Almost everyone that visits asks that question. And who can blame them, the raised beds are everywhere. We have boxes of all shapes and sizes. We have boxes made of cedar, some made from cinder blocks, and others are just regular 2x6s laying in the ground.
Besides looking pretty cool, they do serve a function here for us in our gardens. First and most importantly, they bring the ground up to us. No more hands and knees to weed. In fact, we can even get a bit lazy on a sunny morning and bring out a little “weeding chair” to sit next to our boxes and do the chores.
They also give us a lot of control over our plantings. Vigorous spreaders like strawberries and asparagus stay contained. We can use companion planting to help our veggies grow with their friends. Irrigation is easier, because we only have to water our garden beds. And of course, it helps with pest control.
For the first few years out here, we were constantly battling rodents, moles, and whatever else wanted a free snack. We lost a couple of dozen fruit trees to voles. We still get the occasional tunneller coming into the garden, but for the most part, they leave our raised beds alone.
There are a few downsides, like the cost of building the boxes and filling them with dirt. But overall, for us, the cost is worth it.
