The Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening----Chad Brock Red Bird Mission

       A raised bed garden is any garden area that is built up higher than the soil around it. Although many raised beds are just soil mounded up above ground level they are usually framed with wood or stone to act as barriers to hold the soil in place. Raised bed gardening can be a very beneficial way for many gardeners facing troubles ranging from poor soil, pest problems, weed problems,lack of free time and physical disabilities.
        Here at Red Bird Mission we explored the ideal of  raised bed gardening with a few of our Grow Appalachia participants last year and seen great success.

Raised Beds At Girl Scout Garden

Members of the Summer Youth Program planting their raised bed
gardens

Raised Beds At Girl Scout Garden

Raised Bed At Grow Appalachia's Community Garden

Raised Bed At Grow Appalachia's Community Garden

Grow Appalachia Participant: David Balmer's Raised Beds

Grow Appalachia Participant: David Balmer's Raised Beds

Grow Appalachia Participant: David Balmer's Raised Beds

Grow Appalachia Participant: David Balmer's Raised Beds

Grow Appalachia Participant: Robert Griffin's Raised Beds

Grow Appalachia Participant: Robert Griffin's Raised Beds
     



          A few of the advantages for Raised bed gardening are: 

Better Soil Conditions.

In a traditional row garden you have to start with the existing soil which might not be suitable for a variety of reasons such as poor nutrients, poor drainage or soil that is to rocky making it hard to work. Building a raised bed plot allows you to build the soil to ideal conditions for the crop you are wanting to grow . 

Increased control of weeds.

When building a raised bed you have the opportunity to place a weed barrier beneath the soil you are filling it with. This and the ability to use weed free soil makes for a nearly weedless garden making it much easier to maintain.

Predator Prevention.

In our area predators such as moles can be a problem. Before filling your raised bed you can line the bottom with rodent wire preventing them from being able to tunnel into your plants. Chicken wire and bird netting can easily be applied to the outside of your frame preventing other critters from getting to your precious produce.

Lengthen your Growing Season.

Because raised beds are higher than the surrounding soil they tend to warm quicker in the spring allowing you to plant earlier than tin traditional row gardens. A raised bed frame can also be converted into a small cold frame without spending much time or money.

Easy to maintain.

If done properly a raised bed is very easy to maintain.  There is very little weeding and since they are generally built in either 2ft or 4ft widths it is easy to reach each and every plant to water or weed when necessary.

Chad Brock