We actually have raised beds! Well…some of them. No soil yet, but it feels like we’re making progress.

The first thing we did this morning was to run string lines and then rake the gravel and remaining mounds of dirt into the right areas so that the beds would be level.

Once it was close to level, we were ready to start laying the block.

Fitting the first layer of block was the biggest challenge to get everything as level as possible.

The Master Gardeners did some hard work with the level to get those blocks to lay just right.

After that hard work, it was time for a snack break. Brownies…the fuel of every Master Gardener activity!

We used an adhesive to help hold the blocks in place. The second layer went much faster than the first layer!

In no time at all, we were ready for the third layer. By the time we have all the mulch in place in the pathways, the bottom layer of block will be mostly covered.

In the mean time, a small group worked on getting those square raised beds leveled. These raised beds were made out of a cheaper recycle plastic lumber that is only 15/16″ thick. Because of that, they had to have more support beams inside, and even then some of the boards are already bowing slightly. We’ll probably put a little more support on the inside to make them sturdier.

Woohoo! That’s one of the big raised beds finished and the three small ones finished and in place. Only 6 more to go! We’re planning to get 2 more smaller beds and a large bed installed on Friday. Also, the Compost committee is planning to start building their compost bins on Friday. That would just leave 2 more large beds and a small triangular bed to complete next week.

Now about that soil…