RE: bed size

H* A*

Mark,

How much space do you have?

Seriously, community garden raised beds can range from the tiny 6' x 4' beds
we have in Manhattan's Clinton Community Garden ( a 150' x 100' sized
garden) http:www.clintoncommunitygarden  ( if the site is working today) to
the huge garden beds ( 40' x 40' ???)    in the world famous Eagle Heights
garden in Madison Wisconsin which you can examine from the aerial photo and
plot layout map.

 http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~ehgarden/gallery/photo.html

Ideally, all plots should have enough space around them so gardeners do not
have to step into other gardeners plots to tend them. Paths here in the
Clinton garden in NYC are brick and wide enough for a person with a
wheelbarrow to get through. Ideally, paths should be at least two
wheelbarrows wide.

Rule of thumb: The plots should be no larger than a reasonably fit person
can manage with 2 -3 visits a week during the growing season and the paths
no larger than what will be maintained by all the gardeners ( keeping them
weed free and unobstructed.) Many serious community gardeners do more, but
the general run make do with some weekend and a mid week visit in cities. 

If you choose to go the raised bed route, please be sure NOT to used treated
wood. Treated wood is filled with all sorts of chemical preservatives (
arsenic mainly) which will leak into your soil and the soil of your
neighbors and make it toxic. Good materials include: untreated raw wood,
recycled plastic board and bricks. Some folks are happy to used raised
mounds of dirt.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Marc Dick [SMTP:mdick@cocoafl.org]
> Sent:	Tuesday, April 17, 2001 9:47 AM
> To:	community_garden@mallorn.com
> Subject:	[cg] bed size
> 
> What is the ideal size for garden beds? and What is the ideal aisle width
> between beds?

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