How to Build a Raised Bed – Organic Gardening

I fell in love with the idea of raised bed gardening when I quickly learned how unreliable city soil can be. This video is all about getting you started with raised beds, including how to build your own. I will also demonstrate how to build a hoop house. The raised bed that you’ll see me building here only cost me $40. My raised beds are built, based on four foot beds and eight foot beds which happen to be the general measurement standard for lumber, which makes it easier. Let me share with you some of the reasons for my love of this method of gardening.

The Beauty of Raised Beds:

They modularize your garden and put it within arms reach,  removing the back-breaking work

Raised Beds can also house my livestock that fertilize and till the soil

Raised Beds also allow you to extend your growing season with a quick modification transforming them into hoop houses, which create micro-climates for earlier planting

Raised Beds are great for people with disabilities, allowing them to get outside and be physical without having to go beyond what they can do

Plants that are raised in Raised Beds have good water retention

You can never over-water because of the built-in drainage system

Raised Beds mean less watering for you: you only have to water on especially, dry hot days

What you will need to build your raised bed and hoop house:

Each four foot bed requires about 32 cubic feet of soil.

Sunglasses to avoid sawdust getting in to your eye

Pre-cut Lumber (it is easier to transport that way and saves time) Lumber comes in 8, 10, and 12' + lengths, so this allows less cutting, which means less waste Lumber doesn’t last forever because the untreated wood will eventually rot, over time. (Never use pressure treated wood because the chemicals can leach out into your soil, eventually harming your plants).

Instead of lumber, you may use: recycled wood, stone, brick, concrete

Screw gun

Saw

Don’t forget to buy 4"galvanized screws to assemble the raised beds

I use 2x10x8' lumber for the construction of my raised beds. To build one 4x4 raised bed I buy four pieces of 8' lumber and have the store cut them into 8-4’ pieces

Galvanized wire (If you’ll be rotating and housing chickens or rabbits in your raised bed, make sure you fasten galvanized wire to the bottom with screws and washers to avoid animal mischief!)

Gravel

Concrete Pavers (optional)

What you need to build a hoop house:

All of the above, plus the following:

Six ½" PVC Pipes cut at 8 ft

1 1/2" bolts and wingnuts

Plastic cover – material?

Although what I’m doing looks like hard work (which is good for you, once in a while) my hope is that it will inspire you. Sit back, relax and watch me at work. And, then get started…your garden is waiting.