Raised Garden Bed 2013

Last year we built a raised garden bed that was about 9′ x 9′ square with an isle for access to all around. We planted some of it while waiting for the last frost date. Once we were ready to plant, the grass had started growing very well and then the ticks came. After removing a couple just getting close we decided that we’d have to leave it for the little nhblood suckers. There is great hope that our long, cold, snowy winter has decimated those little pests, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Speaking of ticks, did you know that some of them can survive years, yes years without food or water? And that they can survive temperatures below 20° fahrenheit as long as it doesn’t stay that way for more a couple of days. As much as we don’t like to admit it, it seems like this winter is just what mother nature needed to do to get rid of the unwanted blood suckers.

Planning is underway and we will again be using the Square Foot Gardening method as described by Mel Bartholomew. That gives us approximately 63 square feet to work with, which is the equivalent of about 4 boxes of 16 squares each. That should feed 2 people pretty well through out the season, but probably not leave much for storage.

Here’s what is planned this year: basil | beans | beets | bok choy | cabbage | carrots | celery | chamomile | cilantro | cucumbers | dill | garlic | kale | leek | lettuce | marjoram | onions | oregano | parsley | peas | peppers | potatoes | radishes | rosemary | sage | spinach | squash | swiss chard | tarragon | thyme | tomatoes | zucchini. That’ll keep us busy for awhile I think.

Usually our household has a community shared agriculture (CSA) share and it’s nice getting all that fresh produce each week, but some of it we didn’t even know what it was much less how to serve it. This year we’ll be collecting recipes both to use it as well as preserve it.

Until next time, keep on growing!