tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597303840722434903.post8236963838656044544..comments2021-03-23T01:29:40.517-07:00Comments on Still Life with Wood Stove: This Year's Garden PlanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597303840722434903.post-26586499036247986782010-02-04T07:08:30.121-08:002010-02-04T07:08:30.121-08:00Never buy buckets. They are too easy to find for f...Never buy buckets. They are too easy to find for free. Most restaurants go through at least a bucket a week - cafeterias go through the most. knock on doors, ask around, and you should be able to find some.Simple.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08736971156243721613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597303840722434903.post-48081324123353900372010-02-03T16:15:24.814-08:002010-02-03T16:15:24.814-08:00Thanks! I think I'm leaning towards containers...Thanks! I think I'm leaning towards containers just to be less of a hassle to the landlady and the other people who live in this house. I might have Dan build me a trough for some leafy greens. Mostly I'm worried about the costs racking up (buckets add up when you're buying a lot of them).Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079458197251276466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597303840722434903.post-33663407386884051982010-02-03T06:45:21.531-08:002010-02-03T06:45:21.531-08:00You can make raised beds with no digging at all. I...You can make raised beds with no digging at all. It's no ideal, but it's possible. If you're worried about the pipes you can basically soak the lawn, cover it with newspaper (4 layers worth to kill off the grass) and then dump layers of manure, soil, and mulch (straw, leaves, lawn clippings, woodchips (though some would say to stay away), whatever is around). With no digging you'd have to raise the beds at least 2 feet, and treat them pretty much as container gardens (in terms of depth and watering. You could still grow whatever you want that has mostly lateral, surface roots like tomatoes and corn). No need to make pretty wooden or any kind f borders around the beds unless you really wanted to (it would prevent some soil erosion, but probably isn't worth the effort).<br /><br />Also you could do extensive container gardening. it's amazing what you can do with some buckets. Potatoes can be grown entirely above ground with a food grade 55-gallon drum (which usually can be found for free at groceries, restaurants, or food distros) or a stack of old tires (some would say you can do it in a smaller bucket, but I'm skeptical - though I've never tried it, so who knows). Here's an article on potatoes http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1980-03-01/Taters-in-a-Barrel.aspx <br /><br />good luck! let me know what you decideSimple.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08736971156243721613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597303840722434903.post-12700036725794878472010-02-02T21:49:49.509-08:002010-02-02T21:49:49.509-08:00But how much digging has to get done for raised be...But how much digging has to get done for raised beds? Don't you have to go down a couple of feet?Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079458197251276466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597303840722434903.post-68731153056085198342010-02-02T09:41:51.665-08:002010-02-02T09:41:51.665-08:00there might be a way to work around the sprinkler ...there might be a way to work around the sprinkler system...and even to use it to your advantage (who likes watering?). Get your landlord to give you the map of the sprinkler system with relevant information like where the pipes are and how deep they are, etc. Then you might be able to plan around it. If nothing else, there's probably room to tuck things into the border around the house or at the edge of your lawn.<br /><br />A really easy way to work around the sprinklers if you can't get the schematic of the system is to build raised beds above the soil level between sprinkler heads - but be careful not to plant tap-rooted plants with aggressive roots likely to go deeper than your bed (like comfrey or rhubarb).Simple.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08736971156243721613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597303840722434903.post-84182166608889832612010-02-02T09:15:13.600-08:002010-02-02T09:15:13.600-08:00I am writhing with jealousy (envy? I never remembe...I am writhing with jealousy (envy? I never remember) and cursing the damned sprinkler system that's marring our gigantic, southern-facing backyard.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18079458197251276466noreply@blogger.com