Rewilding My Lot

My first attempts to seed Swiss Chard in small mounds of soil were not successful. So I’m giving it another go with a different approach.

With the help of a friend with a saw, I cut 6-inch diameter drainage pipe into 8-inch sections and pushed them into the ground to make tiny raised beds.

Each tube had its original soil in the bottom, then planting soil, then compost. It got a good watering and then pushed down and topped up with compost. Then I left it for a day to settle, topped it up to the rim with compost, and then added one fresh Swiss Chard seed, pushed 1/2-inch down.

I have six of these “personal” raised beds that sit close to the woodchip walkway, for easy access.

If this doesn’t work, then I think I will have to consider myself a farming failure. But if I do have some success, then I will be able to make small harvests of leafy greens. Given my prior history with vegetables, if I can even pick just one leaf a day to snack on while I’m gardening, that would be progress.