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Raised bed I built this past weekend.(imgur.com)

45 points44 points47 points submitted by Zapped
all 16 comments

Zapped[S] 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun 3 years ago

https://imgur.com/z3CG8Vv

https://imgur.com/93xmSlr

https://imgur.com/J9MAAdo

https://imgur.com/5EpTiTW

jamesK_3rd 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun 3 years ago

Nice. Using the small branches and brush as filler?

Zapped[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

Yes. I probably could have used more, but this is my first raised bed and the first time I've tried this technique. There was a little hardwood mulch I mixed in, too.

magnora7 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun 3 years ago

Nice, I like the metal sides. Probably cheaper than wood right now lol

slushpilot 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun 3 years ago

You can find recycled too if you go to a construction salvage yard... old roofing from farm buildings, etc. It doesn't have to look perfect, in fact a little bit of "character" can look nice, too.

Zapped[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

Tell me about it. I put up a metal building last year and lined the insides with 7/16" OSB at $10 per 4' x 8' sheet. That same sheet is now $32. I will wait to put my ceiling in when the price drops. This project cost me around $80 for the treated 2 x 4 's, $10 for the screws, and $45 for the metal. 2 scoops of topsoil was bought from a local sand/gravel/mulch business for $54. I started the seeds inside too early so I'll probably have to replant soon.

magnora7 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun 3 years ago

Wow so lumber is around triple what it normally is. Were the metal and screws triply as expensive as well? I imagine all construction items are expensive right now, both from storm recovery and from all the covid home construction projects everyone is doing.

Zapped[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

Housing inventory is very low around here now, so new construction and house "flipping" is booming. I do know that production of materials is still not fully back online and that is also driving up prices. Resin is scarce which makes anything made with PVC harder to get, as well. Copper wire prices are higher every other day. To answer your question, the screws have not increased too much from what I remember.

goobandit 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

Beautiful! What are you planting in there?

Zapped[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

Thank you! I started a bunch of different herbs along with carrots, beets, tomatoes, and peppers indoors a month ago. I think I started them too soon because they were choking in the starter tray. I don't think most of them made the transplant. I'll see how it goes this week and may have to buy some plants to replace them. I did plant some leaf lettuce since it's still cool here, and some strawberry plants that are supposed to produce all summer. This is the first time I've used a raised bed. I am turning some soil along the other fence for onions and corn.

goobandit 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

Hell yeah dude! I hope to see some progress pics later in the season!

Zapped[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

I plan on it. I think this site needs more user made content instead of linking news stories. Thanks for the encouragement.

bobbobbybob 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

nice. I have a plan for some beds in mind. i've got a nice 11m by 1m position. haven't figured out how to fill them cheaply.

Zapped[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

Maybe start them off as compost bins? I've never composted, so I don't know how long it takes or how much volume of input to output it takes.

bobbobbybob 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

did you just fill with that brown stuff, or have solid fill?

Zapped[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun 3 years ago

I started with a base of cardboard, followed by 8 to 10 inches of sticks. I then filled in with the topsoil, which is a mix of dirt, sand, and compost. I did add a layer of leaves half way up.