April 20, 2020

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow!”

The other day, I came across this quote that I think speaks perfectly to this moment we all find ourselves in. “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Truthfully, I want so much to believe in tomorrow, that I decided to do just that and plant my own garden. So, I took a weed-infested area of my yard that had some good sunlight and went to work. Planting the garden and putting my hands in the soil gave me so much peace and allowed me to get out of the house and out of my head. I wanted to share the process with you in the hopes of inspiring you to create your own garden.

I have assembled a list of materials, the garden plan I used, what I planted (mostly herbs and salad fixings), and a step by step of how I put my garden together. Everything can be ordered online and delivered (I used Home Depot delivery and Pikes nursery drive-up pickup) so you can maintain your social distancing. So really, the hardest part is deciding what you would like to have in your garden! You may have a different setup than me and you can adjust your materials as needed. You can also grow from seedlings, starting in an egg carton in the window sill. If you don’t have a yard, you can use containers or window boxes on a patio or deck.

I am looking forward to watching the garden grow, not only because it will enhance our culinary experiences, but because I’ve already gotten a taste of how good gardening is for my soul.

I know that in these extraordinary times we are all facing, believing in our future and caring for ourselves and our loved ones will have an immense impact on the days to come. The seeds we’re planting now, both literally and figuratively, hold a profound meaning in our lives with the promise of vegetation and growth on the other side. So don’t stop tilling the soil. Finding the positive in an impossible situation is difficult, but I deeply believe if we can stay connected we will all come out better in the end.

Tools Needed:

Circular Saw

Power drill

Post digger (or a shovel)

Metal Rake

Level

Material Needed:

4 pressure-treated 2×12 8’ boards

4 2×12 pressure-treated 12’ boards

2 pressure-treated 4×4 8’ boards

1 box of 5lbs. 3” deck screws

8 444 12 gauge steel corner brackets with screw holes

Instructions:

Establish an area that you would like to install your garden in. Ensure that there is plenty of light.
Clear, level and mark off the area.
Cut boards to the desired size. See the diagram with the measurements we used.
Using the deck screws, begin assembling the structure (3 screws per board).
As each piece is assembled, make sure you use a level.
After you have secured the boards with the deck screws, install the corner brackets approximately in the center of the board.
Dig a hole with post hole digger or shovel approximately 2’ deep. Install on each corner.
To secure the post to the structure, use the deck screws from inside of the structure by running them through the corner bracket. For extra stability, add an additional deck screw above the bracket into the post.
Next, till all of the existing soil after the structure is secured.
Add raised bed soil (we prefer organic by miracle grow) and mix with the existing soil.

Your raised bed garden is now ready for your favorite plantings!

Plantings:

Below is a sampling of the herbs and vegetables that I used. I ordered 2-3, 4” pots of each plant depending on the size and the growing height. You can use any plants that you desire, as long as they grow well in your area. Don’t forget you can always ask your local nursery for recommendations.

Basil

Purple basil

Rosemary

Thyme

Dill

Cilantro

Italian parsley

Oregano

Tomatoes -cherry

Tomatoes- Heirloom

Cucumbers

Peppers- Red, yellow and hot

Sage

Radish

Tarragon

Dill

Lettuce

We used approximately 60 bags (1.5 cubic feet) of organic raised bed soil. This could vary depending on your preferred soil height. If you would like to create a courtyard feel as we did, you can add pea gravel. We used approximately 36 bags.

If you’d like to download a printable version of this guide, you can do so here.

Happy Planting My Friends! Enjoy!

Love,