The following garden was a fun one designed by Bohemian Bounty for a family in southwest Austin. It features a raised bed, 3 feet by 10 feet. The challenge came in accounting for the slope in the yard, which changes about one inch per foot. Two sets of 6 inch boards were installed to bring the bed close to level and protect the soil from washing away during heavy rains in the yard.
There were also two mini-gardens placed along the house for blackberries, flowers and asparagus. Both will produce for many years to come with little maintenance.
The kids did an awesome job planting strawberries and lots of seeds. I don’t think Bohemian Bounty has worked with two more attentive children. These veggies will not suffer from a lack of attention as the garden can be seen from the adjacent kitchen window.
Posted 2 years, 1 month ago at 1:21 PM. Add a comment
Join us at REI , Wednesday, March 31st for a free clinic from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m
Join Bohemian Bounty Professional Gardeners, James & Jennifer Buratti, to learn the basics of Organic Gardening in Central Texas. The class will cover various aspects of basic edible gardening, including: What to plant When, Where and How; Gardening Techniques (in-ground, raised beds, container); Soil Preparation; Composting; Garden Design and Construction; Cooking from the Garden; and Other Resources. Bring your friends and find out how great it is to eat the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor!
Over the holiday of 2009, the Bohemian crew hibernated and took some time to work on our own gardens and catch up with family and friends. Work in the bohemian garden started out great – lots of great production from new seed varieties but the poor amount of sun has not been helpful. Plants have been growing slowly – healthily but slowly. The month of January has also been very trying – dry, cold winds and heavy freezes. Sadly the temperatures got so low on the January 7th and 8th that cool tolerant plants like mint, lettuces, and chards were damaged some. The recent rains have perked them up, though. Cabbages, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts look great.
As we head into 2010, we are noticing an increasing trend toward local and organic food support as well as home gardening. New products are showing up in stores and great events are planned around central Texas. Manufacturers are responding to market demands – your purchases are making a difference. We found raised bed kits (great for the do-it-yourself-er) for only $39.99. Another new item are nifty peck baskets filled with starter potatoes, onions, strawberries, and more ($9.98). Very nice kits for home gardeners. We continue to expect more of these items around this year. Seed sales have been very good and I’m sure the Bohemians have bought their fair share.
Other exciting changes in the local food trends are workshops and agritourism. Slow Food and the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (TOFGA) are hosting a year of farm tours. Look for workshops and volunteer opportunities on TOFGA’s websitee. Workshops vary from new farmer training to backyard gardening and animal husbandry to cooking from the garden.
We should also mention Jennifer has been elected the Volunteer Region 2 Director of TOFGA. Take a look at her Region 2 Webpage and give some feedback.
Posted 2 years, 4 months ago at 11:18 AM. Add a comment
This was one of our last spring gardens to go in – two small starter beds. While it suffered in the crazy heat and dry spell that was to come it has started to produce this fall. Sorry to take so long getting the photos up! From the photos you can see the area gets dappled sunlight part of the day which is a bonus in the Texas summer.
Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 9:31 PM. Add a comment
