Aging is challenging, but it can also be exciting. Rather than moan about my sore knees, I’d prefer to be creative about growing older because it challenges me to do something I love – think differently.
I’ve wanted my own garden for a few years. We have figured out a way for me to get one. Growing older is not a time of loss for me. It’s a time of gain. And sore knees.
Since Maria came to live here, Bedlam Farm has become a place of many gardens, all of them cared for, loving and beautiful. I love these gardens and water them and check on them every day.
I’ve caught the garden bug from here, and she has taught me so many things about flowers and plants. We have seven or eight gardens ringing the house.
It’s become difficult for me to spend too much time on my knees gardening in the past few years. This morning, I told her I would love to have my own garden to care for this year; I see how enriching and nourishing a thing this is to do.
More and more, I’ve had to sit out the gardening, and I hate that.
I told her my only concern was how much time I can spend on the ground, weeding, etc. As I suspected, she came up with a great idea instantly – get a raised garden bed.
I went right online and ordered one with her approval. She can help me set it up, and I’ve chosen a nice spot right by our vegetable garden—plenty of sun. I’m thinking of making it into a Zinnia garden.
The Zinnia is Maria’s favorite flower and is also my wonderful dog’s name.
I need her advice, but the garden is my responsibility; I will take great care of it, and we can bring in Zinnia flowers to the farmhouse all summer.
I can’t wait to take some photos also.
I’m excited about this; it will bring something into my life – a living something – that will bring me closer into this wonderful world of gardening. It feels like a healthy and nourishing thing for me to do.
I ordered the raised bed, a Canadian Cedar Garden Bed, made for growing herbs, vegetables, flowers, and succulents. I can bring it inside in the winter to grow succulents and take it outside for flowers.
It’s 72 by 23 by 30, so I can tend to it standing up. I’m eager to get this garden and set it up. I might regret this, but this is a time when I’ll be happy to get good advice.
Jon, remember the Amish are the best builders, and affordable, if you want to add more raised beds…
What a lovely idea! Perhaps you could tuck a few herbs in amongst the zinnias – basil, thyme, oregano. Those would be handy to snip for your pizzas. Of course, you might already have a patch of herbs… Oh! But maybe some trailing nasturtiums in a few spots along the edge – the blossoms and leaves are a nice addition to salads. Enjoy your new garden!
“I’ll be happy to get good advice”
Hell just froze over. :^)
Totally agree with the above. My hubby built me two raised gardens, they come up to my waist! LOVE THEM!!
Raised beds are the best
Hi Jon –
I have this exact garden bed. It was fairly easy to set up and my back loves not having to bend over to use it!! The only “advice” I have is that once the dirt is in it – it is impossible to move and getting the dirt out is messy and not all that easy with my goal of helping my back. I left mine outside in the elements and the cedar wood hasn’t held up as perfectly as I imagined, but I still use it and don’t regret the purchase. Mainly I found that I loved it and wanted more room to plant more – even with as big as it is! Oh and the liner they provide to hold the dirt in worked well, but wore out after a few seasons – no biggie though – I just used other stuff to line it with since then.
Thanks Mary