Garden Design: Three Methods

Gardening is a joy. The time is spent outdoors in both sun and rain and while there are frustrating days there are many more rewarding ones. As the season passes and the plants grow, all manner of beings drop by to visit.

This will only happened, if you use organic methods and no not poison the ecosystem. You are part of the great dance that is constantly twirling in backyards, fields, forests and even abandoned urban lots.

I enjoy growing things, how I grow is what is important not what I grow.

Organic or natural is the how, the what varies but includes, flowers, herbs and vegetables. This year there are three garden plots under my care, and because I was able to work these three, I decided that each one would grow things by a different method; containers, raised bed and no till. Now to be fair, neon of the three involved digging or tilling.

The soil here is clay and requires some work and considerable amending so fro both the raised bed and container garden, I purchase an organic soil mix.

The no-till relied on compost and mulch, the compost was from the backyard composter, so I got to recycle some of last winter’s meals into producing this Fall’s side dishes.

The Container Garden:

This is a shared garden that is located in a neighbour’s backyard. We split the cost of all the materials, soil, plants and containers which we purchased from a local facility very cheaply.

The soil we bought from a locally owned plant nursery and it is a professional mix specifically designed for container gardens. In addition, three of the containers have a peat moss and compost mix.

Peat moss is not a readily renewable resource but coir (coconut fibre) was not available. This is an experiment; while I have used a similar combination for houseplants, this is a first for tomatoes.

I enjoy experimenting and learning through doing and with three plots on the go, the opportunity is there.

The No Till Site:

This garden is located in the backyard of the house were we currently live. It is behind the garage and receives some protection from the wind and gets more than adequate sun. I used cardboard, straw, compost and mulch to build this bed.

Herbs, sunflowers, beans and a variety of cutflowers are planted there.

Raised Bed

This garden is in the backyard of the house we are moving into. The bed is made from scrap lumber and I purchased the soil at 99 cents bag from Home Hardware. The backyard is gravel so it was necessary to buy soil.

There are squash, marigolds, phlox, cucumbers and tomatoes in it.

Summary:

Of the three methods, the raised bed is overall design I would choose and will expand the set up when we move. I like container gardening and it is ideal for small space. I also like the no till method and building soil. Composting is a way to improve the health of the soil and although I do not want to dig, I do want to work directly with the earth, so in reality my next year’s garden will combine no-till and raised beds.