{ DIY } Garden Boxes
Do It Yourself- {DIY} Garden Boxes, was a project that I have had on my mind since we moved into our house over two years ago. Our home, though not large, does have a spacious backyard for our community. It was the number one reason why we purchased this house. I have been reading about the simplicity of garden boxes and the benefits of growing your own fruits and vegetables for some time. I myself consume quite a bit of both and the idea of using my own tomatoes in my favorite Pasta Recipe has been a dream of mine.
We made reference to creating these raised garden boxes via Sunset Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens for the basics. Both sites give information regarding materials needed and sizing for the space you have available. First, we asked for the help of our neighbor and “local” gardening expert, Rosa. She visited our yard to see where the garden boxes should be placed based on the suns path. Once we found where we would place the boxes, we measured out the space. We then squared off and leveled the area. Shane went to Home Depot to purchase the following:
* Wood planks
* Screws
* Hinges to connect the corners.
* Drip system water kit
It took a couple of days to build the boxes, but once they were completed we placed them along the fence. It was hard to capture pictures of the build as I was trying to wrangle the kids and the dog from getting in Shane’s way {wink}.We poured in bags of Organic planting soil and fertilizer as well as a drip sprinkler system that we hooked up to our sprinklers that were already in place below the beds.
We decided to purchase plants and sow a mixture of seeds, as we missed the window of planting some of the seedlings based on our planting zone. We are growing the following: blueberries, micro greens, squash, Persian cucumbers, mini heirloom tomatoes, strawberries, basil, orange mint, green onions, and pumpkins.
Our favorite part, besides the prospect of wonderful fruits and vegetables, was the releasing of lady bugs into our garden. I do have to admit, it is was a joy witnessing the kids take part in this.
It has been a month since we created our garden boxes. We have already harvested some blueberries, strawberries, mint, and our basil varietals are growing like crazy. I found a delightful yet oddly scary looking owl at HomeGoods to keep out the crows. We had to add some fencing as Lulu found her way into enjoying a strawberry or two. I can’t wait to use fresh produce in upcoming recipes… maybe a lovely homemade pesto? Here are some addition resources that I found helpful in building and purchasing the right plants for our gardening zone.
* How to grow vegetables organically
* How to compost
* 8 Best Crops for a Kitchen Garden
