Raised garden bed

Year after year, Jason and I have longed to have a backyard garden. The problem is that the backyard is shaded by two huge maple trees. We certainly don't want to cut them down since they definitely cool down the house. The only other option was to build one on the side of the driveway. I really didn't want to do this thinking it would look ugly and be an eyesore to the neighborhood. We don't live in a neighborhood with a HOA that would tell us no, so we were just wrestling with ourselves. Thank the Lord, we're not in a HOA! Jason could possibly be told not to bring his work truck and trailer home on the weekends if we did. You see, he parks it in the driveway over the weekend not leaving it at the dealerships like he does on the weekdays. We never plan to live in a neighborhood with a HOA. Ask Jason about how he feels about a HOA and you'll get an earful!

For years, I fought at it and refused Jason thinking it would still be an eyesore. Then Pinterest came along and changed my thinking. I soon discovered you could build gorgeous looking raised garden beds that weren't eyesores at all.

I then shared all these gorgeous pictures with Jason and we both jumped in the deep end and agreed it was time. I supplied the inspiration picture and Jason built it.

He did a great job. We are going to grow peppers, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, herbs and more. I plan on incorporating some gardening "unit study" for the kids and get them involved too.

Here's the before planting picture and the after planting picture. Now with a little time, sun, and rain, we'll be raking in the pesticide, chemical free veggies.