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Organic Raised Bed Gardening Using an
Easier Raised Bed For Your Organic Garden Without the Digging
Organic raised bed gardening using this easier raised bed provides a rich soil for your gardening without the digging.
An easier raised bed is appealing to self reliant gardeners.
Those who are homesteading usually have a lot on their plates besides gardening:
animals to tend, repairs to make and countless others chores to finish, so they naturally want things as simple as possible.
But this marvelous system is also ideal for the elderly, children or anyone who just want their gardening to be a little simpler.
Patricia Lanza described this simpler way of preparing soil for organic gardening in her wonderful book, Lasagna Gardening . While fall is the perfect time to prepare these beds – giving your organic materials ample time to break down before spring planting – you can also prepare them a week or so before planting. If you do prepare your beds in the spring, go easy on matter that is high in nitrogen like alfalfa hay or fresh grass clippings. Otherwise the nitrogen will heat up the temperature inside your pile and could burn the roots of your plants.
Organic Raised Bed Gardening
The Perfect Environment For Healthy Plants
These wonderful, easier raised beds provide ideal growing conditions for your plants so they become strong from the inside out.
That will mean fewer pests and diseases.
All that organic matter holds in the moisture, which means less stress on your plants, and because the beds are raised, their roots are not as likely to become waterlogged.
Also, people are less likely to step on a raised bed, so the soil does not become as impacted.
Organic Raised Bed Gardening
Getting Started
First, you will want to stake off your area.
The easiest way is to use wooden stakes and string.
Once your area is marked, stomp down all the grass and weeds and then layer the area with wet newspaper.
It is important to wet the newspapers thoroughly so they don’t blow away in windy weather.
You are going to need a lot newspapers so don't skimp in this area.
You will need enough paper to block out the sunlight so the grass and weeds that are underneath the newspapers die.
To keep the grass and weeds from sneaking through, overlap the edges of the papers.
The wet newspapers will provide a dark, moist area that will attract earthworms to this easier raised bed.
These lovely little insects will tunnel through all your organic matter and convert the different layers into rich garden soil.
Organic Raised Bed Gardening
Add the Layers
This easier raised bed method is called lasagna gardening because just like in lasagna, you add different layers for an easier raised bed.
For the layers you put on top of the newspapers, you can add grass clippings, straw, spoiled hay, composted kitchen waste, shredded office paper, leaves or leaf mold, wood ashes, or pine needles.
Materials such as leaves and pine needles will need to be chopped by a shredder or your lawn mower.
You can also add manure, but make certain it is composted first before adding it to your easier raised bed to keep it from introducing harmful bacteria to your soil.
If it still smells, don't use it.
Keep alternating the materials until you have an easier raised bed that is the desired height.
How high you want your bed will depend on what you plan to plant.
For example, tomatoes will need a bed of at least twelve inches, while lettuce and radishes will need a much shallower bed.
Coarser materials, such as hay will compact as they decompose, so if you use a lot of these items, make your bed a bit higher.
Once your bed is high enough to suit, cover it with black plastic, and weigh the plastic down with rocks or bricks on the edges to hold it in place.
The black plastic will absorb heat from the sun and increase the temperature of your bed, cooking everything nicely.
If you make your bed in the spring, the warmer outside temperatures will cook your bed much more quickly.
If you build your bed in the fall, keep the plastic on it until early spring.
Organic Raised Bed Gardening
Planting Time
The great thing about these easier raised beds is you don't need to dig to plant.
Instead, just pull the layers aside, put in your plant and push material around the stem.
If you have a shallow bed, never cut into the newspaper.
Instead, gently pull the roots apart, fanning them in different directions and set them directly on the newspaper.
That way the roots will stretch out laterally and your plants will get lots of wonderful nutrients.
Your vegetables will be strong, healthy and provide you with a bountiful harvest.Happy organic raised bed gardening!
Extra Gardening Tips
Comprehensive Course on Gardening! Increase the value of your home by 30%.
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A garden kneeler and seat
makes daily weeding chores much easier by easing the strain on your lower back and knees while protecting your clothing from stain and injuries.
To protect your back, use a lifting tool
for heavy pots and other objects.
Long-term exposure to the elements will damage your tools and shorten their use.
Store your tools and other gardening supplies in a portable storage bin .
To make yard and garden cleaning easier, use a Kangaroo Gardening Container .
Invest in a sharpening tool
to keep your shovel and other gardening tools sharp and easier to work with.
Grow a successful hydroponic gardening with this helpful resource.
Protect your hands from insects and other injuries by wearing good quality gardening gloves.
More Homestead Gardening Links
Thinking about gardening the organic way? Follow these simple steps first.
Want to save even more money when gardening? Purchase bulk seeds for cost savings and self reliant preparation.
Get an early start on your gardening by starting your seeds indoors. Here are some tips.
Ready to grow your own vegetables, but you're not sure where to begin?
Learn which vegetables are the easiest to grow by clicking here.
The most comprehensive gardening instruction available on the internet!
Learn more.
Are you thinking about putting in a garden?
Follow these tips.
For healthy strong plants, put in raised beds.
Or avoid the digging altogether and put in these easier raised beds.
For truly rich, healthy soil, learn how to make your own compost.
Protect your plants and keep down weeds by mulching. Here are some mulching tips.
Build up your soil, and you'll keep pests down to a minimum, but what happens if pests do attack your garden? Here are some pest control tips
100's Of Wonderfully Frugal, Eco-Friendly and Highly Resourceful Gardening Techniques.
click here to learn more.
Gotten into poison ivy lately. Learn how to treat that awful itch. Here's how.
Do you have limited space? Consider growing your organic garden in containers.
Ready to have your own container garden? Here are some tips on finding the right garden container
Gardening can be much more than a hobby; it can also be a way to raise most of your food. Here's how.
An good resource for raising your own food is this ebook.
If you want the richest humus for your gardening, consider composting with worms
Save Thousands of Dollars a Year With This Fully Illustrated Guide.
Click here to learn more.
Want to have fresh greens for your salad all winter? Then build this easy, effective cold frame.
Get your garden off to the right start with strong growth and an early harvest. Learn how you can germinate seeds.
So why should you pursue organic gardening? Learn the benefits by clicking here.
True self sufficiency means being able to produce your own excellent-quality seeds. Here's how.
To save seeds, you must start with quality plants. Learn why you should purchase the seeds of heirloom plants by clicking here.
Have you thought about organic gardening but don't know where to begin?
Try these tips.
Have a Bountiful Organic Garden using a tiny amount of space.
Learn more.
As homesteaders, we primarily think about gardening to raise food, but beauty is also important.
Learn the importance of cottage gardening.
When planning your garden, don't forget to grow herbs. Not only do they smell nice and add flavoring to food, many also have healing qualities.
Learn more.
Got a bumper crop of potatoes or other root vegetables this season?
Learn an economical way to store them to keep them fresh all winter by clicking here.
If you want to extend your growing season, a small greenhouse might be just the ticket.
Learn more.
If you are thinking about adding on a lean to greenhouse, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Read more.
The winter months are a perfect time for planning your spring garden.
Learn more.
Summer garden not all you hoped it to be? Consider putting in a fall garden, but be sure to protect your plants from frosty nights.
Learn how.
The ins and outs of storing produce from your garden can be found by clicking here.
If you had an abundant harvest of root vegetables this year, don't let them go to waste; store them using this time-proven method instead.
Read more.
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