4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[abwsco]

OK, given this is our lawn now (an old pic which I keep reposting -lol)

 

 

should we just give up and turn it all into raised beds and get some more chipped wood from the tree surgeon to fill the pathways with?

 

Could also do with an idea of costings for making raised beds.

 

I used to help my Mum when she was alive with the tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce with occasional potatoes as well but that was years ago so would need lots of encouragement and advice. I've still got unused Ikea potato sacks hanging in the garage

 

Ta

[fluffyknickers]

If it were me I would have raised beds made from linkabord and between each raised bed and down the path I would have something like wood chip or nice slate/gravel.

 

Michelle

[Redwing]

I made raised beds for about £14 each ish they are 3ft x 6ft

 

I used 2in x 2in posts about 12 in high (did some 9in high too) and 6ft x 3in boards

 

I have gravel paths between them

 

Will post some pics later if it helps

[chooklady]

My hubby recently build these, they just slot together, they are gravel boards. The beds are just under 8" x 4". Each one needs 7 boards. The sides are whole boards and then the ends have 2 halves but one is cut in half lengthways and then he cut grooves out so they slot together, not a screw or nail in sight. The middle bit gives it stability.

I was very impressed.

 

 

 

[Cinnamon]

That is such a nice shaped plot that you could make it look super with raised beds & paths.

Raised beds don't have to be square or rectangular - triangles would work well in that space, maybe all pointing inwards with a central feature, & nice paths with slate in between them all.

 

I can really picture it

[Redwing]

Here are mine - chicken run takes centre stage sorry but this is the best pic I have of them on photobucket!

 

[abwsco]

Great pics everyone, thank you

 

Sarah, your idea sounds lovely I'm rubbish at visualising how things look though and always have been. Fancy drawing me up a plan - lol

[Alis girls]

You all seem to have big gardens! very envious

[redhotchick]

I must post a pic of my raised beds and overgrown paths

If you do put raised beds in, and if you know your chickens will be free ranging around them, - make the corner posts higher so that you can run mesh around the sides, or allow for the possibility of enviromesh cages around some of them.

[abwsco]

Ooh, that's a great tip Cathy

 

DH has laid the first paving slab today which is going to go from the patio to the chickens area gate in a slight curve. The whirly gig is going to be replaced by a smaller one. We're also going to move the mini fences further back towards the plants so we have more of an area. Don't think the area is big enough for nice shaped beds though so they're going to have to be rectangular.

 

Any recommendations of books for first timers, or a link to threads would be great

[Lesley]

As suggested, slate is good for the paths - don't use bark if you or neighbours have cats!.

 

If you use stones try to use irregular shaped granite(or similar) in a med size - 18mm/25mm - as this will bed down to make a solid pathway. If you use gravel, the small (pea) gravel will stick in the treads of your wellies and the larger pebbles will roll and you could do yourself an injury.

[redhotchick]

Here's a link to a bit more raised bed chat.

 

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=44114&hilit=raised+bed

 

It took me months from deciding to get raised beds to actually getting them done, full of soil and being able to plant. I have 5 raised beds in total. One is a permanent bed for asparagus and strawberries, the other 4 are for rotating the rest of the veg around.

 

I haven't got one book that I really love, I tend to dip in and out of various books, Delia's Kitchen Garden is probably the one I use the most. Seed Catalogues can be very informative and there is a wealth of information on the internet.

 

More Veg sells small packets of seed for 50p or 75p.

http://moreveg.co.uk/shop/

 

I've used Nicky's Seeds quite a bit, they do smaller packets too and have a lovely selection.

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/vegetable-seeds1.htm

 

Grow what you like to eat, and that are expensive in the shops.

I find anything I grow gives me a lot of satisfaction though.

[Lesley]

Square Foot Gardening is a good book to look at - it works well for raised beds.

[abwsco]

Thanks Lesley and Cathy