to build your raised bed wood frames so they’ll be ready to put out in the garden as soon as the first sign of spring is here.

Building Raised Bed Frames

1. Decide what size and how many raised beds you will have. If you are a beginner, perhaps you would like to start with just one. If you are more advanced, make as many as will fill your garden area. The genius of this method is that you can make your wood frame any size you like. Make them long and narrow (2 by 6 feet) or square (2 by 2 feet or 4 by 4 feet).

2. Purchasing your wood. You can go to a lumber yard or someplace like Home Depot or Lowes to buy your lumber. But, before that you will want to have your board sizes figured out and written on a list. If you have your own skill or table saw, you can cut it yourself. However, they will cut the boards for you at the store or lumber yard. Remember that your end sides will overlap the long side boards, so you will have to allow 2” on each of the side boards, considering you will purchase 1X6 foot boards. Natural cedar is a nice choice of wood.

3. Purchase connector brackets. I have found, not especially being talented in the woodworking area that purchasing metal corner brackets make quick, easy work of attaching the boards into frames. You will be able to get those at the same location as the lumber. Screwing these brackets into the wood at the inside corners is the easiest and most secure way to go. However, you can nail them in also.

4. Make frames. Now, just assemble your boards and brackets to make your raised bed frames. They can be stored on their sides in the garage or shed until early spring when you can take them out and organize them in your garden area.

Note: When you get ready to lay out your frames in the garden, you will need woo or metal stakes to pound into the ground at the inside corners. This will keep your frame in place. You can get those now or wait until their needed.

Tomorrow: Garden Soil