By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Recently I blogged about the difficulty I had after I’d hastily decided to make a raised bed garden out of heavy cinder blocks. I didn’t know how to arrange the two-layer sides or level the ground and the blocks were very heavy to lift.

Than I wrote a post about how a fellow blogger Deane Rimerman, editor of Forestry Policy Research, helped me with the project, making it a success after all.

I’m happy to report that I planted bean and Swiss chard seeds along with tomato, crookneck squash, and cucumber seedlings.

It was thrilling to see the beans and Swiss chard come up a week later. I haven’t planted seeds in years. I’ve only planted seedlings in container gardens, with varying degrees of success.

Finally catching up on my gardening and yard work, I went for a walk in my neighborhood along my usual route.

I was surprised to see a new raised bed garden. The plants were about the same size as mine, so I’m assuming that the gardeners constructed it recently, like me.

I analyzed the construction: tall sides and nicely finished tops. I saw that they’d also planted squash plants on the ground between their raised bed and at the sides. I’d been thinking about using the space next to my raised bed garden for more vegetables. I’ll be planting again soon.

It will be fun to watch this raised bed garden and see how it does.

Then I walked a block or two farther and saw a home with several raised bed gardens. The corn was so high I couldn’t believe it. I wonder if the planted it in May, if they raised corn seedlings, or if they bought corn seedlings.

My neighbors, too, started early. They’re already eating lettuce from their garden and the peas are getting taller daily.

When I went to West Olympia recently, I spotted these fabulous raised bed gardens. What a tremendous idea. Turn your front yard into garden beds. It’s a fantastic way to grow your own food.

What are your gardening stories this year? Are you making an attempt, like I am, to grow food?

Leave me a comment about your challenges and successes.

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