Veggie Bins - Part 2

The veggie bins were largely a success for us.  We wanted something contained, temporary, easy and fun - they were all those things and more.  The only drawbacks were that it took a couple of people to hold the newspaper layers vertically (unless you use masking tape or something temporary to hold it up) while you fill with soil.  Make sure you overlap the edges of the paper layers too.  If you make the layers thick enough (8-10 sheets) then they will last all season.  Ours were starting to degrade from the wind and weather by the end of Fall - but they did make it without any large holes.  If you do get a hole - just shove newspaper in there like a patch.   

The other thing to note is that with the size bin we used (approx. 4" tall, 2" across) you are not going to feed your family of five all Summer long - you would need to make several bins of the same crop if you are looking to really grow a good supply of something.  We were just looking to do some experimental  growing to show our toddler, so it worked out well.  We also wanted to grow fresh herbs - which you will get plenty of in one of these bins.  We had enough basil to use, give away, and freeze for Winter.  Another huge plus for us is the built in protective cage above the soil line.  We have groundhogs, rabbits, deer, etc and none of them ate the things growing in the bins - maybe a few nibbles on something that grew through the wire, but nothing really damaging. 

Over the Winter - we saved the wire cage cylinders and spread the soil out in the other planting beds we have (you could pile it up and save for next year too).  We did leave one veggie bin up that I planted some strawberries in just to overwinter and they came up this Spring - I may leave them in there and see how that works (depends on the condition of the paper layers - I may need to redo the bin).  So would I recommend trying these?  Yes!  They are fun and don't take up much space, they fit in tight spaces where you don't have room for a huge garden.  These could even work on a rooftop garden, patio or apartment balcony with some slight adjustments (like a shallow tray to sit them in, one with drain holes).  Then from year to year - you can move them around and plant something new.  

Here are more photos of the bins and a sampling of the resulting harvest:

Blue Potato sprouting

Radishes sprouting

Growing faster!

Blue Potato harvest

Carrots and Green Peppers

Basil

Veggie Bins - Success? Part 1

We love to grow vegetables, there's nothing like the fresh taste of a veggie from the garden that you grew yourself (and know was not doused with chemicals) but these past couple of years have been challenging for our veggie-gardening activities.  We had a larger plot of veggies, then it kept being reduced as our time for it also was reduced.  We have been doing well with our other gardening pursuits (and by that I mean Those Plants Who Are Hardy Enough To Survive Under Deep Neglect, ha ha) just kidding, actually we tend to grow PA natives, perennials, shrubs, trees, and such, not as much edible for humans, but more to attract other wildlife - birds, butterflies, and small mammals too. 

Last year I saw this great idea for a space-saving eco-friendly temporary growing bin, we called them veggie bins since that's what we grew in them.  They were basically made of 4ft turkey wire fencing that you put into a column shape (any diameter, but ours were approx. 2 ft. across) and then you line them halfway up with newspapers (thickly, like 8-10 layers), fill with yummy amended organic soil and voila - an above-ground growing space that is temporary from year to year. 

We decided to grow some token vegetables and herbs for our toddler, Violet, to see as examples - we did not expect to feed a village on the small sampling of what was being grown, but it was fun, manageable and a great teaching garden for her (and easy for us!). 

I want to give you the pros and cons of the bins - in case you want to try them yourself.  Here is a photo of the first 5 bins set up in the backyard (we ended up with 7 total).  We planted one crop in each:  radish, blue potatoes, Italian pole beans, baby carrots, basil, cherry tomato, green pepper. Nothing too fancy - just some fun things that we thought Violet would enjoy.  The Italian pole beans are from seeds that have been carried on in my family for generations - coming from my father's side of the family who came over from Italy.  We need strong supports for those nice flat beans - that is the bin with the three poles in it. 

to be continued...