Two years ago (in 2018) we had constructed a
raised bed of stone as an educational herbal garden
for students who visit Peliti.
One year ago (October 2019) we built at Peliti raised beds of wood
to cultivate vegetables, herbs etc. Two years later, now we are in place
to draw our first conclusions.
Advantages of raised beds
Yesterday (5/12/2021) we started summer planting in the thematic
gardens of Peliti.
Here, since 2018 we cultivate in raised beds. Grass had grown high.
We cleared the beds rather quickly using light hand tools, hoes,
regular and small, and rake.
We proceeded with the plating, watering and land-cover and now
we are ready.
If we did not have the raised beds, we should first cut the grass
with a lawnmower for it had grown so high, plough the land and strew
the soil with a rotary cultivator before we started planting.
This means more money, the use of big and expensive machinery
with maintenance expenses, the use of fossil fuels, lubricants, noise
etc.
If you are an amateur farmer, think about the idea of giving a try to
raised beds cultivation.
Advantages of growing vegetables in raised beds:
• People having trouble with their back, can grow easily and painfully
their own veggies.
• Raised beds are very convenient for small children.
• The necessary garden tools are small and easy to handle.
• There is no need for expensive machinery with all its expenses
and drawbacks.
• We economize on water.
• Easier control of undesirable weeds.
• Better utilization of a small space.
• We can utilize and beautify many spots in our garden or veranda,
or any urban surroundings.
• We get a better crop from a smaller space.
How we make raised beds at Peliti
At Peliti we have beds that measure:
• 2m length × 1m width and 60cm height (three planks of 20 cm)
and 4 cm thick.
• 3m length × 1m width and 40 cm height (two planks of 20 cm),
4 cm thick.
Besides these, there is a structure with raised beds as well. The external
part of the wood has been painted, and they are open at the
bottom. You can make raised beds with a number of materials, like
wood, stone, concrete blocks, old window frames, pallets and so on.