Raised Beds The New Victory Garden

Times are tough. And when the going gets tough, the tough get growing. With the news that President and Mrs. Obama have broken ground on the first ever organic garden on the grounds of the White House, we are realizing that the idea of growing your own healthy sustainable food sources is more than just a trend; it is a new and greener way of life.

If you have considered starting a garden, whether as a hobby, a serious food source, a way to offset climbing food costs, or any other reason, now is the time to get serious. There are dozens of good books available to instruct the would-be or pro gardener in ways of producing more yield per square foot of garden plot, and doing so in the healthiest, most eco-friendly way possible.

This is why we love the raised bed so much. It is a wonderful way of keeping your herbs and vegetables growing in small spaces, and virtually eliminates the tedious job of weeding.

A raised bed is a plant sanctuary, providing them with all of the elements necessary to thrive and produce, while eliminating many of the competitive natural forces that work to rob your plants of nutrients and a disease- and pest-free life.

No matter what kind of space you have available for gardening, there is a raised bed system that is just right for you. These days, even an apartment or condo patio is not unimaginable as a beautiful and productive urban garden. Some raised beds are tiered, which provides additional compactness, because plants are not directly competing with neighboring plants on all sides, but rather are elevated to their own level playing field.

Disabled or wheelchair-bound individuals can finally garden again with the use of a good raised bed system. Plant tables provide a wonderful way to pull up a chair and garden comfortably, and higher ground-based beds offer relief to tired backs and stiff muscles. Add a sitting rail all the way around the perimeter of a raised bed, and you even have a comfortable bench on which to sit as you tend to your tomatoes and peppers.

We have started seeing beautiful raised beds made out of recycled plastic materials, such as milk jugs and plastic grocery bags. Timbers made from these materials are an environmentally sensible way to garden, and they have the additional benefit of lasting longer than most wooden raised beds, because of the impermeability of the materials to water and bugs.

Cedar presents the most economical choice for raised bed gardeners. It is naturally repellent to many common garden pests, and is beautiful and fragrant as it ages.

So go ahead and plant that victory garden raised bed you have been thinking about all winter. The cost of the bed and the seeds you plant are offset by the abundant produce you will be enjoying all season long. And as the First Family will soon discover if they do not already know, organic gardening is a lot of fun!

Find a raised bed that is perfect for your yard and other gardening tips and alternatives.