Recently our family completed a fun, DIY project. In one afternoon we worked together to create a cost-efficient raised garden bed.
Inspiration
Gardening has interested me since the early years of our marriage. I have tried container gardening on a few occasions but have been unsuccessful in the past. Now that I am home to care for the plants properly, hopefully we will see a fruitful garden. Gardening is also a tremendous wonder and learning experience for young children. It teaches them not only about where their food comes from but also the value of life and cultivating patience and hardwork. The fruit of their labor, if you will.
"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust." - Gertrude Jekyll (Horticulturist)
Beginner Plants
I started by researching articles online about beginner gardening. I found that cucumbers and tomatoes are two plants that grow well together and are easy to grow. I ordered organic seeds, raised-bed soil and a small bag of fertilizer. Our biggest expense, by far, was the raised bed soil. My husband constructed the bed out of a sheet of plywood we had in our shed.
Location
Our garden bed is sitting on a concrete slab in our backyard. If you don't have a patch of grass to put yours on, don't dispair; you can garden on top of concrete. We used black trash bags as a liner for the bottom of the bed and assured the drainage was good. When you're container gardening drainage is very important. We have a water hose nearby that allows for easy early morning or late afternoon watering. We water at these times to avoid evaporation. We live in the South and the heat comes early in the Spring. Container gardens can dry out rather quickly, especially in the hot summer months so you may have to water twice a day.
Lush and green
Barely seen
A newborn seed
Emerges
Seeds of doubt
Days of trust
Character flaws
It purges
Reaching high
Towards the sky
Bearing fruit
Giving life
Quiet time
Air and sunshine
Releasing strife
Growing a piece of paradise
-Crissy
We have thoroughly enjoyed our gardening project and believe it's a great way to connect with nature and with your kids. Every morning we are excited to take our daughter outside in the fresh air and sunshine to see how far our cucumbers and tomatoes have grown and give them a drink of water. We also planted watermelon and squash and sowed them straight in the ground. I have always dreaded the heat and humidity of the summer in the south but this garden gives me something to look forward to with excitement for the upcoming months.
Overall, the garden is a great way to slow down and connect It's not quick, it's not easy but the good stuff never is. I encourage you to grow something today.
~Crissy
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