Our goal is not a perfect showcase garden. We want a durable, productive space that fits the landscape and can improve one season at a time. The brightest section will hold fruiting vegetables, while leafy crops, herbs, and native perennials will make use of filtered light.
The working budget
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Raised-bed lumber and hardware | $250–$350 |
| Fence, posts, and gate | $250–$400 |
| Bulk soil and compost | $200–$300 |
| Wood-chip paths | $0–$75 |
| Simple irrigation | $75–$150 |
| Seeds, starts, and native plants | $175–$250 |
| Likely total | About $950–$1,525 |
We are using $1,250 as the planning target, not a promise. Reclaimed materials, free municipal wood chips, and local bulk soil could pull the total down. Delivery fees or a stronger deer fence could push it up.
How we plan to build it
- Watch the light. Mark the sunniest areas before deciding exactly where each bed belongs.
- Stake the footprint. Confirm comfortable paths and reach before buying lumber.
- Handle drainage first. Work with the slope and avoid sending runoff toward the house.
- Build narrow beds. Keep planting areas reachable without compacting the soil.
- Add protection. Use a simple fence and gate suited to the wildlife we actually see.
- Plant in stages. Start with a manageable mix, then add native flowers and perennials as the site teaches us more.
What we will document
As the project progresses, we will update the real material list, final costs, planting choices, and anything we would do differently. Product links may eventually help fund the site, but recommendations will be limited to things we have actually used or carefully evaluated.
Ask us about the project