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  • From: "stonecirclefarm tds.net" <stonecirclefarm AT tds.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Making raised beds
  • Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:00:41 -0600

Like others, I make "raised beds" by compacting my pathways.  My final soil prep almost always involves a tractor-drawn rotovator.  I then drive my little 1948 Allis Chalmers model B back and forth to mark out my beds.  Among other things, this assures that my beds and pathways can then be cultivated using the same tractor.

I do not have experience with them, but I have heard good things about the "Lesche" bed shaper available through Market Farm Implement (http://www.marketfarm.com/).  This is apparently a good tool for clays soils.

-John

On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 7:03 PM, Etienne Goyer <etienne AT lejardinduvillage.ca> wrote:
Hello everyone,

Last year was my first season.  I have been growing on a fairly small
area, about a third of an acre.  In the spring, I made 30 raised beds
using a rake and a shovel.  They where a little over 100' long and 5'
center-to-center (about 42" bed top).  It was exhausting, but I am
pretty happy with the result.  I am fairly sure it helped with the
drainage and soil warming in this very wet and cool season.

This spring, I am adding another 50 150' long beds.  No way I dig that
much with a shovel again.  My question for those whose grows on
non-permanent raised bed: what do you use for bed forming?

I have been looking at bed shapers and disk bedders implement (sometime
called "ridgers").  They are fairly, although not overly, expensive.  My
guess is that a disk bedder would be more appropriate for my fairly
heavy clay loam.  I am afraid a bed shaper with a pan would pack the
soil too much and make the top susceptible to caking.

Anybody wants to share their experience making raised beds?  Which
implement do you use for that purpose?  Anything specific to watch out for?

Thanks!


--
Etienne Goyer  -  Le Jardin du Village
http://lejardinduvillage.wordpress.com

"Changer le monde, une betterave à la fois"

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