New Raised Beds

missgarney that is such a beautiful way to look at disappointment, but it is so true, if we create and enjoy the journey that path took us down, and learn from it, that is the best we can hope for. It is also one of the most enlightening experiences to learn to lose a loved plant, in your case to move on from your beloved garden, it teaches us to let go and to move on to the next exciting creation! There will always be another opportunity, no matter how small it may seem, or how large we want to make it, we have the ability to make life what it should be. In times of hardship I have looked at others who find the utmost satisfaction just to have a full stomach, that is humbling.

BB you will manage, your concern for you elderly neighbours shows that you have you priorities in the right place. I am surprised if the houses are that new the authorities that gave permission for building didn't know something like this would happen in advance. They might have, there are all sorts of people in charge who help out their friends for favours, in the name of money. We have had a lot of that going on here, it wasn't long after we bought in 1998 we found out there was a farmer buying up land in order to have a sufficient holding to offer to gravel pit companies. Several turned him down, but one took the bait and bought, forced 3 people out of their houses opposite us as they threatened sell now or risk having a gravel pit on their doorstep. Of course these poor people felt they had no option, and they didn't get the market price they should have, but for access from a reasonable point they needed the land. The entrance would have been just opposite us, and it is a narrow country road, there would have been a lorry approx every 4 minutes of the day 7.30 to 8pm or so. We were also at risk of having part of our front forcibly taken, including our beck, or stream, to widen the road. The plant was going to be a short distance away, they got a group going with the people living in a double row of ex Air Force houses next to us so they could find out how better to put in their application, and many of them helped them thinking they would get compensation, pigs may fly too!

The application was put in and had to be fought and considered, all to our huge distress, but they were turned down, for now! There had been a previous application a short distance away in 1991, and another farmer who was chairman on the Local Coucil was looking to sell land to them too, this previous one had been his father's land. The other farmer is known to be a big contributor to the County Council's funding, and is friendly with the Member of Parliament representing the CC. So the message is, find out all you can, get any papers you can from the Local Coucil on regulations, and DON'T help them by telling them what problems it would cause, they will just work around it.

I read papers to do with the regulations on Government guidelines of using other sources of gravel for roads and building, and there were many loopholes, if these guidelines were to be followed they had no chance of getting permission, but the fight has to be had in order to bring these things to light and stop them from walking all over you. Best of Luck!

Thanks for your kind words:

I think it is the initial shock that is affecting us. We've only been here two years and our place was just starting to come around.

I just talked with the President of my company who provided me with some harsh truths. That the state of Georgia has incredible power when it comes to seizing lands for roads. Actually some of the stuff he said the state could do was pretty scary. So I'll probably grieve another day and then get to work on making sure we come out of this whole. That's my major concern. I have no problem sacrificing for the greater good. I just don't want to suffer because of it.

But I don't want this thread to become a downer. As my of my employees just told me, I know I have at least this summer and I can still have a rewarding season and I plan too. I got up this morning and watered my 150 tomato seedlings and it felt good. They are doing so well. I even see second sets of leaves starting to appear.

BB

BronxBoy -
Sorry to hear about the possible road! Hope they decide not to, or reroute it!!

Glad to hear your 150 toms are doing great!! Sounds absolutely delicious!!
~ Suzi :)

Just jumping in as I have been following at a distance. Bronx I'm sorry for what could ever happen but I have lost gardens and started new ones. I love to do that.
Wallaby your logs are great for beds and you have given me a good idea to build my strawberry beds with the logs and set each log back 2' so each layer is stepping up to allow me to plant on the sides of the bed. I love the colors in that bed set against the shade of you woodlands. I disagree about the gravel pit as a neighbor we have one at the bottom of our hill and it does create a lot of dust but I have access to any of his loaders, bobcats, dump trucks and all the soils I need for developing my garden. I just drive my truck down and get in the big loader and pick my choice of loam, topsoil etc and drive it home in 5 minutes and dump it. Our road is graded every month, oiled, and graveled several times a year to keep the trucks moving. In the winter the road is plowed early every morning. They have all kinds of rocks that they just chip up into gravel and I can pick all I need. Last year they dumped a whole bnch of loads of mega rocks for $30 a load. It has made my garden. This picture is my drive and they hauled and placed each rock for $10. I like the gravel pit.

