DIY Life

My no-dig vegetable garden is still in its infancy. I have a big ole pile of grass clippings mixed with kitchen compost, as per the instructions of veggie guru Patricia Lanza in her wonderful book, Lasagne Gardening.

Problem: This decaying pile is located in my front yard. A real visual treat for my neighbors, I'm sure. Honestly, it looks like I got halfway to the curb with a ton of garden waste then simply gave up and dumped it all on the lawn.

As a considerate citizen, I want to tidy things up with a low retaining wall. Trawling the Internet in search of easy-to-follow instructions, I cried "Hallelujah!" when I stumbled upon popular blogger Pioneer Woman's post, "Build Your Own Raised Flower/Vegetable Bed."

Starting a veggie garden? You need this post.

P.W. (aka Ree Drummond) and her friend, Brent, show you how to construct a simple foot-tall wooden frame for a garden bed. The frame consists of untreated 2x6 boards connected with screws and anchored to the ground with wood stakes.

Novice carpenters like myself need not be afraid. Helpful photos illustrate each and every step of the project. A shopping list is kindly included as well.

This is just what I need to bring order to my unkempt leafy creation ... and to help keep things shipshape in coming months as I start adding bags of peat and topsoil. My neighbors will thank you, Pioneer Woman!