I've asked this before--maybe someone has a new way re: laminate
kaisermust
9 years ago
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krissie55
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agokrissie55
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
The way I've always done it, but HATE it
Comments (26)You've gotten some great advice here. I'll just second the advice to build raised beds in there and try square foot gardening. A 6"x8' long board is about $4 and it'll take three of them to make a 4'x8' bed. If you don't have any tools, this is still doable. Ask the lumberyard to cut one of the three boards in half ~ those will be your ends (they'll make one cut for free). Then all you have to buy is a hammer and some 16-penny nails, or a drill and 3" decking screws (drilling in screws many times is easier and makes for stronger connections, so might be worth the twenty bucks for a cheap drill) and assemble them when you get home. It's super easy to make the beds if you first shovel a few inches of soil from your walkways over into where you plan to put the permanent beds. Then, assemble the wood frames around those long piles and rake them down. No extra fill dirt needed. (Do stand back and look after you get the long piles done ~ it's funny to see your garden looking like Boot Hill the day after the gunfight. ;) I did some quick calculations and you can fit a LOT of beds in your space! That's how many will easily fit, leaving a few feet extra on one end. Those are all 4'x8' beds with three foot wide walkways horizonatally and 2' wide walkways vertically. It's very important to have nice, wide paths that are easy-peasy to get down with a wheelbarrow or garden cart or you'll be back to hating working in your garden. Making them wider if you want wouldn't be bad either ~ you have plenty of room. The vertical ones need not be as wide as the two main ones since you likely won't be hauling a wheelbarrow down those, though if you think you will, by all means take out a line or two of beds and make them winder. Dress it up somewhat by leaving out a couple beds in the middle and putting a pond or fountain in with a bench so you can enjoy being out there. Maybe adding an arbor in one corner over a sitting area would be nice ~ just cut out another one of the beds over there. Want a compost pile, potting bench, or whathaveyou? Omit a bed or two and put it in. Make it pretty out there and you'll be more likely to be in it more, thus staying on top of things and not letting them build up into bigger problems that make you hate it again. Put a fence around your garden, too. Even just an ornamental one. It defines the space and makes it easier to keep the inside organized. It'd be nice to put a 2' wide bed all the way around the edge of the garden, too. That way, the fence can double as a trellis. Again, just shorten some of the beds, or rearrange them. You don't have to build all the beds in one year either. Just do as many as you can afford, then plant the rest in bush beans, a cover crop, blocks of corn, or melons ~ they'd have plenty of room to sprawl. Buy some concrete reinforcement wire to make tomato cages out of. Cut it into 6.5" pieces, form into a circle, and wire together ~ cut the bottom wire off leaving the vertical wires for legs to stick into the soil to help "stake" the cage in place. Learn about square foot gardening, either on the forum here about it, the website devoted to it or buy the book. It's really a nifty technique. You don't have to use the soil mix recommended, especially since you likely have enough soil already ~ just use the planting guidelines. It'll help you plant more intensively, which keeps weeds down and moisture in since the plants are so close together they act as a living mulch. And SFG encourages you to plant things all in together instead of blocks or sections of each type of veggie. Doing it this way, with bush beans under your okra, lettuce tucked in snugly beside your kale, etc., makes the whole thing look prettier. Lay out some more of that concrete reinforcement wire atop your wooden beds and nail in place, lining up the wires with the sides. Then, use some small bolt cutters to cut out sections of the wire to make 12"x12" squares instead of 6"x6" and you'll have your square foot guides all done and will be ready to plant. Here's a bed done that way already, with a few other size planting guides laying atop the main one: And definitely plant flowers in there. Lots and lots of flowers! Yes, they attract pollinators and other beneficial insects, and because some kinds do deter other pests. But mostly plant them just because. As one of my fave quotes says: "Vegetable gardens feed your body, while flower gardens feed your soul."...See MoreI've got news...a Senior moment
Comments (10)Wonderful news-- congratulations! I really think when you're working with that size budget, your job should be a paid position, even if it doesn't pay what it's worth. Seriously, if you're going to be putting in as many hours as you do on your job, a salary might allow you hire someone to take up a few hours of your regular work now and then. I know you're doing what you do as a labor of love, and I really admire you for it--- I'd just hate to see you burn out. Delagating responsibility is important, but it can be difficult to find people who agree to help...and not everyone who says they'll help will actually come through. Is there some kind of a board that you could ask to consider awarding you a stipend? There are only so many hours in the day. You're looking at two full-times jobs, both emotionally demanding! If you've got a good, enthusiastic group, maybe it will get easier. It's really wonderful of you to take the project on -- and really great that you got the funding! Just take care of yourself so you've still got your best to give :)...See MoreI've been in the garden... murdering caterpillars! Someone help!
Comments (22)Hi all, I just came back to the computer after a few days of hard-core tomato-picking and processing, and no computing! (I am already sick of tomatoes.) This has been a fascinating thread to read. Linda, I know well your thoughts on Bt and its destructive power, but I grow three corn crops...early, mid-season and late. Usually the early corn ripens early enough that I don't have to worry about corn earworms or corn borers. But, without Bt, I wouldn't get any mid-season or late corn worth eating. If some desirable caterpillars die in the process, that's unfortunate but that's jsut the way it goes. I try to keep the killing of all insects to a minimum, but there's times it's necessary. I refuse to feel guilty for dusting BT on a tiny portion of our 14 acres, since the rest of the acreage is not treated for anything. OKC1, what incredible helpful advice you offered in your post! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! I always love reading what you write. Susan, What am AMAZING amount of DE information you packed into one post! I love DE because I know I'd have to use more "hard-core" bug solutions were it not for DE. And, I'm with you on it being a bad year for the moths and butterflies. I'm wondering if it is drought-related? We have fewer butterflies this year than ever, and it is very sporadic. We'll see a few for a couple of days, and then not see any at all for the longest time. And, it is TOO HOT outside for man or beast now, isn't it? Hi again, Linda. I haven't seen any hornworms in the garden yet either, which seems sort of odd. I do have 3 plants out of about 100 that have some sort of damage that certainly looks like hornworm damage, but can't find one of those caterpillars anywhere. I know they can disappear into the green foliage of the plants, but usually I can spot them anyway. Not so this year. Hope y'all are having a lovely weekend. It is too, too hot and dry here. Dawn...See MoreCan you be friends with someone who has different finances?
Comments (27)And did you tell her HECK YES!?!?!? That would cover lowering your housing expenses AND carpooling to work. You may have to be the better person and suck up some bragging if you want to save your home. Make sure you request for rent is reasonable and not a reaction to her bragging. Make sure that you get a lease that spells everything out. (esp things like overnight guests, and quiet hours) Perhaps some kind of trial period...... Just an obvious side note.... Make sure that whatever household bills she pays, she pays YOU and you pay the bills (other than any that belong and affect only her), or you may be sitting in the dark, since she does not seem to have a good handle on her finances. You have an opportunity to become a very good friend and save yourself at the same time. You may find that her attitude changes at home, when she doesn't have to put a "brave face" on for the world. And now you know.... All her bragging was covering up a not nice home life and a lot of fear. Can you see it in a different light now?...See Morecallie25
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agoemma
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agomary_c_gw
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agomeek95
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agovaltorrez
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agomommabird
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agocreedence
9 years agolast modified: 7 years agoawyles8179
5 years ago
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