In the first phase of the Biofarm model garden, in 2023, we implemented 10 wooden-framed raised beds lined with protective foil (width = 0.8m, length = 1.5m, height = 0.6m) for the purpose of growing self-sustaining vegetables. The raised beds are primarily used for the environmentally friendly cultivation of fruits and vegetables. The huge advantage of the raised bed cultivation is that it is made with appropriate layers, so it has the ability to generate heat. We will also be able to convert the raised bed into a cold bed with a protective cover, so the cultivation of cold-tolerant vegetables could start as early as February.
Raised beds could be implemented anywhere in a space-saving manner, and are easy to cultivate even for beginners, so children and families can easily implement it in their own garden based on the acquired knowledge and experience.
Benefits of the raised-bed cultivation:
- Healthier Harvests with easy to practice crop rotation. Rotating crops helps maintain soil health and thwarts pests that overwinter in the soil.
- Material conservation: Because the gardening space is concentrated, the management of water, fertilizer, mulch and soil amendments can be more carefully controlled, leading to less waste.
- Better Water Control and irrigation: Raised beds allow the soil to drain well, avoiding the waterlogged challenges of many in-ground gardens. Irrigation is also less wasteful in the confined space of a raised bed.
- More growing space.
- No soil compaction.
- Warmer soil earlier in the season and for a longer season. In the spring, these beds’ soil tends to warm more quickly than the ground, allowing earlier planting of spring crops. Plus, with the addition of simple low tunnels, harvests can continue well into late fall.
- Less soil erosion.
- Raised beds offer soil control. You can fill your raised beds with the exact kind of soil you need for your plants. These beds allow you to control the content and structure of the soil, ensuring a nutrient-rich environment for your plants.
- You can build separate raised beds for different kinds of plants, each with the optimal soil conditions.
- It’s easier to control surface weeds in a raised bed compared to the open soil, lowering the competition for your plants.
- Access for gardeners with disabilities: Raised beds, at the proper height, can improve access for wheelchairs, or for gardeners who have a hard time bending over. Raised beds are easier to tend without constant bending over, reducing the back problems that can bring.
- Attractive focal point in the garden.
- Manageability: Raised beds offer a manageable way to garden a smaller space intensively.
- Easier soil amendments: A raised bed can enable crop growth in an area that otherwise would not support gardening. For specific crops that thrive in particular soils, raised beds can be amended appropriately.