Part Duex

We started Sunday morning in the mid 30's, (too cold) so we piddled around the house until it warmed up.  (There's always household chores to do.)

By mid morning it had warmed up enough so we went outside and started to make the other 2 bed frames.  With all the exercise and the sun starting to peek through the clouds, I started to get a bit warm. 

Time for me to "shuck' my pullover.  I pulled it off and SM started laughing and said "I've got to take a picture of this".

Static electricity anyone?  Either than or it's "Cousin It" from the Adams Family.

(We had a good laugh!)  I then went inside and put it back into a ponytail and slapped a ballcap on it. 

Freaking Homesteader Hair!  (Inside joke.)

Back to business then.  SM and I built two more bed frames today.  (Do you see Ginny peeking up over the box?  She's better than "Where's Waldo".)

I can tell you that the garden plans have already changed from what I had proposed a few weeks ago.  I thought they might.  Sometimes you've got to see it to understand what you want to do. 

(*I'm very much that way.  A visual learner.  Tell me how to do it or ask me to read about it and I won't learn a thing.  But if you show me how to do it, I'm "locked and loaded".  It's in the archives forever!*)

We had the 4x4 dug-outs and I thought that we'd just frame each of those separately and build them up.  Well, that's just silly.  More work for ourselves really, so we decided to just make 3 long 12'x4' beds. 

The wood is 2 inches thick and 12" high.  We screwed in 3" long deck screws into the ends and then did good sized L brackets top and bottom where they meet. 

(**It's been pointed out to me that we should do a cross beam for support in the middle to prevent the wood from bowing out.  It's a good idea...but I read the comment after I finished back filling so I'll have to think about what to do now.  Any ideas?**)

SM then wiped linseed oil on the exposed wood while I laid down a cardboard base.  (Curious Casey)

I then started the transfer of more Mels Mix from the 3rd "dug-out" into the 2nd raised bed.

SM had to bug out and go finish up a job this afternoon...("Go make some money, Honey!")...so I was working solo for the transfer of the rest of the soil.

I'm really pleased with all the garden space so far.  Our square footage has really increased.  I'm thinking we may only put in 2 more raised beds over the next few months.  (Plus the corn-pumpkin patch back by the shed.  Double dig that.) 

I suspected my plans would change.  That's the thing about gardening...It's ever evolving, constantly changing.

SM pointed out that this is costing a "bloody fortune".  True enough. 

Hey!...That's why we call it 500 Dollar Tomato!

But although the initial investment is large, I feel the returns will be tremendous particularly during our retirement years with our "suspected" limited income.

Pay now or pay later.  But that's another topic.