I love raised beds and I am pretty sure I may never garden in the ground again. I like the neatness of the whole thing. I also think weeding is so much better. I did a lot of research and started small. Bit by bit I try to add a little every year. This year I am adding a 10′ by 30′ section. It will be enough for 3 more beds and a center bed. Hard to describe but you will see what I am talking about when its done.
Worked on my truck yesterday and had to take Jackson to the airport today so I didn’t get much done around here this weekend. I did however get the low tunnel up and get kale planted. I also planted a few marigolds – its a little cold for them but they may make it. I did make one change this year over last year. I use PVC pipe and I usually stick it in the ground. This year I installed pipe brackets on the side of the bed. It seems to have a lot more stability than years past. I zip tie all the pipe together for easy disassembly. One good thing – I didn’t have to use any plastic. This is made from the roof of the greenhouse project. I do plan on putting one over the carrot bed so I can go ahead and get them planted.
Every year he does more and more with building these. This one didn’t do well as we had a crooked wheel issues but hes already got plans for next years design.
Came home to a crooked greenhouse. I went ahead and took the plastic off as I don’t want to risk tearing up the kennel panels. While I didn’t get to put plants in there it did give me a good idea of shape and location. Darn you High winds.
On a side note the seedlings are doing well. I will be doing a lot of truck work this weekend but I hope to get my low tunnels up. I am ready to get something in the ground. Come on last frost date.
Lots of good things in these. This tap and die set has never been used. I don’t need it but can resale it for what I paid for everything else. The ratchet works well and you can tell when you spin it that its well built. Most of the files are junk but the handles are all in great shape.
I have never seen a file handle like this. When you turn the screw in the end it tightens the jaws to grab different size files. I think it will see a lot of use.
Here is a prime example of old vs new. The blade holders. The black one is a cheap one that Ive had forever. The clip that holds the blade in broke the 2nd or 3rd time I used it. The read one has a ridged back and keeps the blade from flexing. I think it will work super holding that blade stiff. The red level is a newer Lowes level. Notice the plastic ends. It also weighs about half of the old one. The old one also has a better bubble. I assume it has to do with the liquid in the sight glasses.
I will take pretty much anything that’s free. All my raised beds were free as have most of my animal structures. I saw an add for free building material (must take all) 2 truck loads later I end up with 5 full sheets of plywood, a full glass door (will be used on the greenhouse), the items pictured below.
There may be a lot of trash in here but there is also a lot of great things. The role of black underlayment will be awesome for the new raised beds im putting in. The boards will be used for something Im sure. There was even a brand new aerator. The small scraps I split for kindling and some of the other pieces were burned. It kept the shop warm all day.
Tools now a days are horrible. I try to by old stuff whenever I can. I saw these 2 toolboxs on a Local for sale site. $25 for both. Better than half of the stuff in these boxes are good. I will go through it and see what I’ve really got. The red box isn’t in good shape. Some of the tools are rusty in the bottom so I would assume its been in water. The silver box was a working mans box. Saw, pencil, tape measure, square, and other odds and ends where in there. It looks like its well kept. I buy these because I am in the process of switching most of my tools to vintage tools. The new stuff just doesn’t last.
I have several of these kennel panels. I don’t want get rid of them and plan on using them for a chicken run. For the mean time I decided to turn them into a temporary High tunnel. Several months ago my brother in law helped me set them up, With all the rain there isn’t much more I could do today besides putting the plastic up. I have a feeling it will rip with the wind and the sharp edges of the kennel for I’m doing this more as a test for size. Its 10’x20′ which seems to be a good size. I don’t have any plants inside of it but just walking around it feels like a good size.
We also worked on the pantry. We have been using it as partial storage for months. It will be canning season before you know it and I would like to have the storage situation figured out by then.
Before the rain really set in I moved my only fruit trees. 2 peach trees I planted a couple years ago. The brief period I had goats was very hard on the trees. They did a lot of damage to them. I don’t think they will make it but I originally put them in a spot I later regretted. I moved them below the raised beds and plan on added a few different kinds.
I don’t know if I will ever really be able to go back to in ground gardening after using raised beds and vertical beds. These first two beds were the first two I put in. After the first year I noticed I made them too wide. Ive since built them a little narrower. The first bed is asparagus so there isn’t really any issues with its width.
The second bed was tough to weed due to the size. I dug it out and removed 15″. I think it will work so much better. The dirt settled enough that I didn’t have to haul any off I just used it to refill the bed. These rail road ties are over 12′ long and can be hard to move by yourself. I took enough out that all I had to do was role the tie 180*. Below is the tool I used. Dad bought it to rotate end post while doing fencing. I don’t recall us ever using it. It works well to role logs when cutting firewood and worked awesome moving the tie.
Good hand tools are hard to find, especially in big box stores. I treated my hoe badly this year. It managed to get left outside all winder when it fell behind a raised bed. The head is still in good shape but the handle is warped. I tried to straighten it but I didn’t have any luck. Pictures to follow another day about hanging another handle.
Clean up Time. I have so much stuff in my shop its ridiculous. I can never find anything. One of these green cabinets belonged to my father and the other came from my grandfathers farm. They started to rust and the paint was faded. I took everything out and painted them. I’ve started putting things back in and labeling everything. I am about half way though the process and am already happy with it. There is a good chance I will be able to actually use the work bench by the end of the week. It warmed up so I started picking up out side. Ill have all the random stuff that’s accumulated over the winter up next weekend. I need to seed some grass as well in a couple of the old garden plots.
Oh the goodness started today. We started the first batch of seeds. Its been horrible wet and windy the last month or so and its made doing anything outside very difficult. I have yet to get the low tunnel up. Its supposed to be in the 70s this week so I am hoping it will be a little less windy and I can get it installed.
Bairlea Farm 