| If you would like to grow vegetables one of the | | | | somewhere near the middle which will allow you to |
| easiest ways is to grow then in a raised bed system. | | | | use it as a step rather than walking too far. |
| I have done this as my soil is heavy clay and by | | | | Something else you need to think about is what to |
| using a raised bed system my plants grow above the | | | | build your raised beds from. I have used timber and |
| clay. Some crops put their roots down into the clay | | | | this is 1 inch thick and 6 inches deep but another |
| such as parsnips and other deep rooted vegetables, | | | | common timber size is 2 inches by 8 inches. This was |
| but on the whole most crops are shallow rooted and | | | | fairly expensive for me which is why I used the |
| so only grow in the soil mix I fill my beds with. | | | | cheaper timber. You can use other materials such as |
| So where should you build your beds. The simple | | | | bricks concrete blocks and I have even seen a raised |
| answer is where you have got the space but I | | | | bed built with empty wine bottles which were buried |
| recommend that it is near to your house. My closest | | | | in the ground. It worked but my worry would be |
| bed is 12 foot away from my kitchen door. I am sure | | | | what happens if you break a bottle. What about the |
| you have read about food miles, that is the miles | | | | glass? I guess I will stick to timber and I have just |
| that your food travels to get to your plate, well a lot | | | | built a new bed using timber I salvaged. This is only 4 |
| of my vegetables travel feet not miles. In the past I | | | | inches deep and I am growing fava beans in it as well |
| have bought vegetables in my local supermarket | | | | as peas. Fava beans are also known as broad beans. |
| which have travelled over 8000 miles. There is a bit | | | | I have yet to see if it is deep enough but I hope it |
| of a difference in food miles between 8000 miles and | | | | will be. It may be a little too shallow for deep rooted |
| 12 feet. May sure that the site is not in the shade | | | | vegetables. |
| and gets a fair amount of sunlight. | | | | The last thing you need to think about when building |
| As to how large to make it this is up to you. My | | | | raised beds is what to fill them with. Well I fill mine |
| longest raised bed is 10 feet long and my widest is 4 | | | | with whatever I have to hand. The last one I built |
| feet. The width is important as if you make your | | | | has been filled with a mixture of the following, top |
| raised beds too wide you will not be able to reach | | | | soil, coir, used multipurpose compost, used compost |
| into the middle of your beds. The other thing is the | | | | made from well rotted bark, home made compost |
| length of your beds. If they are 4 foot wide this is a | | | | and a small amount of well rotted horse manure. I |
| little too far to stride across so you have to walk | | | | also added a sprinkling of organic fish, blood and bone |
| round them. If you have a long bed you could end up | | | | meal and organic poultry manure to act as a fertilizer. |
| walking for more than you need to. I would | | | | Whatever you decide to do my simple advice is just |
| recommend about 10 to 12 feet long but if you do | | | | do it. You will never manage to grow vegetables until |
| want to make it longer, put a small paving slab in | | | | you make a start. |