First of all, we will not be using pallets this year. We are building a real raised bed garden. We gathered up old wood from the neighbors when they tore out their deck. Dzia Dzia used to say that there was no such thing as a bad piece of wood, so I sent the guys out to see how much decent wood they could find, and they brought back enough to build the beds up! So now we have a huge pile of wood against the fence, and are making our plans.
Today we looked at fencing, but knowing how fast seeds and plants get bought out, I decided to buy my seeds, bulbs and bushes first. I am planning on a lasagna style of bed preparation, with newspapers on the bottom, then leaves (I have LOTS), then coffee grounds, then soil and lastly leaf mulch. I have some coffee grounds, and leaf mulch, but no newspapers as yet. However, I have a couple of classmates who have promised their old newspapers to me. I told them I would take as much as they wanted to get rid of, and I pay off in vegetables! They readily agreed, so I am hoping they come through quickly. We want to get the bed ready so planting can be done in March.
I have decided to use companion gardening this year, and it has been quite an education to learn what helps which plants to grow, and which ones repel insects and rodents. I am really getting into the idea of edible landscaping this year, and am moving my Rose of Sharon bushes to an area of the yard that is better suited for them, and using the empty space for fig trees, mint, ferns and rue. I am planting onions between azaleas and garlic under the oak tree. Since I have such a small area in the backyard, I am going to use every spare inch I can find to give us a bountiful harvest this summer and fall. I will even cultivate between houses if necessary. I have a small piece of land that I am going to use for raspberries and blackberries, and am planning grapes along the fencing. I am going to plant my blueberry bushes around the graves of my dear departed fur children, and they will become part of us, even as they become part of the landscaping. I have three bushes from last year that I am cultivating into six bushes. If all goes well, we should have a good harvest from them this year.
We will have to protect our gardening from the dogs and birds, so fencing and bird mesh will be in order. We had only a few blueberries last year, and birds took a couple of them. Since we need the berries more than the birds do, bird mesh it is! I am still hopeful to get a cover built for the patio, and that will offer shade for the sliding glass door and give the dogs a place to lay when it's hot outside. It will also offer us a peaceful place to watch the hummingbirds visiting the garden. Life can be so good when you look at it that way!
With a song in my heart and spreading sunshine wherever hopeful gardeners are,
Nazdrowie'!
Paczki Puta
