Backyard homestead raised bed trial.

in #homesteading6 years ago (edited)

Sorry that it has been so long since I have contributed. It has been busy here. As I am sure it has busy for everyone else as well. We started our raised bed project to take another step in being self-sustaining. I took a few pictures of the process.

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I started with some inexpensive rough cut 1x8-8s and some blocks in the corners cut from 2x4s at about 6 inches. That way the the 2x4s were shorter then the 1x8s so I could interlock and stack the next layer.

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Then I layed cardboard on the bottom as weedblock and to attract the worms. I put some older wood I had laying around that was already starting to break down, on top of the cardboard. This is to help with moisture retension and adding carbon.

I shoveled out my chicken coop and used the nitrogen/compost as my first layer of soil.

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Of course the girls(chickens) insisted on helping with this part by spreading the compost.

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Then I added another layer of 1x8s to the frame. And again left the 2x4s lower then the top of the 1x8 to allow for another interlocking layer in the future.

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I made 2 more beds and shaped them in a horseshoe like shape so they all could be reached from walking down the 16" path in the middle.

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I put a layer a last years compost on top and planted 8 different types of lettuce.

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After the seeds sprouted, I cut cardboard into strips and placed them between the rows for moisture retension and weed control.

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We were quite happy with the results in the first bed.

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The next two are ready to go. I put hoops and poultry netting over them to keep out chickens and other critters. In all, each bed costs about $30 to build. I have cut at least $100 worth of lettuce from them.

I apologize again for not posting sooner, and thank you for your support.

Thank you,
Hollywood

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