A Raised Bed Means a Strong and Healthy Organic Garden

A plant's roots are fragile, and it's easier for them to push dirt that isn't compacted. Also, it's easier for the water to get in.

That's why gardeners always till their soil in early spring, before they plant their gardens.

Unfortunately, all that tilling isn't the best for your soil. It destroys earthworms who will naturally till your soil if it's healthy enough.

But if you and your family keep trampling on your growing space, your soil won't stay loose from one growing season to the next.

That's where the wonderful raised bed comes in.

A Space For Growing and a Space For Walking

First and foremost, a raised bed clearly marks your growing space - people are less likely to step on a raised bed.

Also, by growing everything on these loosened areas, the rain goes deep into your soil and the excess water runs off. Plants can't stand to sit in puddles.

Best of all, a raised bed is much easier to weed and tend.

So How Do We Dig Them?

Last fall, I cleared a space that was about fourteen feet in width and forty feet in length.

I've found even that much space won't be enough to provide food for my family of five throughout the year, so this fall I'll be digging again.

Supply List

• A large ball of twine
• Scissors
• Stakes or several strong sticks
• A good shovel

I mark off my area using stakes and twine and then start clearing away the grass and weeds. Save your weeds and grass for the compost pile.

That means your bed will be about four feet wide. Give yourself a good three feet of walking space between rows.

That's room enough for a wheelbarrow to get through, should you need it.












Once all of your beds are marked. Dig in the bed area so the soil will be loose down deep.

Because you'll be walking - and pushing a wheelbarrow along these pathways, try to make them as level as possible by digging horizontally rather than vertically.

Once your beds are in place, add plenty of compost.

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