The Modern Victory Garden

Last Sunday, my husband and I did some work on the last bed to be constructed in the "garden expansion" project.   This last one to be built is actually a rework of a planting area in the existing garden footprint.  While productive, it was not working optimally because of the sharp slope to the area.  Last year I grew my zucchini, acorn squash, and pumpkins in this spot.  Here's a couple of pictures -  I think you can see the pretty dramatic slope to the terrain. 

Part of the garden expansion project this year was to rework this planting area making it a large retaining wall bed that levels the planting area and provides much greater (usable) planting space.   The approximate dimensions are 6'x12'.  Because the bed is so wide (6 feet), it will require a wide board walkway down the center to allow for planting and harvesting. 

On Sunday, working together, we got the timbers all cut, the foundation areas dug and leveled, and then placed all the timbers into position.    My husband did all the saw work and I did all the lifting, digging, and leveling work.  This is how it looks at this time. 

What we did not get done Sunday (because we knocked off early to go relax and enjoy the gorgeous sunny afternoon!) was to drive the large stakes into the ground to secure the timbers to - nor did we get the metal fastener plates screwed on to tie together the lengths of lumber.  There is a chance I will get this done on this coming Saturday but it is not likely since we have a variety of obligations and family gatherings to attend over the Easter weekend.  Once we do get the bed fastened and secured into position, I will finish filling the sloped area in using a large pile of rough finished compost I have on hand and some top soil from another portion of our property.  This bed is scheduled to be planted in corn this summer.                                               

The swiss chard transplanted out this weekend is doing well.   There is another spear or two of asparagus poking through the soil.  It won't be long now until we have enough asparagus for the first cutting. The tomatoes are  continuing their hardening off process and are thriving.          

Obligations or not, I MUST get the second round of broccoli seedlings into the ground this weekend - they are getting huge!