The 2014 Little Easy Bean Network - Get New Beans On The Cheap

[897tgigvib]

behind the berry bed.

This was the first bed I made this way. The Peas were planted March 11th. 6 days earlier than I ever planted peas outside. About a month later I planted the African beans in this bed. These peas are quick to mature and will grow at least 6 feet. The few pole beans planted a month later will not compete badly with them. I did this similarly last year, and this year gave all plants more room. The bush beans are on this side, southward.

This begins today's sequence working on the last bed in the main garden. You can see the 2nd to last bed is not yet planted. Some soil may have to be piled on the side of it nearest, but the farther half can be planted tomorrow.

The 10 foot section of this bed had been dug all the way down and filled with base soil about 16 inches deep, then leveled and measured.

After making the cage section, I carried it in and placed it. Then I stitched up the sides at the 2 corners. I knew for this one there'd be some FANAGGLING with where the sunken hoses are posted. That's why I used it at 36 inches wide, knowing that at some places it would spread outward a little. So much simpler this way. Otherwise it'd have been 41 inches wide, more stitching on of a 5 inch wide piece, more snipping, more duct tape on my blisters...

After loading the soil in it. Whew!

Oh, woops, forgot the photo of the plastic inserted...

Gophers can't climb, especially up plastic. That's one of the main reasons for the plastic, but also the beds I topped with plastic in years before always perform better. More light reflected, important when surrounded by trees, more efficient water use, important in a drought year.

Tomorrow, seeds to put in the bed to the right of this one, the farther 25 foot part of it. Also have work chores...

 

[897tgigvib]

And a few other photos

Back part of my garden. This will be rebuilt in the next few weeks. Notice how I scavenged the soil out of these beds. It was used to make the other beds deeper.

Double images again... This is the other side of the back part. A lot of stones and rubble were down low in these beds. And tree roots.

 

[journey11]

Very cool, Marshall. I've always wanted to see more of your garden. Thanks for the tour! So much work you've put into it and you've thought everything through. What kind of tree are your beds constructed from? I like the look of those stacked logs. I bet the plastic really helps you conserve water as well as discouraging the gophers. The only problem I have with my raised beds is that they dry out much quicker than the big garden. Other than that, I absolutely love them.

 

[897tgigvib]

The logs are mostly Fir trees. Those I cut are only the ones that need to be cut for the forest's health. They are called by the Forest Service, "pecker poles". There are some very specific guidelines that define a pecker pole.

If 2 Fir trees are closer than 8 feet apart, one or both will never grow to good maturity because they will always compete for nutrients, water, and light.

If there are 2 or more trees 8 eet apart or less, it is recommended to cut the smaller and or less perfect trees and to leave the best tree.

Another definition of a pecker pole is if it is less than 8 inches in diameter 8 feet up. That's basically if you reach up high as you can, and can wrap both hands around it touching thumbs and fingers, it is a pecker pole. But not if it is more than 8 feet from the nearest other tree.

If a tree is a hazard it is treated as a pecker pole.

If a tree is dead or dying it is a pecker pole.

If a Fir or Pine tree is oozing sap a lot it likely has borers, especially if it has burl looking bumps, usually darker, on the trunk, it is a pecker pole. The Firs usually survive borers but are not likely to become patriarch trees. Pine trees usually slowly die from borers. Infested trees are treated as pecker poles, and should be used as firewood.

If a Fir or Pine has a double leader, forked partway up, especially if both parts are growing, it will eventually split and fall or die, and should be cut. (I have a couple like that near my cabin, but both are a bit too large and positioned so I can't cut them myself, and need a professional to cut.)

=====

All the logs in my garden are from trees that passed at minimum, 2 definitions of pecker pole, that is, too close to other trees and also less than 8 inches in diameter 8 feet up. Or, hazard trees also too close to other trees. Some come from storm falls.

 

[Carol Dee]

WOW that is a lot of work. It sure looks good. SO the plastic stays on all year. I think we would COOK the plants with plastic covers. But is sure looks like amore effective a barrier for the rabbits and ground hogs.

 

[ninnymary]

Marshall, I am very impressed with your organization of your beans. The only thing I would have done different is to have sprayed painted all those cans to make them look "purdy"! Probably a lime green color.

Those beds look really good also. One of these days, I want to take a trip up to see your beautiful garden beds and all your hard work.

Mary

 

[Blue-Jay]

Marshall,

Yes almost 700 square feet of gardening space is some serious amount of space. When it's all finished you'll be able to enjoy the use of it for many years. The amount of coffee you got now is serious too. You might say a hedge against inflation should the price of coffee rise in the future. You got it licked !

 

[Wishin']

Marshall, I am very impressed with your organization of your beans. The only thing I would have done different is to have sprayed painted all those cans to make them look "purdy"! Probably a lime green color.
Mary

I thought the same thing only I was thinking use a variety of colors for color coordination to help sort the beans, by like type, harvest length, or something like that, AND to make it look "nice"

I love your log beds Marshal, it is so cool to see how other people do things. I definitely learn a lot on here.

Too funny on the coffee

 

[Ridgerunner]

Marshall, next time you venture out to "civilization" you might check with a bakery, deli, or even a restaurant to see if they have free containers you can use. I get plenty of 2 gallon to 4 gallon plastic buckets from a deli in my local (not major brand name) grocery store that has a bakery in it.

 

[canesisters]

Wow.

THAT is an impressive garden!!!