(Ed) Lots of people use raised beds to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables. They enable better access, help with water management and can extend the growing season. With them being so popular, we were intrigued when we received a newsletter from Eco-Building and Forestry, exploring more sustainable raised beds.
Can raised garden beds be part of a sustainable landscape? I've often pondered this question. Cutting down old growth cedar (or even redwoods) to construct them, using lots of other materials and doing a lot of work just to grow a few dollars' worth of vegetables doesn't sound that sustainable.
However, Sybil's raised beds (above) that I constructed for her, changed how I think. She wanted this protected and raised garden as part of her lifestyle on her property and she wanted it to fit her personality.
Lessons learned
Make raised beds fit your lifestyle and personality
Place the raised beds where you will see and use them every day
Create an outdoor 'room' with a variety of uses including relaxing and even for entertaining
Build in reduced maintenance and easy repair
Construct from distressed or discarded materials
Make the beds convenient and comfortable to use
Build in a way that you can easily add on or change in the future
We live in a society where so much of what we buy (cars, phones, cable, fast food and frivolous toys come to mind) has little long-term value. And in a lot of cases these things are not even good for us. Creating a space in your yard, like this multiple-use raised garden, enhances your health and actually engages your life. Now that's sustainable!
See www.landscapes4life.com for more information from Eco Building and Forestry.
Further resources
How to make vertical raised beds for urban green spaces
Small scale hugelkultur in raised beds
Build timber raised beds in your driveway
Making moveable raised beds from scrap
Getting Started in Permaculture
Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist
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