My thoughts were on making blocks of papercrete to build the beds. Your
thoughts on the trolley/sprinkler pipe are good. I would want the pipe
to be at the top inside edge of the bed, so it would be out of the way
of anyone siting on the bed top. Possibly welding flat bar (that would
run the length of the bed) perpendicular to short flat pieces. These
pieces could be bent at the ends to hold the pipe. The long flat bar
would be embedded into the pc between the top and second from top
courses. Or something along those lines.
I would also want to put in some way of turning the bed into a mini hoop
house. Maybe pipes embedded into the pc to hold the hoops. And I plan on
building the beds in a way that say, four beds of same length would be
parallel to each other. I then could install much larger hoops or pipes
over all four beds to create an enclosed greenhouse for late season
harvesting.
I will be a while before I can post pictures, but I surely will when I
have them.
It is nice to hear that pc seems to be able to withstand the elements.
Thanks for your comments.
Chris
gobugus wrote:
> Chris, Your box idea is interesting. I have gardened in raised boxes
> for decades, and my next set of boxes need to be constructed before
> winter so they will be ready next spring. I was thinking of using thin
> shell cement on a stucco mesh for the box. Now you have me thinking
> about adding papercrete to that surface. I like your idea of a trolley,
> but the papercrete alone may not support much weight. Bury the
> sprinkler pipes in papercrete. It could help stabilize the shape during
> the cure. I had my first papercrete block placed beneath the house
> downspout so I could see how it survived contact with the soil and
> excess moisture. It did not swell, break, or support mold or fungus, so
> I think it would be a good material for a garden box. It could be worth
> considering to add some acrylic which will probably improve the water
> exposure issue. Good luck, post pictures. I think the papercrete could
> also make an interesting cold frame. Gary
>
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