Fantastic soferdig! Your driveway is lovely. I'm not sure the gravel pit in our county is so...communistic, if I may use the term. I guess you have special status as next-door-neighbor. Their insurance company probably doesn't know about their open gate policy. But it makes good sense to be nice to your neighbors.

Soferdig I am not against a need for gravel, but we have plenty in the area working at low capacity and areas waiting development, plus the Government does make recommendations that sea sources should be used where possible, as well as recyclable materials. Land that can be used for agriclture or growing food should be preserve where possible. Remember we are only a small island, and land can be swallowed up leaving nothing for future generations.

No review was allowed for several years at the time, and this was not a request by Local Councils or others for a needed pit, but one greedy farmer looking to make his fortune at the expense of others. Your property looks very nice, but do you have trucks or lorries going past your front window?

The trucks would have been pulling up, and away from an entrance opposite our house, one every 4 minutes on average. Our house is lower than the road, with a large front window which echoes the noise of any large vehicle that may go past, without the added braking, accelerating, all day long. And we would have lost part of out frontage, the road is only a short distance away, around 25 to 30 feet. Apart from that their intention was to build a 5 metre high bank around their initial area of entry and the plant. I was told that the noise would be as loud as someone talking, I moved here for the peace and quiet, not to hear someone talking all day! I imagine it would have been louder, apart from the noise of the lorries. We were promised lovely lakes at the end of it, but as I see it they were not bound by any law to do that, and the project would have lasted 20 years, that is a large proportion of my remaining life, also of my whole life! There was also a possibility the land could have been used for waste rubbish landfill.

We certainly don't have friendly operators, most of the gravel would have gone to another County as well. The company was Bardon Aggregates, part of Aggregate Industries, American owned. Their methods of ramroading over everyone that could be in their way was ruthless.

I don't have them but down the hill and I do have to pass trucks olmost every time we come and go. But your right he is my neighbor and soon the gravel pit will be exhausted and then nothing to worry about. The other pits near by have been reclaimed quite nicely. If they were across the street I would make them build me a big berm and cover it with the best topsoil. I know what your saying. But we americans are used to being capitalists. It doesn't bother us when others make money cause we were raised to do it. The difference between England and America. The dollar rules here. Sorry about you challenges. One of the gravel pits here was converted into a beautiful lake with trees surrounding the houses built on it. Before it was just a barren hill.
The insurance co sees me as a trained employee because to get use of the vehicles I had to be licenced. I and already was. I also work as contract person when I have time off for the pit. It is fun digging in the sand box. You know "the size of their toys"

If anyone doubt that something beautiful can be done with an exhausted gravel pit, go to Buchart Gardens in British Columbia, Canada. It's very formal, and lacks the touch of wildness that I like in gardens, but for what it is, it is spectacular. I think what makes it special is the verticality rarely seen in other large garden/parks. It's a garden in a very very big hole!

Yes Wow what his wife did with the $ and creativity she posessed. Can you imagine the joy she had designing and developing that quarry. I love the rock island in the center.

Hi All:

I thought I'd post some updates on my project.

Here is a pic of the right side beds. There is still a lot of unused space in the foreground that I'd like to take advantage of. I was going to build a series of terraced beds but because it's looking more and more like we will lose the property eventually, I'll need to put in non-permanant solution.

I was thinking half barrels or grow boxes. How much are grow boxes anyway?

Here are the beds that lead down into the area in the first picture. I had some slope issues which I tried to take advantage of. The bed in the foreground ran down the slope. It is approximately 2 feet deep at the front. I hoping to get some good potatoes and other root crops of of it.

Here is one of the new beds with some spring veggies: We had a lot of crops that overwintered and I have transplanted them into the raised beds and they look very happy.

Here are some more happy transplants: Kale, Collards and Rutabaga.

Can Rutabaga be bare root transplanted? They look ok. I tried to pick out the ones with the best roots

More transplants: Red Cabbage and Broccoli/Cauliflower?

How can I tell Broccoli from Cauliflower.? These plants have a small head in the center of the leaves directly at ground level. I planted both in the area where I moved these from so I am not too sure what they are.

