Raised Bed Gardening or Elevated Dirt

My backyard garden consists of raised beds made from 3-foot round, galvanized steel fire pits. I saw them on sale three years ago at Rural King for $49.99 each, so I bought 16 of them. I do not regret this purchase.

Many moons ago, I had a traditional in-ground garden, but it filled with weeds quickly and I just could not keep up. Curse you, crab grass!!! I decided to tarp the whole area over late summer into early spring in order to suppress the weeds and start over the next season. Then COVID hit. Unlike many people, when we were all sequestered at home, I had less freedom to go outside in the yard since I was the main caretaker of my disabled son. Not being able to continue our “normal” public lives meant his services ended and I took care of him inside the house.

From inside the kitchen, I could look out at the garden space and dream of beautiful, lush green vegetables instead of the ugly, huge, blue tarp that was spread out collecting falling debris from the maple trees. Various stones and bits of cement block held down that awful thing. It was a true eye-sore. However, two years later when I was finally able to get back to gardening, the tarp had done a wonderful job of killing off the weeds. I was able to position the fire pits into the base of what is now our backyard raised bed garden.

I am very happy that I have mostly chosen to go this route as opposed to the traditional in-ground method. The soil in the raised beds is easier to amend based on what I’m planting in it that season as I can curate the acidity levels or organic fertilizer. I don’t have to be careful where I am walking for fear of accidentally stepping on a plant I want to live. Plus, weeding is much easier! Oh, my goodness, is it much easier. I can grab a stool, sit down, and weed. Since these beds are 3 feet in diameter, I can pretty much reach around the whole thing without hurting my back from bending over or being on my knees.

Also, raised beds do help deter some pests and critters from getting into the plants. I said “some” like, the really lazy ones. Not the squirrels. They are not lazy; however, they are forgetful. The neighbors have a couple of black walnut trees. I keep finding walnut saplings trying to grow in the beds. I pull them out (often with most of the nut hull still attached), throw it towards the squirrel’s home and shake my fist! Yes, I actually do this.

Every season I get to know how to garden a little better. Raised garden beds have been so helpful and have made gardening easier for me. I also think they look beautiful. Although it may seem weird that placing 16 galvanized steel fire pits, filled with dirt, in a backyard could elevate its look.

In my case, it certainly did.