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Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5595
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Posted: May 06 2008 at 7:39am | IP Logged
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Irene persuaded me that Grow Beds are my dream come true this spring. Unfortunately, over the break, I learned they are backordered. I can't find anything else like them. I'm looking at planting two lonely tomato plants in my herb garden unless I can find another alternative that requires very little physical output. I also really, really like the idea that the grow beds could be moved to a different spot in the yard next year, if necessary. Any thoughts?
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Wendi DeGrandpr Forum Pro
Joined: March 02 2005 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: May 06 2008 at 10:05am | IP Logged
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Elizbeth - did you see the two tier raised bed? As of right now Garden Supply has them in stock. It seems similar in principle. It is larger and granted more expensive but it has a 6" deep section and a 12" deep section.
Sorry I don't know how to do links.
Farmtek has raised bed systems too, but they are much larger and very expensive.
hth
__________________ God Bless,
Wendi
Mom to four blessings
"We can do no great things - only small things with great love." Blessed Mother Teresa
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K&Rs Mom Forum Rookie
Joined: April 14 2008 Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline Posts: 58
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Posted: May 06 2008 at 12:51pm | IP Logged
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Could you build one from wood? I did this last year for our square foot garden, and it was way easier than I expected. I bought two 8' 2x12 boards, and had the store cut them in half. I screwed them together at the corners with deck screws, and painted the box (dc picked the color), set on top of that black yard fabric weedstopper, and filled with dirt. It grew MUCH better than the "in-ground" garden I tried the year before.
I haven't tried to move it yet but I wish I had before I planted anything this year. This fall I plan to move it to a spot that should be a little sunnier. I think I'll be able to just pick up the box, set it on a new piece of yard fabric, and shovel the dirt over by wheelbarrow.
Aubrey
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Mary Chris Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2175
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Posted: May 06 2008 at 1:39pm | IP Logged
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I was just at Home Depot and they have 4x12 planks of untreated wood, no cutting involved. I bought 8 planks for about $46.00. I think Carter and I can nail them together.
__________________ Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 06 2008 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
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We made our 4x4 Square Foot beds by following the directions. (I can't find my book right now to give specifics). At Lowe's (and I think HOme Depot) they will make one cut for free. We bought our boards and had them cut there. Dh just drilled and put in the wood screws and I painted to make them look pretty. They can't fold up, but they can move around whereever I want them. I think it's a doable job with your boys, sans dh,
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 06 2008 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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My boys need supervision. This isn't happening this year.
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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teachingmom Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 06 2008 at 11:57pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth,
When I ordered my grow beds, they said they were backordered. My berry plants were due to arrive and my grow beds were not due for another week or more. (I can't remember exactly.) I was so pleasantly surprised to find that they arrived in time to plant the berries directly - even before the backordered date. I'm not sure how soon the backordered date is now, but sometimes they are wrong and can get them to you even earlier!
__________________ ~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 07 2008 at 12:26pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Irene. I took your advice. I went ahead and ordered. I think I'll research Zone 7 tomato planting and growing times. Maybe the end of may isn't a big deal. Or maybe I'll just end up planting something else that goes in later.
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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teachingmom Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: May 07 2008 at 2:41pm | IP Logged
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I was thinking about your tomatoes last night, Elizabeth, and had an idea. What if you took one or two plants and made a few of those upside down tomato things that Ruth wrote about on her blog? You could hang them from one or two of those garden shepherd's crook hanging things. That way you'd have at least a few fresh tomatoes this summer even if the grow bed is too late for them. They look like something the kids could put together. Just a thought.
__________________ ~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
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Posted: May 07 2008 at 2:56pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
Thanks, Irene. I took your advice. I went ahead and ordered. I think I'll research Zone 7 tomato planting and growing times. Maybe the end of may isn't a big deal. Or maybe I'll just end up planting something else that goes in later. |
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I'm only slightly north of you, and I plan to buy tomato plants at the end of May. We will be out of town, and I know that my new plants will probably get pretty dry if I plant them before our trip.
I figure that we had tomatoes into September and even a couple in October last year! Surely I'll still be able to see some tomatoes and herbs if a couple of weeks later than usual.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Wendi DeGrandpr Forum Pro
Joined: March 02 2005 Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline Posts: 246
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Posted: May 10 2008 at 6:47am | IP Logged
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Also wanted to mention Earthboxes - they are a great solution for small spaces indoors and out. My father and his wife use them and love them.
www.earthbox.com
I also saw them at Agway yesterday.
Happy planting and a Blessed Mother's Day to everyone!!
__________________ God Bless,
Wendi
Mom to four blessings
"We can do no great things - only small things with great love." Blessed Mother Teresa
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