Some lettuce. My wife picked up a bunch of plants yesterday. I had to rig something quick to deter the deer. I also planted heads inside of the cages where my peas are going.

Next step is to start to beautify the area. We have dozens of pots that we use for hot pepers etc. We are also going to plant some flowers.

The next big phase will be the addition of another 10 4x16 beds on another part of the poroperty. These will be for my sife's sunflowers and most of our tomato plants

Thanks for any input

BB

Well you have been busy! i wouldn't be able to have big lettuce plants out here at the moment, some are hardier though.

It's been so cold I haven't started on anything! it was down to 19F in the greenhouse on Thursday night, sunny days but been chill. It will be one mad rush.

If you are getting a small head low down on your broccoli/cauliflower that should be cauliflower, broccoli grows taller and makes a head at the top, with side shoots. Your plants don't look quite big enough to be making a heart yet though.

BB you have been working industriously in your garden area. Looks very good. You probably mentioned before how you water your plants and beds. My ground is just barely becoming unfrozen, so no gardening outside yet. I am afraid I can't help you much, for one reason our climates are so very different, so I'll just say the best of luck to you in your gardening efforts.

DonnaS

Wallaby:

Based upon your zone, I would expect your temperatures to be more moderate than mine. It's well over 60 degrees F today. Are zones the same across international lines. Is Zone 8A in the UK the same as Zone 8A in the States?

Most of the stuff in my beds, except the lettuce, was stuff that staye in the yard all winter. If frost were going to kill them they be dead right now. I was a little nervous about moving the cabbages as they are starting to develop nice heads. But they seem to be doing fine.

BB

BronxBoy -
For Earth Boxes, you might want to check these, to start out with:
http://josho.com/Earthbox.htm
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/478460/

You are doing great!! Keep up the good work! ~ Suzi :)

BB these zones are based on the minimum temperatures, and most of the UK is zone 8 or 9a, that is the US rating, there is a UK one but is easier to relate to the one. 8a is to -17C, 8b to -12C, so really we are more like zone 9a, as we don't get less than -7 as a rule, rarely a bit lower, Thursday night was -7C in the greenhouse, so a bit more outside. I think you are having unusual weather there this year, I am reading of people getting those sort of temps that would normally be a lot colder. With being a large land mass as opposed to a small one surrounded by sea, you will get warmer day temp, and mostly colder nights, we got lower temps as the sun SHONE and didn't get cloud cover at night. We don't get the extremes, but seem to have more 'cool' weather any time of the year, last year was downright cold for the summer, 2004 we had into the low 30'sC (30C=86F), unheard of nearly, mostly in low 20's (20C = 68F, 25C = 77F). June last year was often below that, I have know at the end of June to need a winter coat on! I always say the only 2 weeks we can rely on for summer is the first 2 in August! We are at the mercy of a jet stream also, which can either miss us or go right over us, and we are often getting the cold winds off the North Sea, or Nth Europe, but sometimes get warm winds coming up from Africa.

We did have a very cold spell Jan to March 1982, 3 months of frost and snow to -20C, or -4F, it has happened with a regularity in the past of between 16 and 19 years. I think our equivalent this time was 2001 with prolonged frost to -9C or lower. Your zone means you should be having very cold weather!

BronxBoy:

I am sorry to hear about your dilemna regarding the potential take of your property. Your sources were right; if the state or city requires your-or anyone's property-they can acquire it through eminent domain (condemnation). However, they must compensate your for the full market value of your property-including any improvements you have made to the property. Additionally, it is often the case that while the city/county/state wants a road or other public improvement, the political costs of condemning private residences is far too high-not too mention the costs associated with condemning newer homes.

I would be sure to contact your local officials (city council, etc.) and make your objections known. Also, they must provide you with 1) notice 2) an appraisal and 3) an offer. Usually the City will have a noticed public hearing where they will consider adopting a Resolution of Necessity (or similar type document-I am referring to California law). If you reject their offer, then they have to file a "complaint" to initiate litigation. This greatly increases the costs but in all honesty, public agencies almost always win on "right to take" issues (see recent Supreme Court decision Kelo) and most of the time it all comes down to valuation issues.

