After a few years of nursing along some aging wooden raised beds, I finally pulled the trigger on three new Birdies beds, the 29” tall ones. No more hunching over. They’re 4x8 each, which will give me a solid 96 square feet of productive raised-bed space.

Three Birdies beds assembled in the garage, sage green corrugated steel

The beds are currently being constructed, so the layout is still in progress. The plan is an E-shape when you look at it from above: two long in-ground beds (2.5x20) running vertically on either side, with the three Birdies beds stacked in the center. Comfrey anchors the end closest to the house, it’s been there for years and I’m not touching it. Great for chop-and-drop mulch.

This year I’m going direct-seed-only. I’ve got a grow tent and everything for indoor starts, but I’ll direct sow everything I can after the last frost (around May 15 here in Boston), and buy tomato and pepper transplants from a local nursery.

The partial sun situation means I’m leaning into crops that don’t need full blaze: lettuce, arugula, cucumbers, beans, beets, and zucchini in the beds. Tomatoes are going into grow bags so I can chase sunnier spots in the yard on good days.

We’ll see how it shakes out. First year with the new beds. I’m calling it a success if everything doesn’t die in July.