garden items

GARDEN ITEMS

this is my wife shes garden we put in last year
its made with concrete blocks that are stacked
side by side and two stacks high
with 4 1/2 blocks to each side
which gives a garden width dimension of 56 inches

each block is 8 in x 8 in x 16 in
cost is $1.34 per block
total blocks needed are 36
total cost $48.24

rebar 2 ft x 1/2 in are used in each corner and middle blocks
cost is $1.60
i used extra
total used 12
total cost $19.20

1 cubic yard of hill country soil was used to fill it up
buying in bulk is cheaper
cost $46.95

16+ 1 ft squares were planted with plants
at $1.50 per square
seeds if used are cheaper but some veggies do better
if planted from plants
total cost $20.00

estimated total cost $134.39

these costs are easily recouped the first season
remember these are all organic produce so check out organic
prices when you figure your recouped costs
eg one of my big onions is worth almost $4

this is a permanent structure thats easily dismantled if needed
it will not rot
you can paint the brick or as in the texas gardener you can
stain it with iron sulfate (ironite or copperas) solution for that
rust rustic look
2 cups in a gallon of water then place the brick in the solution
in a shallow tray with the solid side down for 2 minutes
then set in the sun to dry
you only need to do 1/2 of the brick

in my wife shes garden we added a central composter which
isnt necessary
not doing this opens up 1 ft square of planting
she fills it with garden waste and pours the water from
the fish tank in it

we also surrounded the bed with 2 ft of thick black plastic
pushed under the blocks then covered with crushed granite
this helps to keep the grass from growing into the garden

this garden eg at my wifes school will provide years of
gardening for the students at the school even after
she is retired

it is easy to build
just dig a trench thats level the width of the garden
place the bricks leveling each one
stagger the second level to help reinforce the structure

place the rebar in each corner and in the middle block
and use more if needed or if you want

add the soil and please only put in good soil
its the life blood of the garden
you have to start out with good soil
you can also make your own soil like the school did i
wrote about yesterday with the lasagna method
but for instant gratification use good soil to start

also before the soil is placed i would scrape off
all grass and lay a double layer of cardboard to suppress
weed and grass growth

then after the soil is placed

(be sure and fill up those square holes in the concrete blocks
with soil and plant things in them
like spinach strawberries etc)

plant your plants and plant the seeds
you are on your way

each season before planting add a good quality compost
to the beds
the best to use is the one you make yourself

for those who asked i hope this is useful

the organicgreen doctor