Hang in there. I am a real estate, land use, environmental lawyer who-once upon a time-used to be a City Attorney. If you have any questions you think I may be able to help answer, please drop me an e-mail. No charge :) FYI- I am also doing raised beds this year-tired of fighting the heavy clay soil we have here in No. Cal.

Kimberly

Thank you for your kind words Kajlaw:

Everything we've been hearing has been from sources other than the County itself. They refuse to release any information until the public meeting on the 21st. Our neighbor across the street has lived here all his life. He was in residential and commercial construction and as such he knows a lot of people in County government. The information he's getting is not good. Up to the point that he has started looking for another place to live.

My wife and I have decided to live our lives as normal. No use stressing about it. Our major concern is that we will be compensated in such a way that we will be able to replace what we have. Greenspace is rapidly disappearing here and it is extremely difficult to find a small acreage lots. (2-10 acres) Let alone one with a home less than 6 years old. Anything larger then that is typically snatched up by developers. I'm afraid that the county will take some comps from similar home sales in neighboring subdivisions and try to base their offer on that and not take into account that we have 3 acres, a swimming pool, our gardens and a lot of other things we won't get on a 65 foot lot in a planned community.

I've decided to go on the offensive. I've already started looking for another piece of property. The pickins are pretty slim but there are few parcels out there. I am going to hire a couple of appraisers to do a true appraisal based on true comps. I'm also going to ask them to develop a study on price histories of home sales of properties like ours for the last 5 years. I work for large builder in the area and they have offered me access. I figure I better have solid information when I request a fair price for our property.

Good luck on your raised beds! I am going to alter my project a little bit but I am going to put some more in over the next few weeks. Nothing beats gardening to take your mind off of a disturbing issue

BB

BB, maybe you should look further afield. there is lots of land in PNW, away from the coast. You might have to do what I did buy a well built manufactured home. Mine is constructed better than lots of stick built homes. From the inside you would not know it was anything other than stick built, and only from the style would you know from outside. I have lived in it for 11 years now and very happy . However the climate is a little different. But I much prefer this area to your area. I enjoy winter, can relax and plan for summer without feeling guilty about not being outside working in yard HaHaHa.

After one more spurt of winter this week I think it will really be spring here.

DonnaS

BB - am fairly new here & have just read this thread. We have been living under the same type of gun for more than 15 years here - a double-barreled one in that we are located in the pathway of two possible road projects. One is a north/south 'outer beltway' or 'tri-county connector' type road & the other is a new road to bypass a national battlefield (Manassas). Just a few months ago there was a major setback to one of the plan versions - even though it had been approved by the counties - that came in the form of a denial of federal funding brought about (to make a long story short) by a stand of bluebells in a park!

The point being that one never knows what will happen bye the bye with these things as the powers that be move with the speed of molasses & nothing is permanent until it happens. Which is why I think you are being wise to go ahead with your plans for your property and living your life there, while also doing some investigation into what is out there so you will be prepared if worst does comes to worst. We are in a better position than some - having already had the pleasure of raising our children in our little rural setting in an urban county, we could just move two counties out if we had to. Might even do that but it may turn out to be a choice & not a necessity.

missgarney and wallaby1 were so right in the things they said - each growing season is a gift - enjoy the journey - there will always be another opportunity. Just go with the flow and things will work out for you in one way or another. Good luck to you both!

Hi Sixrfun:

Welcome to DG and thanks for the kind words.

They finally had the public meeting last night and the proposed road misses us by about 30 yards. It will still be a mess.

We do feel a little better about the situation. This is mammoth project that the county hopes to complete within 3 years. Fat chance from some of the reactions we saw last night. AT the very least, the county will be tied up with lawsuits regarding land acquisitions for some time. And we heard that funds haven't even been allocated yet.

At any rate, we'll continue on with our plans as normal. I'll be posting some more status pics this weekend.

Thanks everyone.
BB

BB ~ Good to hear that supposed to miss you by the 30 yards! While it is not good news, it is certainly much better than through your property!! ~ Suzi :)

Not going to do anything nice for your property value though. Our friend had the same situation happen to her a few years back. She ended up keeping her place by a few hundred feet, but now that the freeway is in, she sold because of the noise.

