Connecticut is full of rocks. Stick a shovel in the ground and you have a 98% chance of striking a rock, big or small. The spot I picked for my garden has two main problems; too many rocks and possibly the old site of the previous owner’s pool. It’s tough enough to deal with natural rocks, but when I’m tilling and hit a chunk of concrete, that just spoils the organic perception of a garden.
So, what to do? I could move my spot, but that would mean moving my fencing and posts too. Plus I have planted some fruit trees and I don’t want to move those or leave the fence up just for the trees. It’s a great location and takes advantage of the sun and existing rock wall around the pool. Solution: take advantage of the natural abundance of rocks.
I decided to build stone planter boxes. Using rocks that were in the garden and other rocks that are in my back garden, I built 2 stone planters for this year’s garden. Noah and Katie helped me move the rocks that were dug up and we all got a workout. Eventually the entire garden will be raised stone planters.
I filled the two planters with tilled dirt and soil from under the leaf piles in the back, along with compost from my compost bins. In the first planter box, I planted peas, beets and broccoli. I can’t wait for this cold weather to brake so I can plant the other box with seedlings that are in the sunroom.