I’ve been considering a raised bed for some time now. On one hand I really like the idea on the other I have hopes of moving to a larger place and hate the thought of building only to leave it behind.
On the upside, so long as I don’t sell the property I could continue using it so I’m thinking I’ll go ahead and build it. I’d like to get a market garden set up as well as the food forest that is taking shape, though much slower that I would like.
I have tin and some used 4X4’s that I’ll use to build the bed, and I have what remains of a huge tree that was cut down a little over two years ago or so and I also have a huge amount of tumble weeds that will be broken down and used for filler.
My smaller compost pile will also likely be used to help fill the bed in. It was only started towards the end of fall but all of our compostables are being deposited in it, including shredded cardboard we used to throw away so the pile is growing rather quickly. I figure it will be at the bottom with the wood.
I’ll sink the 4X4’s 3′ into the ground after painting them to protect them from rotting. I’d considered setting them in concrete but seeing as only around 3′ will be above ground and screwed onto sheets of tin and weighted down with a great deal of soil I doubt it will be necessary. If my math is correct it will take around 26 thousand lbs of soil to fill the bed.
As work progresses I’ll document it and share the results, I may even do some videos. That’s something I’d like to get better at. I have made a few now but feel I’m not very good at it which is why there are only a few so far.
I’m looking at 36″ tall X 4 foot wide and 20′ in length. So it will be considerably bigger than anything than anything I could afford to buy premade or have built for me.
If your considering building your own but not sure where to start the video link below may be of use to you.
Best of luck and may your ventures be met with sucess!
Slocum's Creak 