Todd wrote:
On 06/15/2014 08:40 AM, songbird wrote:
about raised beds...

if you have no need for them they are
a waste of space, materials, expense,
efforts, ... many people do them because
they see others doing them and not
because their site requires it.


Hi Songbird,

We are trying to get rid of the back lawn, as the
grass pollen is hard on my wife. But, so is blowing
dirt.

Our soil is not soil. We are at the bottom
of ancient lake Lahatton. What we walk on
is rock and decomposed sandstone (like decomposed
granite, only really ugly). So, basically,
what isn't rock, is sand. (And NO gophers.
Chuckle, Chuckle.)

Now the local compost place has wonder super dirt
and compost. They have all that stuff you spoke of
figured out. (I use their compost on my little
garden every year.) But it is expensive to fill
the entire back yard, not to mention the blowing
dirt.

So I was thinking of four ellipses using interlocking
landscape blocks. Not wood boxes, which eventually
decompose, draw wood eating bugs, and eventually spear
the contents all over the place. (You could use pressure
treated wood, but then the toxins will get in your food.)


It depends on the timber employed. There are some untreated hardwoods that
will last 40 years as fenceposts or raised bed sides. You may not have
access to the eucalypts that I do but ask a reliable timber merchant. There
are grading systems for outdoor durability of timber, you want the sort that
is rated for continuous contact with the soil. But do your sums first,
concrete blocks may be cheaper. Or not. Another possibility is corrugated
iron.

Also converting the four sprinklers systems over to drip
system in the four ellipses.


Why ellipses? Why four? Curves are inherently harder to build than
rectangles or near rectangles. Easier with blocks than timber. Unless your
ellipses are very narrow it will be hard to reach the middle of the fat
part.

And rocking in the rest. Maybe put a gazebo in the
middle too.


If you like curves look up Mandala Garden. A system of six rotational beds
in a hexagonal array with perenials, including fruit trees, planted in the
corners all watered by one central sprinkler. This may be cheaper than lots
of drippers and get in the way less. There are many other advantages
including having chooks that fertilise your food garden and avoiding much
weeding. Much favoured by the local permaculturists, worth a look if you
are preparing for a major makeover.

Here is a local one:

http://www.purplepearfarm.com.au/mandala-gardens

I have been there and I know the bloke who runs it. It is very productive
now having started from really crappy soil. Note that these are not raised
beds but they could be.

Be nice not to have to bend and stoop as much either.
As far as wanting more soil to grow things, I do
has to know my limitations and age proof my life.


Yes.

D