- We wanted instant gardens, so put cardboard boxes directly onto the grass (which will prevent it from growing up into the bed and will rot away eventually on its own).
If you had time, you could lay a rectangle of old carpet down on the area you’re planning to put your garden, and wait for the grass to die off before you start.
- Using the timber on its narrow edge, make a rectangle that’s 1.8m long and 1m wide. Butt the pieces at right angles and nail them together. Don’t worry if it’s all a bit wobbly at this stage.
Lay the rectangle down where you want the bed, drive a post into each corner and screw the rectangle to the post. This will hold the bed in place and stop it going out of square.
- Collect seaweed from the beach. We find after a storm (or a strong westerly in our case) is the best time to collect seaweed.
Fill with alternating layers of seaweed, compost and top soil until the bed is very full (the soil will gradually settle taking up less room in the bed).
- Put in your plants and look forward to the joys of eating home-grown produce.
Deborah Hide-Bayne is a writer, photographer, artist and keen amateur cook. She lives in the Coromandel with her husband, son, four chickens, one cat and 20 goldfish. She is the author of Coastal, living the coastal life, cooking for the coastal table.
