How does your garden grow?

[MysticTree]

This weekend we have been hefting organic compost about, collecting free chippings for the paths and clearing a new area to put under cultivation.

The original veg area has now got all its raised beds (albeit very lowly raised!) in place and we are ready for the warmer weather. There is suddenly so much more room now that we have the new area coming along and eventually that will have gazillions of raspberries that will fruit all summer and into autumn but I need to get the ground clean of bindweed first.


Beds ready to rock and roll


Patch still being cleared; about half as big again as the area in the first picture


We started off using wood from a local hardware superstore but I can now get shipping crate wood from work so that is what we have used for most of the beds and also for our 4 compost bins, two of which you can see here.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Wow, excellent. Are you going to put a strip copper around each of the wood boxes to keep the snails away? Ever seen John Kohler's videos on outdoor gardening?...he has good tips.

[streetsurfer]

Interesting idea with the copper there mr raw. if I remember correctly a roll can be obtained in the roofing department (used on peaks to help prevent moss/algae growth on shingles).

Terrific job on your plot Georgina! What a cool deal, having such a close source for, and terrific way to recycle the lumber.

[MysticTree]

Wow, excellent. Are you going to put a strip copper around each of the wood boxes to keep the snails away? Ever seen John Kohler's videos on outdoor gardening?...he has good tips.

I love John Kohler. I will probably use beer traps for the slugs. I am actually rather fond of snails having kept some as pets when I was a child so I try to grow enough for us and the snails!

Copper in this country is being stolen faster than people can replace it at the moment so I shall be giving that a miss.

[MysticTree]

Interesting idea with the copper there mr raw. if I remember correctly a roll can be obtained in the roofing department (used on peaks to help prevent moss/algae growth on shingles).

Terrific job on your plot Georgina! What a cool deal, having such a close source for, and terrific way to recycle the lumber.

Most of the kudos goes to Laurence who did almost all the digging and the construction work. I am the brains behind the enterprise and a little of the brawn. You can't see our hens in the second picture but they are behind that recycled lumber fence. Need to get something to dull that down a bit. Might use Danish oil ... haven't decided.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

I love John Kohler. I will probably use beer traps for the slugs. I am actually rather fond of snails having kept some as pets when I was a child so I try to grow enough for us and the snails!

l really love that attitude. l actually feel pretty bad even mentioning it. l think the copper gives them a shock, so it is actually cruelty. l have a slug problem, but l can't bring myself to put copper around or kill the rats...it's not my place to be doing those types of terrible things to other creatures. The slugs in my area are supposed to cause terrible health problems, but all l do is just wash the soil based greens. Animals all bring us blessings (even Sharks lol), so why not share some stuff with them, it was provided by nature after all.

LOve and compassion, not animal cruelty.

[MysticTree]

l really love that attitude. l actually feel pretty bad even mentioning it. l think the copper gives them a shock, so it is actually cruelty. l have a slug problem, but l can't bring myself to put copper around or kill the rats...it's not my place to be doing those types of terrible things to other creatures. The slugs in my area are supposed to cause terrible health problems, but all l do is just wash the soil based greens. Animals all bring us blessings (even Sharks lol), so why not share some stuff with them, it was provided by nature after all.

LOve and compassion, not animal cruelty.

I was sitting at the bus stop yesterday, early morning, and a rat just shuffled past cleaning up the gutter. I said hello but he just ignored me.

[streetsurfer]

Georgina, I don't know if this will interest you but potassium permangenate can be used to age your lumber. Search around on the net. I have seen where a spray is made of other ingredients as well to make new replacement wood on decks match the older wood. I was thinking it was a mix of copper and vinegar. Of course your wood will darken in time but you can accelerate it with oxidizing agents.

You could probably mix moss and milk in a blender and brush it on as well if you want moss growth on the woods surface. That is something done to clay pots to give them an aged appearance.

I just searched briefly and saw people mention adding steel wool to vinegar to soak a while, and then applying the solution to wood to artificially age it.

[MysticTree]

Thanks for the info. The lumber is untreated coconut I understand so it is not going be the longest-lasting of woods anyway and I think I'll try to find the least toxic preservative I can unless I decide that I can simply replace it when it rots.