The beginning

Last October, my husband and I built garden boxes. We used 2 x 10s, and the boxes are 8 feet by 4 feet, we built 4 boxes. We then place some black plastic on the ground, and then placed the boxes on top.

Over the last month, we have been buying soil to fill the boxes. Each box is now half full, in each box we put in 12-40lb bags of top soil, and 6-40lb bags of manure. Next year, we will add more soil. I was going to leave the top soil in the bags, and combine the two methods of 'easy' gardening, but later decided to go ahead and dump the soil out of the bags and mix it really well.

We have so far, planted three zucchini, and three crookneck squash, two tomatoes, carrots, radish, and spring lettuce mix. I have only planted two boxes, and am planning on getting more seedlings to plant in the other boxes.

We are also doing some 'traditional' gardening. For potatoes, and peas, and corn, and such.

My hope is that I can keep track of the money spent, and the money saved. In years past, we have only done 'traditional' gardening, with very little success, mostly because ultimately, we are lazy. What we are doing this year, from everything I have read, is supposed to be easy, and low maintenance. We'll see.

Also, last year I used my mother's wheelbarrow, to plant her a salad garden, that did not turn out well. I think it was because I had too much planted, this year we are trying herbs in it. Again, we'll see.