How to make a no-dig garden bed
As I’ve mentioned before here, growing your own food organically helps the environment. If you can avoid using petrochemical-based fertilisers and pesticides, you’re doing your soil and our waterways a favour. But it can also save you money!
In Dirt Cheap, an article at Salon, Steve Almond tells how he was inspired by the Victory Gardens people planted in WWII to provide themselves with food during the war. He reckons that as the cost of living increases and we move into a recession, more people will start growing their own food. In his own words “My intention was a bit more humble than the defeat of fascism. I pretty much just wanted to stop getting looted by upscale supermarkets.”
We’ve been noticing our grocery bills getting larger too. It makes us more enthusiastic about getting out into our vegie patch these days. So much so, that Dave decided we need more room! He made us a no-dig garden bed based on Josh Byrne’s description in The Green Gardener. I took some photos so I could show you how it’s done (click on the photo to see it at Flickr):
For more detailed instructions, check out Josh Byrne’s no-dig garden bed at Gardening Australia, or a fact-sheet from Melissa King. They’re great for when you’ve got poor soil, don’t like bending over too far, or want to put your garden bed over the top of lawn or concrete.
Tags: how-to, no-dig garden bed, recession, victory garden
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
How cool is that! So easy to do.
xoxox
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
That looks great: we were thinking of putting in a vegie bed in our front garden when we go home, but this looks like the best bet for the rare sunny spot in the small backyard.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
We’ve managed to squeeze in quite a lot of plants in there too
I think your backyard could definitely fit one of these, Wendy.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:13 am
And don’t forget that you won’t need to dig your garden at all!
November 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I love how you made the photos into a comic. if you do it again for other photos you should add some thought and speech bubbles. I’m doing my thesis on comics/graphic novels so i like to see ppl making use of comics. and i should really get back to writing my thesis and stop wasting time
i have a section of lawn that i converted to vegies with no-dig. over winter the grass came up through the newspaper. before my spring planting i mowed the grass and left the clippings there, added more newspaper, compost and hay and it was ready for this planting. i haven’t started harvesting yet, altho onions that have been growing at the edge all year are nearly ready. yesterday i planted out tomato seedlings, to make use of all the rain. its such a nice way to spend a relaxing afternoon.
November 11th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
We went to the local tip and bought an old bath for twenty bucks. Popped some organic soil in it, and hey presto. Done!
November 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Heike, I bet your old bath looks fun in the garden - great original thinking!