Raised Bed Gardens Reach New Heights

comments (0) October 21st, 2011

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Jodi Torpey, contributor

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The Home Harvest Garden, part of the Mordecai Children’s Garden, features about 12 raised beds in varying heights.

Located near the the Morrison Discovery Center and greenhouse, the Home Harvest Garden encourages visitors of all sizes to take time to enjoy the herbs, flowers and vegetables growing in raised beds.

The Home Harvest Garden, part of the Mordecai Children’s Garden, features about 12 raised beds in varying heights.

Photo: Jodi Torpey

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Like the people who tend them, gardens come in all shapes and sizes. But most of the garden beds I’ve seen are either beds dug at ground level, raised beds placed close to the ground or waist-high planting tables that stand on four legs.

However one of the vegetable gardens at the Denver Botanic Gardens is the first I’ve seen that could accommodate the tallest gardeners among us.

The Home Harvest Garden is part of the Mordecai Children’s Garden and includes about a dozen raised beds planted with herbs, vegetables and flowers. What I found most interesting about the garden is that beds are elevated in varying heights.

For taller gardeners or those who have difficulty bending and kneeling, tall raised beds make sense. Just like office workers who prefer to work at standing desks, some gardeners might be more comfortable standing to garden instead of stooping while planting, weeding and harvesting.

Each raised bed is a different height depending on the number of sideboards used in construction. The shortest beds are 2 boards high; the tallest used 6.

Gardeners could use this idea to create customized raised garden beds to match each gardener’s perfect gardening height. Younger gardeners with healthy backs may prefer raised beds closer to the ground. Gardeners in wheelchairs could have elevated beds built to a height of 27 inches. Tall gardeners can raise the beds to new heights.

Another idea I’d like to borrow from the Home Harvest Garden, is the layout. Instead of placing the raised beds in long lines, the beds are placed close together and angled in a way that makes the most use of the available space.

After you try it, show it off to other members in the
gardener's gallery.
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posted in: raised beds, children's garden

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