9 October 2007
Minor Construction Projects
Posted by Richard under: Fruit & Vegetables; Smallholding .
We now have two finished raised beds and a separate bed dug and manured for raspberries and soft fruit. Just one more raised bed to go - and we’re done for now. On top of our existing vegetable garden, we will have quite a bit of space set over for crops next year.
It’s been tough work - whoever thought putting the muckheap at the bottom of the hill and the garden at the top wasn’t thinking. Each bed takes about eight barrows full of manure, and it is approximately 200 metres uphill to the veg patch. The manure is top drawer though - really dark and well rotted, full of worms. Half the heap has gone - when it has been cleared completely I think we will dismantle the sides and back and start a new one at the top of the hill by the stable. No more wheelbarrow strongman/endurance events next year.
We managed to double-dig (to a fashion) each of the beds - the second digging at the bottom of the trench was done with a pickaxe to break up the sub-soil (due to cobbles and clay).
The raised beds have been cobbled together out of our next door neighbours old garage roof-joists. They are pretty stout and seasoned beams so should last a few years - but as they aren’t pressure treated, they will rot over time.
The next project is the sheep shelter out of some old fencing posts and 6 sheets of corregated steel. We need to get that done before the weather really turns.