Set it and Forget it!

   I have never really had a successful garden. I lack patience and focus which tend to be pretty crucial to the whole process. I am an eternal toddler with too much to explore to be bothered with stationary chores. Luckily there's a garden method for me!!! I present to you one of my favorite garden beds I have going right now: The in ground keyhole!

First I removed the sod from the future key hole. This was in...April? May? Something like that. I have sand instead of soil so I can pretty much dig as soon as the snow melts.

 I framed out the cut out part first and then dug down about....12-18"

 Waste not: some poles from an old exercise machine made the structure for the compost basket.

 I retrieved very rotten, myceliated, grubby, wormy, spongey sticks and small logs from the woods. These are far enough into the decomposition process that they will begin releasing nitrogen into the soil and they help retain moisture AND they keep weeds from spreading runners AND they attract beneficial biodiversity. Yeah. All that. It's pretty exciting. 

 Chicken wire for the compost basket. The purpose of the basket is rather like compost tea: as the compost decomposes the rain will wash the nutritious particles into the garden giving your plants a boost every time it rains! Not to mention the whole circle of tiny lives that plays out with the worms and bugs attracted to the compost. 

 A layer of bird yard waste. Mostly poo and straw. The extra heat will speed up decomposition and extend the growing period by keeping it warmer just a little farther into the fall. 

 The completed frame. Adorably heart shaped.

 I shoveled most of the excavated dirt back in and then just let it hang out until planting time! We use the basket for household compost and all I did for planting was scatter some lettuce, nasturtium, spinach, and tatsoi seeds and then covered them with a little black dirt to get things started. That. Was. It.  No weeding except around the blocks, no extra fertilizer...nothing. 

Tah dah!!!! Here it is on the first day of July. I harvested lettuce for the seventh time last night so that is acutally not as full as it was previously but still rather impressive. (The bare spot is courtesy of a turkey)

There you have it! And the best part? The price tag!!! Because I had the cinderblocks and a piece of chicken wire on hand this cost me $0 to build!