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Re: Need raised bed advice

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In a message dated 1/19/01 7:26:02 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
mlaute@micron.net writes:

<< Change in health dictates a need for raised beds. I've spent 30 years 
 adding organic matter to my soil, and don't want to start over on what 
 someone else characterizes as "topsoil."  >>

Margaret I applaud your way of thinking there.  Due to my personal health 
challenges I am building raised beds also.  I am making the aisle ways wide 
enough to accomodate my little Honda 3 wheeler and the trailer my DH got for 
it, I want the beds accessible by walker and by wheelchair.  I have a whole 
alphabet of symptoms so I need a well thought out approach to the rest of my 
gardening life.  I am using a combination of cinder blocks and wood for my 
beds.  So far I just have a few cinder blocks but am collecting more and 
filling with my ready compost.  I do like your idea of putting the 
questionable "topsoil" in the bottom of the beds and your good stuff on top.  
I am putting half finished compost on the bottom of my beds here then the 
finished mixed with good soil on the top.  I don't know what your health 
concerns are so I can't be of specific help there.  If you have critter 
damage in your area you might want to line the bottom of your bed with 1/4" 
hardware cloth and make enclosures to the beds to keep animals out.  With the 
deer and neighbors dogs and my cats I ned to have enclosures on mine.  The 
enclosures can be made with hardware cloth in wood frames and can also be 
screened to help keep bugs off your prduce, just be mindful of which crops 
need outside pollinators and which are self pollinating.  You might also want 
to let some of your produce self sow in the bed.  I am going to be trying 
this with my lettuce bed.  I know that the lettuce will cross but that might 
be interesting too.  Good luck on this project and keep us all posted on how 
it goes.

Lisa
Toledo ( 46.4400°N, 122.8460°W)
Hardiness Zone 7
Heat Zone 4
5878.74 Miles to go


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