I hope they scrap the whole plan and your place stays just the way it is.

Thanks:

Well we just found out that not only are they going to put the parkway about 30 yards from us but now they are going to turn the road right in front of us to a bridge and run the parkway under it. Since one of the purposes of the parkway extension is to help reroute truck traffic, then I'm assuming that that bridge will have to be at lease 15-18 feet high. So instead of a lovely view of the homes and pines tress across the street, we will have a lovely view a of an overpass and a parkway :SIGH:

What I'd like to hear some input on is will there be any potential effects on my beds: both when they start construction and when the parkway is actually operational.

Thanks
BB

Thought I post some updates and get some feedback.

We are still talking to the Count but my wife and I have decided to just live our lives the way we intended and not sweat over this stuff. Life's too short as is the growing season. LOL

Here are my right rear beds. We started adding some trellises for the maters. Planted sone Juliets in this bed.

Here are the right rear beds. Once again we've added some trellises for the maters.

Here are the other set of beds on the left rear. Added some cages for cukes and climbing melons. I'm going to put beans, corn and melons in those beds

Here are the beds I'm starting at the bottom of the hill. May plant in the bare ground on the right until I can get those tress taken out for our green house.

BB Your planters are looking very good. glad you brought us up to date.

Just got an email from my oldest son who has lived in Baton Rouge for more than 25 years, telling me that he is having much hotter and drier than normal weather for this time of year. Is having to irrigate his garden. How is your weather. Here it is about normal temps. but are getting some rain, so I only had to turn a sprinkler on once, on my newly planted poppy seed.

DonnaS

Here's where I can use some imput:

We are turning our attention to some other areas where we have beds. Here is a series of 4 beds that we want to start working. The area with the chairs we are turning into a BBQ room. I'd like to section it off with a planting of some small shrub or bush that will give the apearance of a low wall being there.

Any suggestions as to type would be appreciated. The area gets partial sun and is shaded most of the day

Here is a close up of the BBQ room. We are putting a pit in the middle and want to section of the room woth some type of planting. The bed in the from is an herb bed.

Here is another area directly to the left of the BBQ room. It sits in the center of the 3 beds in the previous picture. It has is a nice focal point when you look down the hill from the deck. It gets partial sun but motsly filtered shade. I moved some hostas out of the sun down here. I want to plant something dramatic in the center that will catch your eye when you look in this area.

I was think about a nice Japanes Maple. What do you think?

Here is the last bed in the series. We planted wildflowers on the right hand side and are still thinking about what to put on the left. We want something colorful. Area is partially shaded but gets a significant amount of sun part of the day.

I was thinking of lillies plus something else.

Gotta run to work.

Thanks for your suggestions

BB

BB Sorry for jumping in the middle of your photos. You are doing a lot of planing and working in your yard. Your barbecue area sound like a good idea. Since i live in such a different climate I hesitate to offer many suggestions . Is your house closeby so that it won't be necessary to carry food items a long way.

And a maple sounds like a great idea. I have several and enjoy all. Most of mine are either smalll because of variety, or still small as are young. Greer Gardens in Oregon carries a goodly variety of Acers.

Do you have to drive some distance to work, just wondered why you go to work at 3:30am.

DonnaS

Hi Donna:

The weather here has been ok. Had a cold snap for a couple of weeks and has now warmed up pretty good.

Rain hasn't been a problem. We had some thunderstorms throughout the area yesterday. I was more concerned about the wind but the plants held up well.

No the BBQ room is down the hill a bit. I'd only use it for big gatherings or big dishes like whole pigs or when I'm smoking stuff. We have grills up near the house for our everyday BBQs. Of course, now that they have discovered a link between eating BBQ and grilled meat and prostrate cancer, I'll guess I'll throw all my grills away (very heavy sarcasm)

Yeah I think I'll do a Japanese maple in that one bed. I saw some really attractive ones at HD yesterday.

It was actually 6:30 my time. I'm an early riser but not that early.

Where is Tonasket? I will probably be going to Redmond a few times this year and may what to work in some sightseeing of the area.

BB