June 2017


Often when I talk about growing a garden with others they feel they don't have the time or room. Luckily, there are simple solutions to these problems. We are going to explore ways to overcome the obstacles that seem to prevent urban dwellers from having a garden.

When I say garden, most people think of a huge sprawling patch of land. What I have in mind is something far simpler. I recommend bin gardening, also known as a raised bed. These types of gardens take little maintenance and can cost next to nothing. The first thing to address is materials. You will need: 1) Any bin, metal, wood, or plastic. (Free - $30). 2) Potting soil: ($1.57 for 40 pounds at Home Depot or free on Craigslist). 3) Wood chips or some other covering such as dead leaves but I recommend wood chips (Abouttrees.com will deliver wood chips free!).

A raised bed can be the most expensive item unless you are willing to get a little creative. The term raised bed can mean many different things, it might mean that your plants are six inches off the ground or four feet.

If you are using something like a water barrel cut in half you might find that you need a frame to put it in. Alternatively, a wooden frame that stands 4 feet off the ground keeps you from having to bend over. If you go this route I recommend going to a salvage site to get materials. Frames are nice but not always necessary.

Now how to put it all together.
1. Firstly, place your raised bed on the ground or on its stand where your plants will get adequate sunlight. A small hole or two in the bottom helps the water drain out. (A wire mesh helps prevent soil loss.)
2. Plant your seeds or starter plants in the dirt and apply your wood chip covering.
3. Then water! DONE!

Now about time investment. The time depends on what you want. A few plants only require a few minutes a day for watering on days without rain. There will be next to no weeds with the woodchip covering. And lastly a little time is needed to harvest.

What do you have in return for your investment? Fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables and you get to spend a little less time at the grocery store! If you plant flowers or herbs you get wonderful smells and a beautiful sight every morning. Truly there is no downside to having your own garden.

_____________________

By Derek Ames

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