DON'T STEP IN THE SOIL.................

DON’T STEP ON THE SOIL............ Remember, it’s all about movin and groovin “OUTSIDE THE BOX!!

One of the greatest advantages of Raised Bed Gardening is the light and airy, well-drained soil. Stepping inside your garden bed will compact the soil and reduce aeration. If you need to maneuver your way across your RAISED BEDS, try laying a long board across the beds. 

Early Spring. Now is the time to start clearing the way and setting the stage for a successful growing season ahead. The soil in raised beds is constantly settling. Now is the time to add some soil if needed, and bring the soil levels up to the top of your beds.

Amendments such as lime, peat, rock phosphate and compost can be added at this time.  But not so fast on the manure........ Manure is best applied about two weeks before seeding in Spring.

While waiting for the soil to warm up, you can use this time to set out stakes, poles and trellises for your tall crops. Make sure your garden beds are looking good and ready for take off. 

NOW it’s time to exercise some restraint as you wait for the soil to warm up!
Wait until the soil is 60 degrees F before planting seeds, 70 – 80 degrees F is best for germination. Don’t be tempted to jump the gun. Even early cool weather crops like peas do best when the soil is about 75 degrees F. 


Kim in the Garden ~ ~
www.RaisedBedGardenKits.com

SELF-SUFFICIENCY IS NOT A LUXURY ANYMORE......

Self-sufficiency is not a luxury anymore - it's a NECESSITY!  Food prices have steadily increased over the last several years by as much as five percent. 

It is quite obvious our food dollars are shrinking. A combination of droughts, crazy weather patterns and high fuel costs have all contributed to an astronomical food bill. 

In addition to world economies, we could realistically see wide spread shortages of nutritious food. It is hard to deny that this is happening.

It's up to each one of us to make the choice of becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on a system that is quickly moving from what it once was.

The good news is, we can easily and inexpensively take on this new challenge. Better to prepare now than to be "scrambling"  months from now. Even if you live in the city, there are some self-sufficient gardening options specifically designed for you. Urban Gardener Options

Also view  -  Three Tier Raised Bed Garden.  A real space saver!

Kim in the Garden................;o)

 www.RaisedBedGardenKits.com

PRACTICALLY A SPRING DAY..or IS IT?

Ahhhh.....  36 degrees out today.  Practically a Spring day here in beautiful Wisconsin.  Spring is in the air and the wheels of planting  are in motion!

OK, we do have a ways to go.  Here in Wisconsin it could snow in May - and HAS!!  But it is never too early to start dreaming and planning that Summer garden.

It's exciting to visualize how one will lay out their 2013 garden.  All of life begins with a vision.  And so begins another exciting year of gardening.

This is the time to savor your garden dreams.  Mull things over, make changes in your head.  Now is the time, soon planting time will be upon us.  And quick decisions will need to be made.  

Every gardener knows, once the season begins, things move quickly and time is of the essence.

Just a reminder to Enjoy Each Day...........  Looking forward to another Joyful Season Of Growing. 

 Kim at   RaisedBedGardenKits.com 

RAW FOOD DEHYDRATOR FOR CHRISTMAS

DEHYDRATOR CHRISTMAS GIFT

Newly added - Just in time for Christmas. Raised Bed Garden Kits  just added 3 top of the line FOOD DEHYDRATORS.

We carry the Excalibur line. Excalibur has 35 years of manufacturing excellence! They set the industry standard for design, quality, and dependability. If you are serious about RAW FOOD DEHYDRATION, you would not want anything but an Excalibur. 

There are so many healthy treats you can make for your family that normally would be expensive in a store or would contain preservatives. With a dehydrator, food retains 100 percent of its nutritional value of vitamins, enzymes and nutrients. Dried foods can be stored in air-tight containers for long-term storage.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038080_dehydrator_food_storage_recipes.html#ixzz2DM0Mw5nQ

There are so many healthy treats you can make for your family that normally would be pricey in a store or they contain non-organic foods with preservatives. The dehydrator allows the food to retain 100 percent of its nutritional value of vitamins, enzymes and nutrients. Instead of letting food go to waste, dehydrate and store. Dried foods can be stored in air-tight containers for long-term storage.


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038080_dehydrator_food_storage_recipes.html#ixzz2DM0Mw5nQ

There are so many healthy treats you can make for your family that normally would be pricey in a store or they contain non-organic foods with preservatives. The dehydrator allows the food to retain 100 percent of its nutritional value of vitamins, enzymes and nutrients. Instead of letting food go to waste, dehydrate and store. Dried foods can be stored in air-tight containers for long-term storage.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038080_dehydrator_food_storage_recipes.html#ixzz2DM0xSuQX
To

~ DRIED FRUIT, VEGETABLES, NUTS & SEEDS, SPROUTED FLOUR, BEEF JERKY, AND FRUIT LEATHER ~ 

A dehydrator makes a fun and practical gift. See our three DEHYDRATORS here.

