Building a Vertical Frame for a Raised Bed

Also all plants that vine (cucumbers, peas, squash, vine beans and vine tomatoes) are grown using a vertical frame at the end of the raised bed (which saves a tremendous amount of space).  Add a vertical frame at the north end of your raised bed. I will expand on growing vertical crops & how to build your frame in the next post!  - See more at: http://followingthemastergardener.blogspot.com/#sthash.pAwPQwKR.dpuf

Also all plants that vine (cucumbers, peas, squash, vine beans and vine tomatoes) are grown using a vertical frame at the end of the raised bed (which saves a tremendous amount of space).  Add a vertical frame at the north end of your raised bed. I will expand on growing vertical crops & how to build your frame in the next post!  - See more at: http://followingthemastergardener.blogspot.com/#sthash.pAwPQwKR.dpuf

How do you maximize the use of small space for your Square Foot garden?  Gardening Vertically allows you to grow more food in less space! Below you can find out how to building your own vertical frame which is a great addition to a garden.

The most popular garden vegetables: pole beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and squash are typically vine crops that sprawl all over the garden if they are not planted vertically.  If you want to grow these crops and still have room for other vegetables in your garden I recommend building a vertical frame. 

Other positives to using vertical growing are: simplified watering, improved harvest (leaves exposed to circulating air and sunlight = less disease), visible pest control, less soil preparation, and adding an attractive visual backdrop to your garden.

Our Raised Beds with Vertical Frames

HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN VERTICAL FRAMES

Materials for (1) vertical frame for a 4 foot wide raised bed:
(2) 1/2" EMT tubing (comes standard in 10' lengths)
(1) 3/4" EMT tubing (to receive the 1/2" EMT frame sides)
(2) 1/2" 90 deg EMT elbows
(1) 1/2" EMT straight connector
(2) 3/4" conduit straps/clamps
(2) 1" screws
Garden Netting

Peas growing on Vertical Frame

 STEP 1:  Determine the height of your vertical frames. (Vine crops should grow to 6 or 7 feet in height). We decided on 7 feet. Keep in mind 1 foot of the EMT tubing will be in the ground.  So we determined: 
7 ft (height) + 1 ft (in ground) = 8 ft length per side

Beauty for Today- Every Moment

"Pile your troubles on God's shoulders- he'll carry your load, he'll help you out." 

Psalm 55:22 MSG

Outside everything is covered with a blanket of snow.  Its very cold here and so we are staying warm inside.  I am extremely thankful today for a few quiet moments to spend time giving God my worries and concerns.  

I have a new favorite song playing that helps me keep a positive perspective whenever I let things get out of balance.  Its amazing how powerful God's word is in song.  I thought I would share it with you today, because it is so beautiful and powerful.  I included the link to the You Tube video because hearing it is the most amazing.  (Just click on the song title below for the You Tube video).

forever JONES- Every Moment in Your Hands

You are every breath I breathe in
You are every breath I breathe out
You are every breath in me God
Every moment in your hands, every moment in your hands

You are in the midst of chaos
Hiding me beneath your feathers
You will keep my heart from failing
Every moment in your hands, every moment in your hands

You are in my every heart beat
My first, my now, my last beat
Guiding all the steps of my feet
Every moment in your hands, every moment in your hands

You are in the midst of chaos
Hiding me beneath your feathers
You will keep my heart from failing
Every moment in your hands, every moment in your hands

He will stretch his wings to cover when troubled times are viewed
Giving courage to the fearful heart forever standing near
Every moment in your hands
You are in the midst of chaos
Hiding me beneath your feathers
You will keep my heart from failing
Every moment in your hands, every moment in your hands

Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Every moment in your hands, every moment in your hands
Every moment in your hands

Let me leave you with how my devotional ended,

"Sometimes we're so busy and tired we have nothing left to give.  During those times just let God be in charge for awhile." 

Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Onion

Today I was craving something simple, yet tasty.  This Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato and Onion was a perfect combination of ingredients.  Of course if the tomatoes had been homegrown from this summer it would have been better, but I did my best with what I had at hand. (Guess I will just have to make this again come July!)

Ingredients:
1 slice Cheddar Cheese (or 1/4 cup shredded cheese)
1 slice Mozzarella Cheese (or 1/4 cup shredded cheese)
Parmesan Cheese
2 slices Wheat Bread
2 Red Onion slices
Tomato- variety of your choosing
(I used several grape tomatoes I had on hand)

Instructions:

STEP 1: Butter both sides of the bread.  

STEP 2: Layer with Cheddar, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.    

Cheese layered with Onion and Tomato

STEP 3: Cut 2 slices of Onion and Tomato and place on top of cheese.  

STEP 4: Cook for approximately 4 minutes per side or less until golden brown.

 STEP 5: Cut sandwich in half and serve warm.

Planning your Garden Layout using SFGM

The simple way to plan your garden layout is to pick up a pencil and paper and start drawing!  That's it.  You don't need a computer program, an app, or special sketching skills.  Those things are tools that you can use, but that are not required. 

This year we have chosen to simplify our planning process so I will show you how we are planning in six easy steps!

STEP 1: Draw the outline of your garden.  
I will draw one of our 4 x 8 size raised beds for example. 
Typically if this is your first year gardening I would recommend starting with a 4 x 4 raised bed. 

Vertical Frames at the end of the raised beds

Also all plants that vine (cucumbers, peas, squash, vine beans and vine tomatoes) are grown using a vertical frame at the end of the raised bed (which saves a tremendous amount of space).  Add a vertical frame at the north end of your raised bed. Here is a link to my other post on Building A Vertical Frame for a Raised Bed

Drawing outline of garden