Mid-Atlantic Gardening: What is happening in your Garden Today Spring 2011, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Looking out from my BR window....here is how the bed will fit in my back yard....
The unfinished part-- all the way to the right--is where I will have my "Au Natural"
Compost bin. This area is about 4'x3'. Maybe 4x4....

I was wrong before--estimating that the bed was 4' wide. It is just 3' wide and 16' long.
Chose this as a cut-off point b/c 4x4's are 8' long....leaving the remaining 4'-5' as my
Composting bin-to-be place....
I have NO Plans in my head yet how I want that built....I DO know it will have all 4 sides
made of slatted boards and the whole thing lined with 1/4" wire mesh to keep things IN--
and small critters OUT! All the fruit and Cantalopes and Watermellons I eat--I can see how that
would be so tempting for greens-loving critters...

My still remaining "Not sure what to do" is what kind of base should this Compost Bin area have?????
I DO NOT want to leave it just dirt--as too many small feeder roots from my Silver Maple will invade it.
Then it will be just another area of solidly-matted, small, invasive roots...

I have thought of putting down pavers as a base, because I do not want to exclude worms
having access to the compost material--yet it would limit root growth under it...
Believe me! Any worms I dig up during all my gardening will be moved to either this
raised bed--or to the Compost Pile....Free housing!!! NO rent--just poop a lot!!!!
At this point--my to-be Compost pile is not yet a priority....Later--Alligator!!!!

Ray will come back on Monday--after I meet up with him to buy the 2 panels of fencing at my HD...
I need him to do this as he has a truck....
Too bad the soil may not yet be available!!!! We could have finished this all off Monday if it was....
That REALLY bugs me!!!! But--I DO understand!

My Tomato plants are all close to16"-18" tall--just chomping at the bit to be planted....
A lot of trenches to be dug to lay them "to rest".....

Must learn to bide my time! Gita

Spew any and all advice any of you can offer here.....Much appreciated....