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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> >Shaped sides require maintenance--deweeding, reshaping--and make the  
> plants a further reach from your feet. Their advantages include labor- 
> only costs and increased root space per bed top area.

Not to disagree, Gene, but only to point out that every disadvantage has 
its advantage.  (and, alas, vice versa).  Sideless beds as I am describing 
have sides that are far steeper than might be thought.  A bed 30" tall 
(probably the practical limit) developed to the best condition of soil will 
be 48" 
at the base and 28" across the top.  That's the same  plant-to-toe room you'd 
get if you used 10" wide material to make the bed.

But 30" beds aren't the rule and most to the time they are growing 
potatoes, sweet potatoes, or some sort of vine crop that want's to scraggle 
over the 
sides.  Most beds stop growing vertically at about 18".  

> >Solid bed sides allow any height, to accomodate joint comfort.

The one big difference between sides and not is that for sure you cannot 
sit on or lean agains the sides of my beds.  But one has to decide the extent 
to which one want's to accommodate the joints or enhance their flexibility.  
So far I find an advantage to engaging in a little 'garden yoga'.   Some of 
the beds are seeded or transplanted by sitting beside the bed, legs out and 
parallel to the bed, then twisting toward the bed to plant or tend it.  To 
be sure this is accompanied by creaks and groans in the late winter, but by 
early summer the joints have loosened up so much that it is a natural 
posture.

Some beds are planted and tended by bending over the bed from a standing or 
kneeling position.  For this purpose I have a staff that is placed either 
at the far side of the bed or right in the middle of it.  The left hand holds 
the staff while the right hand does the work.  It gets to be a very natural 
position and a couple hours a day of this stretches all the involved 
muscles and loosens up the joints from ankles all the way throught the 
shoulders.  
It promotes balance and deep breathing.

Wood sawing, scything, and hoeing (the corn and potatoes) are the tai-chi 
and tending the beds is the yoga.  Planning and reflecting are the 
meditation.  The result is 'Garden Wa'.  

James