My 13 year old and I went to buy topsoil and compost to fill our new raised garden beds.  I was initially planning to buy equal amounts of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite, as per the instructions for square foot gardening.  But that gets very expensive, very fast. 

So then I called companies that deliver topsoil/compost/etc in bulk, to see if I could just get a truckload.  I could, but the minimum was much more than it seemed to me that I would need (5 cubic yards).  I don’t have a huge garden planned – I just need to fill the garden beds that run along part of the sides of my small yard. 

So I decided to find a less expensive plan – lots of topsoil mixed with a manure/humus blend, with a little bit of peat moss.  We bought about 800 pounds, in 19 – 40 pound bags (yes, this was a workout, loading and unloading them in and out of the van), and I thought it should be just about enough to fill the beds we built.  Was I wrong!

I was really amazed at how much soil it takes to fill a six inch deep garden bed.  What I bought was enough to fill up one bed, 12 x 2 ft, plus half of another one the same size.  That means that I need to buy double or triple the amount I bought to finish filling everything up.

My kids are wondering if the produce that we eventually get for the garden is going to justify all the money we’re spending for supplies.  I told them that this first year it probably won’t, but next year we won’t need to do anything but get seeds, transplants, and some compost to boost the soil quality.  I’m hopeful that after all this effort, it will be a productive crop.  As far as a productive use of time and energy, it’s definitely a satisfying feeling to sink your hands in the earth and garden, and that’s something I want my kids to experience. 

Avivah