It’s about 2 weeks until I start germinating some of my plants to go outside. They go out the last week of May, there’s usually a frost near the end of May. Squashes and other long plants don’t do so well here.

So what’s in everyone minds to get going this year? I usually try to get some cucumbers if they can finish in time, as well as tomatoes, peppers, peas, carrots and lettuce.

An early unexpected frost took my peppers and tomatoes last year unfortunately.

  • @ThrowawaySobriquet
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    28 months ago

    Hell yeah! I’m a carpenter! Currently working in a cabinet shop, but I’m also working on going independent this summer.

    I built my first set of beds during lockdown with what I could get ahold of. Ripped some 2x4 in half and sticked out a frame that I lined with cedar fence. Those will be going into their fourth season this year.

    But I kinda want to upgrade and I’ve seen good plans to build stuff, but materials end up only being like $20 under what I paid for the Birdies. I liked how easy they went together.

    There’s all my raised stuff with the hugel in the background there

    • @SchmidtGeneticsOP
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      8 months ago

      Nice! My plan to go independent didn’t turn out exactly how I wanted it, but I’m able to be a stay at home dad instead, so taking that as a huge W instead. Long story short, bought dad’s business hoping to expand and use his clientele for carpentry, I had zero help from him, but had to pick up his slack.

      Nice! I was able to get mine done first year of covid before lumber prices got ridiculous, yours look a lot fancier than my 2x12 frames ones haha.

      Beautiful looking yard!

      My two raised beds, I may add another 2x10 on top so I don’t need to lean over so far, and gives me some space to move some more dirt around.

      Built the retaining wall planters myself too, just 4x6s stacked and rebar dowels to hold everything. They are trenched in with 6” of gravel under though.

      • @ThrowawaySobriquet
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        28 months ago

        Eh, life happens. Been on a bendy road myself, but the important thing is being happy where you are.

        Lol, thanks dude. More an invention of necessity than anything too deliberate. I grabbed the last stack of 2x4 the store had and the only cedar I could find was the fencing. I’m honestly surprised it’s held up as well as it has.

        And thanks again. I love your deck. Ours has needed reno since we moved in, but I keep spending the money on dumb shit like food and the mortgage. I like the boxes, too. They look sturdy. I bet it was a challenge to get everything so neat in that slope.

        • @SchmidtGeneticsOP
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          28 months ago

          Yeah it’s tough though, dealing with carpal tunnel through all of that, than working in the yard last year I got a hernia, still waiting for a referral for that ughh haha.

          It looks sooo much better, I would use cedar if it wasn’t for the price, like 3x the cost of PT when I source it. Cedar is naturally resistant and looks snazzy imo.

          Thanks, I originally had it 2 feet longer but cut it back, hence why the beam is flush with the end instead of cantilevered, wanted the extra yard. Was a mid build change up. I’m lucky I can just write this stuff off as an expense for “my portfolio”. Wasn’t overly bad, was a couple year project as I built it down the side of the house. Would love to just rent the gear and go to town on a weekend, but that was all barrows and buckets over many weekends or slow days at work.

          • @ThrowawaySobriquet
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            28 months ago

            Preach. I hurt a bit more than I think someone my age ought to, but it’s hard to tell which familial curse I’m contending with. Either growing up busting my ass or the rheumatoid arthritis lurking in my genes.

            My god is cedar expensive. Especially during lockdown. The fencing worked out way better than I expected. It was very light and I assumed I’d be replacing staves as they failed, but no issues at all. So far.

            Look on the bright side: you didn’t rent any equipment, but you also aren’t helping the hardpan get worse! Plus it’s good for the vittles (I’m still nursing a sore back from the buckets and barrows I pushed through that mound of dirt, so milage may vary)