Finished raised bed garden, complete with the table and benches that Randy also made.
Building raised beds in the Flea Market way!
In May, Marie and Randy Niemann, of Ogden, Utah, embarked on an ambitious raised bed project which totally transformed their back garden and patio. Here’s how they did it over just the last months.
Randy was the architect and muscle for the job, and Marie, a long time admin of our Flea Market Gardening Facebook page was the ‘decorator’, embellishing the beds with her collection of Flea Market junkola. Marie certainly did her part of the construction, too, even though she needs to be careful of straining her back. Here, she says, she laid out the general plan to change their lawn into four raised beds with brick paths between. They also wanted a seating area in which to relax, barbeque and sit and enjoy the garden’s progress.
In order to complete the job, they needed to rent equipment to do the heavy work, such as this Dingo, sort of a self-propelled push tractor. They also added water spigots and drip emitters to each bed for irrigation. Randy took a week off from work to devote to the project…what a guy!
First they laid out the plan, Marie with tape, Randy with flags,…just get the lines straight! You might see Marie’s Mr ‘T’ back there in the corner, a scarecrow Randy and Marie made of old Model T parts. He’ll supervise the job until he’s moved to the front yard to join Neighborhood Watch.
Since Marie and Randy live at 4500 feet, they needed deep footing to run water pipes.
Marie has a tip, “The main rule of thumb is to have a good solid level foundation to get good results in the brick being level. I actually invented a little tool to help in measuring the tamped down gravel. It had to be perfect! I got tired of bending down measuring the depth for Randy. So I got a piece of white PVC pipe and spray painted the bottom three and a quarter inches florescent orange. Then it was simple to walk along to check the depth against the string to see if we were high or low. Don’t know if that’ll make sense, but I was happy with my invention that saved my back!”
“Looks like it is going to take a lot of dirt to fill the boxes now. Marie says, “We have some we saved to fill each one part way up, then add good rich soil hopefully weed free! I have a lot of sand left over, so I’m thinking of mixing some of that with this dirt. It should be easier on my back and also everything will be within reach from each side. I’m excited to get to them filled and get busy planting seeds and rust!”
***
Boy, that was a lot of work! We are SO tired just watching you two do the heavy lifting….. Tucker and Scooter are laying about like flounders after watching such hard work!
Marie says, “I don’t know why Scooter and Tucker didn’t go lay on the nice soft cool grass. Silly Boys!” We say, “Pavers? The dogs or the bricks? My thoughts exactly! You need more dogs to pave this area.”
Any gardener loves this sight….only we know the satisfaction and hard work it takes to get a garden bed to this point. A blank canvas to ‘write’ on and Marie writes in RUST!
But oops,…not quite yet…
Randy and Marie installed water lines to each box with drip lines for irrigation.
What are you planning to plant, Marie?
“Mainly veggies and will for starters use containers for flowers until I get a feel for how it’ll look! Before I had one small garden and one even smaller to plant and decorate. Now I’ll have to give this some thought with five!”
Marie says, “My hubby bought an umbrella for the picnic table he made, and I told him good job on the color! It’s the exact color of rust!”
It should be easier on my back and also everything will be within reach from each side. I’m excited to get to them filled and get busy planting seeds and rust!”
“I’m having a blast! It makes me so happy to finally be able to grow more veggies and enjoy my rusty treasures at the same time. I know we’ll be spending a lot more time outside now!” says Marie.
We love Marie’s blues and rust in the garden,…cool and ‘fresh with the leafy greens.
“This is the pepper garden with my favorite hanging funnel planters filled with wave petunias I grew from seed.”
All photos are by Marie Niemann.
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View Comments
Wonderful for worn out backs like OURS!!!! Love it!
Wonderful Project, great story with photos, I know you take great pride in the fact that you did it yourselves. Love it all.
A delight, an absolute delight
The Raised Bed project that Marie and Randy designed and constructed was so much fun to watch. I know I anxiously awaited her photos as she posted them during 'work in progress', The new area will be so much easier to maintain and allow for a greater variety of vegetables and flowers to be grown.. and for additional junkola to be added to the great collection that Marie has acquired through the years. Hmmmm, I wonder if the 'Ghost Rider' on the bike waves to the 'Ghost Farmer' pushing the plow?? I am so happy and proud that Marie & Randy have this wonderful area to enjoy and showcase to all their friends. family & FMG'ers. I cannot believe Marie did not include the photo of Marvin stuck in the sliding door.... :))
It's so terrific that you documented all the steps along the way! Great story book. And I love the gardens!!!!
One word: excelente!!!
I envy you (in a nice way). Your raised garden is beautiful!
kudos to you!
My gardens are getting to be about half and half. Half flowers half junk. Rust is a must! Great looking junk gardens!
Thank you for the nice compliments, its fun to see the project from start to finish and will even be more lush by the fall. Carlene! Yes! Rust IS a Must! Love it! Jimmye you had me laughing about the ghost riders, too cute! I forgot about poor Marvin trapped in the door, hopefully he doesn't decide he likes fresh veggies too.
thank you for documenting this inspiring project ~ would you mind sharing how much of a budget is needed for it? enjoy your new back yard!
Thank you eclectic faerie, the total cost was about $4000. That could be trimmed down by having more helpers to cut down on the cost of equipment rentals etc., and also you could use a less expensive wood for the planter boxes, and another material for walk ways like pea gravel.
Brick = $500, Equipment rentals = $1,000 (sod cutter, Dingo, compactor/tamper) Sand/gravel = $600, Redwood = $1,200, Soil = $250 Misc. Sprinkler parts, screws, glue, burgers and beer! = $250.
thanks so much for the itemized list of expenses ~ the results look gorgeous!
Oh, I'm so happy to see this 'picture story' of your 'raised gardens, patio, rustola,' Marie! Love it! Your backyard gardens are looking GORGEOUS! Love all the mixing of veggies, rust, flowers, rust & everything in-between! Thanks, Sue L., for sharing!