A Small Garden from Virginia Packs a Lot of Vegetables into a 6×8 Foot Raised Bed

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent in their photographs and stories. I hope by sharing other peoples pictures and stories here on One Hundred Dollars a Month we can all have a rock star garden this summer. Keep them coming!

Check out these photos Susanne from Virginia recently sent in of her 6×8, 24″ high raised bed garden. This is her second year with it and it just goes to show you do not need a huge amount of space to grow some veggies.

Here’s what Susanne said about her garden:

Kale, romaine, spinach and radishes were first and are about gone now.

Basil, and chives… Both onion and garlic in opposite corners! All have been ready for a couple months at least. Chives were perennial and survived last years crazy Virginia winter. Many things didn’t make it through that normally do.. My fig tree and large gardenia are still in recovery.

Currently, in addition to herbs, we have HUGE Beefsteak tomatoes, tons of cherry tomatoes, summer squash and cucumbers. My 4 foot PLUS marigolds are blooming.., FINALLY! There are only 3 tomato plants in this garden. Two Beefsteak and 1 cherry! I have topped all over and over. They just get bigger… AMAZING. I will need a ladder to get all the cherry tomatoes… Literally.

My greatest challenge is to maintain good airflow and keeping it open and inviting to bees. I started everything from seed except the tomato plants and brussels sprouts. The sprouts are a failure. I have since learned they should be a fall planting… I guess the “grower” missed that point too!

All are growing in topsoil from a natural pond/runoff in the back corner of our property. This great natural dirt is amended with chicken poop compost from my chickens. The chickens live in our backyard. This garden bed is in our front yard!

The table and bucket on the side are to keep my dogs from picking squash! They are starting to grow outside the box so we will see if they can restrain themselves!

~ Susanne

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent in their photographs and stories. I hope by sharing other peoples pictures and stories here on One Hundred Dollars a Month we can all have a rock star garden this summer. Keep them coming!

~Mavis

If you would like to have your garden, chicken coop or something you’ve made featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:

• Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so,  show me some picture of how you are going about it.
• Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.
• Cool Arts & Crafts – Made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.
• Your pictures and stories about your pets. The more pictures and details the better.
• Garage Sale, Thrift Store and Dumpster Diving pictures and the stories behind the treasures you found including how much you paid for them.

If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com.

Go  HERE for the official rules.