2012-07-02 Garden How-To

Post date: Jul 02, 2012 6:53:18 PM

In response to popular demand... I want to take a bit of time to tell you how you can make a similar garden of your own either at home or in an educational setting. In reality it is very simple, it just requires time and planning to make sure it is a success! So far we have been successful with ours, but we are still learning new tips and tricks along the way. I will outline the general steps we took, and how these might be a bit different if you were to try this on your own!

1) Location

Make sure you have a large enough location for your garden, but not too large! If resources are limited, do some research on the plants you’re considering planting in your garden to make sure you are getting the right size. Look for the price in relation to the full spreading size of the plants to ensure that your garden can fill out without expending all your resources.

Raised beds are also extremely helpful. They provide good drainage, as long as the water has somewhere to escape out from the bottom. This will prevent a lot of problems with mold and rotting, which can kill your plants.

Our raised bed gardens

2) Sheet Mulching

Sheet mulching is the layering of organic and/or inorganic materials to create layers in the bed to promote moisture retention, drainage, and it will create a nutrient store for the plants. There are many different methods used for sheet mulching, and you are able to get creative with this! When we did our sheet mulching, we received some information from Dustin at Jasper Place. We used this only as a guide, and the West and East balconies used different techniques! The most important component in the plans for the Science minors class was drainage, which is usually done by adding a layer of rock to the bottom of the planter. But since our gardens are on balconies, it was way too heavy! Instead we used a variety of recyclable plastics, so the water could pass through and leave the soil if it gets too wet. From there, alternating layers of soil, newspaper, water, straw, compost, manure, branches, cardboard... whatever you like! Just be sure to finish with a nice layer of soil, compost, and/or peat moss so you can plant your plants!

Layering different recyclables in the planters for drainage

3) Plants

You need to decide what sorts of plants you want! If you are aiming for a permaculture garden, be sure to choose plants that will return after the winter. You can also check out the web for other themes and ideas based on the purpose of your garden. Consider if the plants need sun or shade, moist or dry soil, or if they need to be near other plants in order to retrieve nutrients. Good things to include in your garden, especially in the first year or two, are beans and peas. These fix nitrogen into the soil, which is great for establishing your garden.

4) Putting it all together!

Once you have the plans and materials for your gardens, get it done! Make your sheet mulch, plant your plants, and watch everything happen! Another good thing to do at this point is to establish some sort of compost source... whether it is fruit and vegetable scraps in a compost bin or vermicompost, it will be a great way to boost the nutrient content in the garden in the spring.

And that’s basically it! Remember that if you are doing this as a project in a school, be sure to get some friends and colleagues on your side. It’s more likely going to be a success with lots of helping hands and support!