fences: what works best for garden plots?
I like the looks of all the different fences in our community garden, though many are worse for the wear after the winter. Since we will be adding a bunch of new plots, the question comes up of how to fence these. – Leave it to each gardener – Town fences the plots with standard fencing – Town provides fence materials to gardeners A fence to surround a 20 x 20 ft plot gets to be expensive. Five ft tall fencing costs at least $50 for a 50 ft roll…
building a hoophouse
I just love hoop houses and low tunnels. Here’s a link. Maybe I’ll get to try one this year.
raised beds warm the soil
As the snow melts, I noticed it has melted first from my raised beds while paths are still frozen. I guess raised beds do make the soil warmer!
tomato supports
This year I’m trying to replicate the tomato supports I see many gardeners using. Two side poles and a crossbeam, with ropes supporting the vines. I think you just wrap the vines in the rope. Several gardeners at our Community Gardens use this method and I’ll watch how they do it. Lynda suggests to try Johnny’s tomato clips. They seem nice. But I think if I need ties, I’ll use strips of my old plastic shopping bags. They’re free. In previous years I have always used tepees for my tomatoes.…
so many rabbits…
I think we have a bumper crop of rabbits this year. I have never seen so many. Babies and adults – they don’t even run from gardeners and cameras. A pair lives in my neighbors backyard and Skippy watches them through the fence. He’d love to get out and chase them. I disturbed 3 tiny little babies while weed whacking the garden paths yesterday. Very cute! The baby bunny in the photo here was at Mt Auburn cemetery today and hardly even looked up at me. The big one is…
a new raised bed
My husband made a big new raised bed in the sunny spot next to our house. The soil was contaminated here so he removed 6 inches, built the bed, spread plastic and added new soil. The bed is 14 to 16 inches deep. About 8 by 10 feet. He recently added a board as a bridge/walkway and to reinforce the tall sides. Its not in these photos here. We’ll see how it is to work in such a wide bed. I’ll add more boards as pathways. I’m looking forward to…
plot beds
I did a bit of work today on my new beds. I want them to be fairly straight and level and have been working on this. The photos help me to see where the unevenness is. I’ve decided to bring some dirt in to fill them. I made a stone step today in the sloped area on the north west side of the plot. Skippy posed next to it.
new beds
I made a bit of progress on setting up my new raised beds yesterday. I like the way they look. Empty and ready for growing anything. Full of potential.
plot work – contruction of new raised beds
Saturday was a really nice day for garden work. My husband is working on a set of new raised beds for the garden. He cut and assembled about half of the beds. I’ll need to prepared the soil before I set them in place. At the south end of the garden I need to do some leveling before they go down. Tasks:Finished the fence bottom.More of the rock pile moved to line the fence.Several more loads of compost brought to the plot.Wire compost bin made in back corner.Turned a little…
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy
weeks and counting until my last spring frost
My garden this week
Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!
