Late as usual

[lizziegrace]

Last year I got the flu about the time the garden should going in. I had to start from nothing as I had no idea what was beneath the grass at this 165 year old house. I decided to put in raised beds using the Lasagna Gardening method. I got 1 4 x 8 bed and one 4 x 4 in last year. This year, I added 4 more 4 x 8 raised beds using lumber to keep it all in place. Here are some photos. Now to get the soil hauled here and put in the boxes...

With the help of a couple of kids in the village, I was able to get these assembled in a couple hours. It's hell having a bad back. :-(

[Paper Roses]

1. I envy you the space. I'd be doing the same if I had room.

This year it was buckets again. Tomatoes, basil, parsley, sage. Not very imaginative but since I could live my whole summer on Tomato salads, I'll be happy if they grow.

Last years disaster of a growing season left us all complaining that the thing we miss most is the tomatoes.

That big boulder in your back yard? That screams to me to put squash seeds all around it and train them to go over the rock. Maybe even cukes. Anything with a vine.

I had to chuckle at your comment about the soil. Any free compost piles at your town dump?

I just finished hauling 85--5 gallon buckets full of dirt to cover most of my front yard. Work in the back done 2 years ago left cement and debris that killed the grass and nothing would grow. Buying 'dirt' was my first effort. Even thought Walmart had 40 pound bags for something like $1.28 ea, by the time I dumped about a dozen bags, I realized I'd be better off getting it in buckets free. Most of the 40 pounds was wed dirt. By the time the water dried, there was hardly any soil to work with. I'm told that the bags are all that way.

Good luck with the work. It is a challenge when the back and feet scream at you.
BTW: Beautiful yard.

[conscious evolution]

2. Is that treated lumber?

If so I got bad news for you.The chemicals used to treat it will leach into your soil and then into your veggies.Not good.

[lizziegrace]

3. no, not treated

They really wanted to sell me treated, but I refused.

[hippywife]

4. But you did real good last year, did you not?

I bet you will be this year, too. Those Ohio farm fields behind your boxes are all the inspiration you need.

You've been bitten by the gardening bug, for sure! :hug: :hi:

[lizziegrace]

5. Yep, I've been bitten badly!

The farmer who owns the property behind the house planted soybeans last year. Looks like he's planted corn this year. That makes me happy since that means I'll be surrounded. :-)

The boxes are full of peat moss, manure and soil. H and I will finally get the planting done tomorrow. It's been so cold and wet here that I don't think I could have really gotten much in the ground sooner.

:hi: