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Monday, February 28, 2011

Time to Get Growing!

 Sunday morning is brunch time at our house, and we plot the day's activities over 
Sam's amazing weekly menu.
Yesterday was chocolate chip banana bread french toast. Don't even get me started.
The men in my life decided they were going to clean the house and do the laundry, so Savannah and I planned out the raised garden bed for the new herbs and headed for Home Depot.
And lamented the lack of Durango. It took two trips.
 Our original plan was to buy some lumber and build a bed from scratch, but we found kits exactly the 4x4 dimensions we were looking for with all the supplies AND instructions on how much dirt we'd need, and after costing out parts and wood, they were actually cheaper! So into the car they went, along with blueberries, strawberries, and 24 bags of top soil.
My obliques are on fire today. But I'm not some frail middle aged woman.
 The design of this kit made it a breeze. All the parts were even pre-drilled.
I felt kinda spoiled.


 We put the first two sides together pretty quickly.





 And then we admitted the work surface we were using was too small and hauled it all into the living room.


 Okay, all assembled, now let's get it back outside.
Thom's mopping, and he's mildly annoyed.

 We built another box on top of the first.
 And a shorter one in front of that.
 Savannah was able to put on her Home Depot job application "knows how to use power tools."
 Then came the fun part, and the boys joined us for this.
 Line your beds with four layers of newspaper and wet it all down.
Gotta love free weed blocker.


 Divide your soil bags so you have the correct cubic feet for each container.
 Slice the bags open using your mother's Klingon tree saw, cackling maniacally like a serial killer. Note we are still in a sling from the painting incident.

 Spread out the soil. That's right, play in the dirt.
 Rake it out flat. Note: all the caps aren't on because the drill died, okay? It's charging.
I need some new tools. When is Mother's Day?


 Okay then, let's move the car back out front and get some plants!
 Um....why is that on the dashboard?
 Seems someone snuck in while we were unloading, and boy is Phat Stuff ready to disembark.

 Yeah, you'd better run. And you'd also better have not left me any surprises.
 Anyway, with Phat Stuff's assistance and a glass of pinot noir, the boys and I got all of the new plants in the ground, and I screwed the caps in place for a nice finished look.
 I marked everything clearly so that the chef can just walk outside and shop his new kitchen garden with ease.
 Okay, yes, I added a terra orchid for fun.
 Hello, gorgeous.

 This is phase one.
 We have two more projects for this area, but you can only get so much done in one day, right?
It's destined to have two more beds and a patio.
And of course you can help. Or just watch.
 But at that point, I hung up the gardening bag and just went out to enjoy.






 Are you about ready to join me in the yard?
We'd have good company, I assure you!
Relax, he's plastic. I just like freaking people out.

For everyone asking for more information on the garden beds, they are Greenes Raised Garden Kits from Home Depot, and they run about $30 each. We used three. You can visit their website at  
Greenes Fence Company.

33 comments:

Heather said...

Your new herb garden looks great! You grow the most amazing orchids. That reptile looks awfully real by the way!!

Jane @ The Borrowed Abode said...

This sure is getting me in a spring-like gardening mood. Did you read the square foot gardening book? I ask, (albeit a bit late) because he talks about the ideal soil mixture.
Would like to know how much the wooden garden kits cost, because they look much nicer than what I built last year. And I like that you were able to stack them to make a deeper bed.

Life in Rehab said...

Jane, they were $30 each, so the total cost for this arrangement was $90. We costed out a deep box at $55, and that's without finishing caps.

Unknown said...

This looks fantastic! I would love to do this, but I'm concerned that the only place for it is in the backyard - with the dog. Which means my veggies would get peed on in a heartbeat. But at $90, this is simply something to be envious of.

Heather said...

Chuckling at the image of Thom with the mop and you two running around with power tools! More power to you:)

The herb garden looks wonderful! Hmmmmm, it is snow/slush our the window currently... not quite garden time here.

I'm thinking phat boy is honored that you'd go to the trouble of making him such a lovely box:)

Musings from Kim K. said...

Your blog is just full of amazing eye candy. I'm completely envious of your herb garden. That was quite the Sunday project. Cheers!

Carol said...

Love it, Sunny! Does this mean we will see more recipes that involve those fresh herbs? Now all you need is a compost bin for the leftover trimmings. : )
P.S. I need orchid tips. Mine isn't growing anymore, but I did just re-pot it.
P.S. 2 Favorite Things Friday will be happening this Friday! You are going to LOVE this one... such a cute project!

Carol
antiquetexan.blogspot.com

lisbonlioness said...

This post has it all! Lizards (what a bleeding shame it's plastic, I love them buggers!), cats, minions and a glass of wine for good measure.
I would love to do some gardening with you guys!

Sara @ Russet Street Reno said...

I love the planting beds - I would've never thought to use the wet newspapers for weed blocl - I wonder how long it lasts before the weeds can get through? Your kitty is adorable, btw :)

Life in Rehab said...

According to my Mom, who is a Master Gardener and was the curator of a butterfly garden, newspaper performs as well as weed blocker fabric. At this price point, I'm willing to give it a shot!

Sharon@Keen Inspirations said...

Sunny I'm going to have to stop reading....I have garden fever so bad that I can hardly stand it...and you are making it worse! :-) Your boxes turned out great and the price is right! We built some 4x16 feet beds about 5 years ago out of hemlock for about $48 EACH abd now they are rotting!:(
Love the blue ORchid!!!!

Sonja said...

LOVE your blog! Your garden looks great.

Vonda said...

Love it! It's still too cold here, but 2 weekends ago it was warm enough to work outside, so I planted some cool weather vegetables (lettuce, cauliflower, spinach and arugala) and put mulch back there to get ahead of my normal summer weed problem.
PS - Can't wait to try your scallion planting technique next time I buy some!

Katherine said...

Awesome raised beds! I have always wanted my own little herb garden. Maybe this year...By the way, that lizard is very realistic! Thanks for linking up!

Anonymous said...

Is it wrong that i want to ask for power tools for Mother's Day too?? You guys did a great job. So when are you guys gonna come build mine?? LOL j/k

Sylvia said...

Hi, thank you so much for that much needed tutorial...I've been at my husband that we need to get garden boxes ready but was not sure how to start. The seeds are going now it box time.

Sylvia

the cape on the corner said...

your new beds look great! i'm waiting for the boy to build me some. also, i will admit i don't entirely get why one needs garden beds...can't you just put some good soil down when you plant? or is the idea because those things will spread you need the good soil. yep, i don't know these things!

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

Dammit that flippin' lizard looks real!

I so want raised beds. You may have just convinced me to try. I have a brand new drill!

Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com) said...

OK - this is totally impressive! I have no ability to grow anything. Love what you built and how fantastic it looks!

jenny pivot said...

You are so funny! I love your sense of humor. I wish it was warm enough here to start the garden projects, but I thank you for experiences it will come in handy when it is time to start. Thanks for the info on the raised gardens, I love them. Keep up updated on the growth. K?

La said...

Looks like you had quite an ambitious day.

Susan Anderson said...

You are too much!

I want to be like you when I grow up.

=D

Judie said...

That's what I need in my yard. Our ground is so hard that it honestly takes a jackhammer to get through it. I hope you will give us photos of the growing process!! So you finished all that and then of course had a glass or two of WINE!!!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Thanks for the little taste of spring. We have a few more months to go here, but it's nice to know there is some sunshine at the end of the wait...

Teresa said...

They look wonderful! I'm just so jealous because the only dirt I'm playing in yet is inside. So nice to see some black and green and sunshine and flowers.

In a nut shell... said...

ummm...WOW! I want that!

Jen said...

Awesome garden beds....and sneaky kitty!
Happy growing!!!

Anonymous said...

i loved this post
so informative
yet made me laugh
at your antics and
commentaries
i'm goint to show
this one to hubby
the wet newspapers
clever girl!!!
loved the lizard
you go girl =)
~victoria~

Marianne said...

I need to look into these planterboxes. Just don't know if it is worth it for me this year since we are moving next year. Really like them though. Thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

Love your creativity, thanks for linking up to my blog bash K.I.S.S. @ The Tattered Tag. Please link up more of your great ideas tomorrow. :)


Drop by The Tattered Tag

Jenny said...

I love this! What a cool, cool way to make raised beds!

Accckkk!! I wish I would have seen this years ago before I hauled all the cement blocks and bricks and rebar into place.

That's probably what made me the feeble old woman I am today.

Thanks for a great link!

Your creativity is always so fun!

A+

Amy said...

Thanks for linking up to New Nostalgia's Anti-Procrastination Tuesday!
Hope to see you again!!

AllieMakes! said...

How jealous I am of your lovely spring weather and colors! Those garden boxes look gorgeous!
Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie last week! I can't wait to see what you have for this week!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com