Raised Bed Organic Gardening

While the organic movement is slowly taking over, some of us are still not biting because we don't feel we can afford organic foods. Well, some of you have already caught on, but others, like me, have put off the gardening option and left that up to the farmers. We have been spending a lot of money on organic foods. I don't like it! So I am finally getting to the place where I realize that if I don't like it, I need to do something about it.

My knowledge of gardening comes from childhood: my mother grew a row of beans, decided it was too much work, and that was it. So I am scared of this new venture. All right, I am terrified. I have lots of books, the internet, lots of time (I write this in early fall) before I need to be ready, and still, I am terrified. What if something goes wrong? What if nothing grows? What if I can't keep the bugs away? My stress levels are through the roof right now, sort of negating all the health that organic food brings!

During my search for more information, I came across raised bed organic gardening, which is new to me. But all of a sudden, this feels do-able.  Perhaps my visions of what gardening means- hard work, poor drainage, soil erosion, and mud puddles have been wiped away by putting the garden in a "box."

While the garden does still have to be worked, the benefits of a raised bed organic garden seem to make it more enjoyable. Raised bed gardens

• improve problems with soil
• improve production
• save time, space, and money, and
• improve your garden's appearance and accessibility.

Well, that's what the websites say, anyway, so we shall see. But are you wondering...what IS a raised bed garden?

A Raised Bed Garden

A raised bed garden is exactly what it sounds like: a garden that is raised above the normal level of ground. Raised bed gardens can be set up just about anywhere: in your yard, in your driveway, and even on your rooftop, provided that it is flat. :o) They can be used for flower gardens, trees, and vegetable gardens. Here are some examples made from synthetic rock forms. You can also build your own boxes with bricks, pavers, or cedar. While I don't have any pictures to add, hopefully I will have my own pictures once we get our raised bed gardens built and fill them up. And hopefully I will have pictures of beautiful organic vegetables to share!

Other Supplies for your Raised Bed Garden

Obviously you have to have seeds, right? I have found two great sites with organic seeds:

The first company, Nature Hills Nursery, also sells live plants, bulbs, and trees. They have just about everything you can stick in the ground! The second company, Main Street Seed and Supply Company, sells seeds as well as other garden accessories to compliment and aid your garden. For instance, another thing I learned about organic gardening is that it is beneficial to have ladybugs and even bats near your garden as they both provide benefits. Main Street Seed and Supply Company provides both insect houses and bat houses, both helping you to keep chemicals off of your vegetables. Main Street also provides tips for different vegetable gardening.

Some additional resources to learn more about raised bed organic gardening:

http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-5-19-1402,00.html

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/raisedbedgarden.html

http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/raisedb.htm

http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1595&page=1&dp=false

http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/gardenerscorner/raised_bed_gardening.htm

And if you have gotten this far and are still wondering what exactly is an "organic" vegetable... an organic vegetable is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides (which are widely used in conventional farming). So if you are not purchasing or growing organic foods (the label will say it's organic), you are getting way more than you pay for. And this time, that's NOT good!

P.S. Organic fruits and veggies have a "9" at the beginning of the code on their labels.

P.S.S. In the meantime, check out http://www.foodnews.org for the safer foods when grown conventionally. You can download a printable pocket guide to help you make safer choices when you shop for produce!