Kim – Out Of The Garden And Into The Kitchen ~ ~

www.RaisedBedGardenKits.com 

WHEN TO PICK SUMMER SQUASH

Zucchini, yellow crookneck, patty pan or scallop, yellow straightneck and any other squash that has a thin tender skin are all considered summer squash.
 

Summer squash grow fast, so pick them some time before 7" long by 3" to 4" in diameter. This is about the maximum size for them to be tender enough to eat. The smaller they are, the more tender.

Don't be afraid to pick them at different sizes along their growth. As long as you keep your squash plants watered, they will continue to produce more squash. Just be careful you don't damage the plants when you harvest. The leaf stems are fragile.

WHEN TO PICK WINTER SQUASH & PUMPKINS

Winter squash includes: butternut, acorn, spaghetti, buttercup and any squash that you can store through the winter.


Winter squash are harvested when they are fully mature. This means that you will harvest winter squash at the very end of the growing season, near the time of the first frost.

**  Immature squash and pumpkins do not store well, therefore, you must make sure they are mature before harvesting. Mature winter squash have very hard skins that cannot be punctured or bruised easily.
Also, as winter squash mature, their bright surface sheen changes to a dull, dry-appearing surface. 

Kim in the garden......  ;o)
www.RaisedBedGardenKits.com

HOW TO GROW PEAS..................

SOME LIKE IT HOT, but PEAS LIKE IT COLD ...................peas prefer cool growing conditions and will tolerate light frosts, they may be planted as soon as the ground can be worked and will germinate in a wide range of soil temperatures, 4-24°C (40-75°F).

There are many varieties of peas, but all GARDEN PEAS prefer a soil that is well-drained with limestone or wood ashes.

Pick peas on a regular basis to encourage more growth and a superior harvest. Try not to get your plants wet when watering, instead, use a weeper hose or low level watering device. Harvest peas while young for the sweetest flavor.

Make sure your soil drains well - PEAS can't tolerate wet soil. Peas grow well in Raised Beds. Digging in plenty of compost should provide the right texture. Avoid any soil additives that are high in nitrogen; like beans, peas are able to capture nitrogen from the air.

Choose your PEA!!! There are many kinds: General GARDEN PEAS (only the seeds are eaten), Chinese or snow peas (picked when the pods have reached full size but the seeds are still small and eaten pod and all), and snap peas (picked when both pod and seeds are mature; both are edible).

PLANT PEAS directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked, usually about five weeks before the last expected frost. Soak your seeds indoors for 24-48 hrs. before planting. Sow 1" deep, 2 inches apart, in rows about 2 feet apart.

You can make a simple trellis for your peas or plant them next to a fence. Most peas, - even dwarf varieties - like to climb. Peas are natural climbers, and will be more productive, and not as susceptible to rot, if given some support or planted along a fence or trellis. So please trellis your peas!!

Make sure young plants get about 1/2 inch of water a week (1 inch in very sandy soil). When plants begin to flower, they need an inch per week regardless of soil.

Help ensure heavy yields by feeding liquid seaweed or compost tea. Expect peas to be ready for picking about three weeks after the plants begin to flower.

Companion planting for your GARDEN PEAS:

Peas do well with carrot, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, early potato, radish, spinach, pepper and turnip.

Enjoy SOWING & GROWING your GARDEN PEAS!

www.RaisedBedGardenKits.com

Kim in the Garden..................... ;o)

SCHOOL GARDEN - PLANT BASED LEARNING!

Plant-based learning............it's an education from the ground up! A SCHOOL GARDEN project engages a child's creativity, intellect, emotion, and social interaction. It involves measuring, planning, counting, weighing, arranging, nurturing and nutrition.

And it yields.......... and not surprisingly, the fruits of the spirit! LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF CONTROL, and FAITHFULNESS.

And that's a whole lot of teaching in one School Project!

With Spring approaching, we highly recommend a SCHOOL GARDEN project for any school who is looking for a fun way to instill some great values into our children. And at the same time, teach valuable common sense and life skills.

Our most popular SCHOOL GARDEN kit.

Please visit us at www.RaisedBedGardenKits.com to view all of our garden kits. All are Non-Toxic, and most are no-tool assembly!

Kim in the Garden (anxiously awaiting Spring) ;o)