Mid-Atl - Nov 2015 - Any suggestions?

Well the "major garden reno" I talked about in September has been VERY slow. I skipped the fall garden but now it seems I could have managed some quick-growing crops.

My husband's family motto is:  Procrastinate . . . tomorrow! The good news is that both of my sons are available to help next Saturday afternoon so that's when the large shed will be moved.

Has anyone moved their SFG? How did you do it? When you took out the Mel's Mix did you bag it? Throw it on a tarp? Or? I had cannibalized the beds this past year anyway to fill up a Noocity Growbed.

I tried to post a picture but it said the file was too large or corrupted, so here's the link. NOOCITY GROWBED

I'm actually looking forward to doing a better job of preparing the area and will possibly even put in hardware cloth even though I haven't really experienced burrowing critters.

We scored a bunch (300+) of bricks from our neighbor so I'll include a T-shaped path. This will be nice on days it's rained before a class so that my students don't have to stand in the mud.

Sooooo any advice on moving my garden?

The answer depends on whether you are moving your garden bed by bed or some other approach.  If moving one bed and then another bed, borrow wheel barrows from friends, neighbors or family.  Empty one bed into the wheel barrows, move the bed, then refill the bed and go on to the next bed.  Or, if you do not have enough wheel barrows, move the MM onto tarps that are small enough that you will be able to pick up and move to the new bed area.

Really only one 2' x 23' SFG. I have a table top but with help I can move it in tact.

Some where I read or watched a YouTube video. Remove the Mix from the edges with spade shovel. Place in wheel barrow or tarp. Lift the frame and place it in new area. (add weed fabric, hardware cloth, what ever you are going to do) Drag/carry tarp or move wheel barrow to new site and dump. The remaining Mix is now exposed on the sides so you can use a flat shovel to scoop it up into wheel barrow or tarp for moving. Thank goodness you will have help.

Oh Sig, the "help" is only for moving the shed.

Kim, surely, you will need help moving your 2x23 box....at least 2 guys/gals? With the MM also needing relocating?

Scorpio, it's 4' vinyl sections and very light. It won't be a problem.

The rest of my teaching garden will be more difficult and I'll just have to plug away at it little by little.

Here's a drawing of my idea. It's in a 25' x 30' area - the same size as the typical row garden.



On the left will be my 2x19 (I'm taking out a section) SFG - the entire 30' on the left side will have vertical structures which will keep the dogs from jumping over the fence. Next to that will eventually be a 4x8 probably 18" tall with seating on the top.

Across from that (heading upward in the drawing) will be a small Hugelkultur bed. It will be contained inside a raised bed.

In the back will be my Back to Eden/Permaculture garden which will house my dwarf fruit trees.

On the right, below the BTE, will be my squash arch.

Below that will be containers and cloth shopping bag gardens.

Bottom right will be a 10' x 10' patio. On it will be a 3x5 table top, a 2x2 Garden Tower 2 (it's actually round - don't know why I drew it square), a 2x4 Noocity Grow Bed, a straw bale and a 1x4 SFG that hangs off of the chain link fence. This will be my "so you live in a townhouse or use a wheelchair" garden.

This will of course be a multi-year project. Except for the BTE, everything uses Mel's Mix. The method of straw bale gardening I will use is where you scoop out some of the straw on the top and fill it with "soil". And on my old Hugel I used a 2" layer of MM on the outside which I liked so I'll recreate that.

There will be a brick walkway from front to back in the main aisle. the rest will be pea gravel or some other material.

I'll need to build the tall 4x8, the 4x8 around the Hugel, (4) 1x4s  or (2) 1x8s) for the squash arch, plus the 1x4 fence box.

Quite and endeavor but should be well worth it.

Not sure if this will help you, however I have emptied my raised beds occasionally, as luck would have it, the adjacent bed was close enough that I could transfer MM, having it handy to put back. Note the pile on next bed in the background.
I think I am finally finished with these beds, other than making up one more for zucchini I think I will be satisfied, however who really knows???

Nah, don't think we are ever 100% done.

Thanks everyone.

Nice plan, Kim. Lots going on there!

Interesting, Kim.  Your bed is the same size as mine, but totally different layouts & plans!  Can't wait to see the finished garden up & running!

AtlantaMarie wrote:Interesting, Kim.  Your bed is the same size as mine, but totally different layouts & plans!  Can't wait to see the finished garden up & running!

LOL me too. Will take awhile. REALLY need to get the front half up and running - hope the weather cooperates.