Lamorinda Gardeners Do It In Raised Beds

Me, the one the wife calls "He Who Always Thinks He Can Do Better" and who the kids refer to as "Amish Boy," digging like a gopher these days to see if I can get a raised bed system to produce super veggies.

Get the dirt up to where you can get to it, I reasoned. Save your back. Put in a dedicated, gravity-fed rainwater catchment system. It all sounded so... self-sustaining.

Funny thing, though, and unlike most of my other projects... this one is working. (the others are dedicated to holding cutting flowers, now) a month ago and since I was working alone (loner, doesn't play well with others) it took me a fair while to get the beds loaded with soil and planted.

I made one of my frequent visits down to for the rainwater "cistern," then to and Kenny Murikami's for some greenery, opened the spigot on the cistern to add water and stood back as everything in there just shot up into the sky.

O Joy, O Rapture. It worked. I hauled some plants I hadn't yet managed to kill off completely and artfully arranged them around my newly planted beds, hoping for some kind of healing osmosis. Lo and behold, miracle of miracles -- they started to appear healthier, sprouting new growth and looking at me with that "it's about time, mister" look the plants give you.

Yes, my plants look at me.

So things are off to the races, I bought a straw hat and a pitchfork to complete the ensemble and chose to ignore the kids' "what a jackass" derision, spending all my spare time in my own personal Eden (it has a gate, no one else can come in... bwhahahahaha!).

It's a gas. But enough about me. Anyone else trying the elevated gardening system and is it working for you? I'd be interested in what you're putting in and in hearing how things are going. Also looking for any innovations and gardening tips you may have to share. Photos always appreciated.