|
Post by binnylou on Aug 14, 2018 20:39:08 GMT -5
New beds were placed today and some soil was added. Now they are ready for logs.
Hubby got to "play" on his little blue tractor.
|
|
|
Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Aug 16, 2018 16:15:35 GMT -5
binnylou, how will you be "preparing" the logs? Will you be repeatedly watering them? I've been thinking about this more and more and like the idea. I was thinking though to make things easier that I would use greenery and a wattle fence (always wanted to try this) instead of boards for the border. I've been planning something like that for quite a while. Please keep posting: I'm anxiously following your progress!
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Aug 16, 2018 17:13:19 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️ , We have several piles of firewood and we don't burn much wood...only keep some in case of power outages in the winter and taking some for camping. I have four 50 gallon barrels that we use for storing shredded leaves. Two are empty, so we are going to fill them with the logs and cover with water to let them soak. I have hopes for this plan.
|
|
|
Post by tom 🕊 on Aug 16, 2018 20:46:49 GMT -5
I have hopes for this plan. I had poor luck trying to soak wood in a barrel. The wood did not soften. I think it might work if the wood had been weathered and become pulpy.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Aug 16, 2018 20:49:53 GMT -5
I think it might work if the wood had been weathered and become pulpy. The wood has been cut and in a pile for a few years.
|
|
|
Post by martywny on Aug 17, 2018 14:41:48 GMT -5
desertwoman, binnylou, davidjp, restless, ahntjudy, pepperhead212, SpringRain🕊️, I didn't see this post when it first showed up but here's my $.02 for the record. I used rough-cut Larch boards for my raised beds. The first set of beds used 2" x 8" x 8' boards joined at the corners with lag screws and angle iron. The second set used 1" x 6" x 8' boards stacked to be 12" high whereas the first set was 8" high. The second set had 2" x 2" wood uprights in each corner which the boards were attached to using deck screws. All beds are 2' x 8' The first set is rock solid, wood is two years old and holding up very well. The second set had a bit of bowing due to the thinner (1") wood and the fact I did not put a brace in the center. Next set will be of the first design again but deeper at 12" - 16" or so.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Oct 1, 2018 13:56:31 GMT -5
Yesterday I placed the water soaked logs in the new raised beds. Unfortunately, we underestimated how many logs we needed. What we had soaked only covered about half of the area of the raised beds. So...back to the woodpile I go. I'll have to take hubby along because I can't identify old walnut from the other available wood. I'm not going to bother soaking the next batch of logs. I need to get the beds filled and put to rest for the winter.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Oct 7, 2018 14:12:41 GMT -5
Patiently waiting for soil/growing medium...mixing wet shredded leaves, peat and soil is gonna be a whole bunch of fun. We used to use an old cement mixer for mixing potting soil. It did a great job...then it died. DSCF0329 by BLou, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by davidjp on Oct 7, 2018 19:50:32 GMT -5
binnylou, That's pretty impressive, well done
|
|
|
Post by pepperhead212 on Oct 7, 2018 20:25:29 GMT -5
binnylouNice setup! Maybe you can replace the motor on the cement mixer? Usually things like that are standard, and you can get deals on things like that at Harbor Freight.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Oct 7, 2018 23:45:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Oct 13, 2018 10:41:09 GMT -5
For those who line the bottoms of your raised beds with hardware cloth...are you concerned about the metal being toxic or leaching into the soil. I wasn't concerned about that, and then was reading comments on another FB page. Now I'm not going to dig up the raised beds and redo them. Just wondering what you think.
Some days, ya gotta pick yer battles.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Oct 13, 2018 13:42:12 GMT -5
I'm not concerned. My understanding is that galvanized steel is safe- especially as a liner at the bottom. The coating is zinc, which is what leaches but does not seep far into the soil. Raised beds made of galvanized steel (rather than wood) are used by some and even this exposure remains fairly safe. I figure a lining at the bottom will leave me with minimal exposure to zinc and most likely will leach downward into the top soil it is sitting on, as the water soaks down. This is an article I read a few years ago that led me to feel the lining I have at the bottom of my wood raised bed is minimal exposure and is safe. So this is not a battle I choose to pick. raisedbeds.com/blogging/is-safe-to-garden-in-galvanized-steel-garden-beds-or-planters/
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Oct 19, 2018 12:13:55 GMT -5
With three new raised beds to play with, I have to rearrange my garden planting plans. The new beds are located in the shade of a big old oak tree. They will get early morning and late afternoon sunshine, but the beds will be protected from the harsh mid-day sunshine.
One bed will be devoted to lettuces...I'm tired of playing Russian roulette when purchasing romaine at the grocery. If I grow peas next year, they may go a new bed. I've read that kale tolerates shade. I've always grown Kale in full sun and have not had problems.
I'd welcome your suggestions for veggies that would like/tolerate the shaded area. What works for you?
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Oct 19, 2018 12:58:37 GMT -5
The things I've planted in partially shaded beds are kale, lettuce, chard, beans, peas, cauliflower, onions.Even tomatoes one year that did sur.prisingly well
|
|