Raised Bed Garden Journal - The Design & Parts List

Background

We've a vegetable area (12' x 12') where we tried to grow our vegetables during the summer months. We've some success, but not great. Over the years, the area seems to have more weeds than vegetables. I've decide to clean up that area and replace it with a nice raised bed garden. After some research about the benefits of a raised bed garden. Since our soil is mostly clay, a raised bed garden will be a big improvement.

Photo of the existing garden area. As you can see, not very attractive at all.

Here a few benefits:

• Higher Yields
• Improved Soil Conditions
• Ease of Working
• Ease of Pest Control
• Water Conservation

More detail info on the benefits of raised bed garden:

• http://www.raised-garden-beds.com/Advantages-2.htm
• Raised Bed Gardening
• http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/gardenerscorner/raised_bed_gardening.htm

There are many articles describing the advantages if you google for it.

Looking for a Plan

In the spirit of DIY, of course, I would like to build my own fancy raised bed garden. First, I would need some research on the size and shape of a raised bed. Some more Google on the net to see if anyone else built their own raised garden. Here are a few sites I found and use them as a guide for mine.

• The Perfect Raised Bed
• A Raised Vegetable Garden
• Recipe for Raised Bed Garden
• Raised Bed Garden and Planters
• Very nice raised bed garden selection.

Initially, I was planning to use pressure treated lumber to build the beds. But after reading this excellent article "Does Pressure-Treated Wood Belong in the Garden?", I changed my mine to use cedar instead. I think you can still use pressure treated wood but install a plastic lining to the inner wall of the bed to prevent arsenic leakage into the soil.

The Design

For the garden, one of the main features I would like to have is an arbor to serve as a focal point. It serves as an entrance to the garden. Because of time constraint, I'm planning on buying an arbor instead of building one. I shopped online and I've decided on this one. The Rosedale Arbor. The price is reasonable and it's expandable.

After searching online for bed design, I've decide to settle for the design from this site. Raised-Garden-Beds.com "the Sussex". The height will be 22" (4 pieces of 2x6 boards). In the pathways, I planning to put some sort of flag stone. I'm thinking of putting down irregular Pennsylvania Blue Stone. The overall dimension of the garden will be 12' W x 12' L x 22" H.

Using SketchUp, I created the following drawing.
SketchUp files. Overall design and detail post cut measurements.

The Parts List
This project requires 4 x 4 cedar posts, and 2x6 boards.

• 37 pieces of 2x6 8-foot cedar boards
• 8 pieces of 4x4 8-foot cedar posts
• Outdoor deck screws. (2lbs)

(37) 2x6 boards and (8) 4x4 posts

Tools needed:

• Cordless drill
• Power Miter Saw. Must have the capability to cut 2x6 boards
• Table Saw
• Dado blades
• Mallet
• Shovel
• Leveler ruler
• A Sledgehammer to help pound the bed to level.
  

In the next article, The building of the raised beds garden.

Create Your Own Glass Cleaner

Using house hold items around the house, you can make your own glass cleaner. It's not hard and you avoid cancer causing chemicals that are store bought brands.

GLASS CLEANER
3 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
1/2 cup alcohol
1/4 teaspoon dish washing liquid
a few drops blue food coloring
water

Combine the vinegar, alcohol, dish washing liquid, and food coloring, then add enough water to make 1 quart. If you prefer a ammonia cleaner, substitute 2 tablespoons ammonia for the vinegar.

Tips

1. White vinegar is best for cleaning.
2. When you use vinegar to wash windows, dry with newspapers.
3. To keep your freshly cleaned oven from stinking up your house next time you bake something, wipe it with white vinegar as a final rinse. It neutralizes the harsh alkali of oven cleaners.
4. Clean the Coffee Maker: Fill the water reservoir half way and run the coffee maker as you normally do and then run it once full of water.