Phase 2: we scooped out the unfinished compost and started to make
a raised bed, using rail road ties.

After we got them all installed
and looking good, we did some research and found out the creosote
and pesticides sprayed on them is not good for organic gardens.

After we tore down the rail road ties, Chant built
a raised bed out of redwood cedar.

The mesh at the bottom is supposed to keep the shrews out.

We got some very hot & steamy compost from the Iowa City landfill.

And filled the raised bed up!

We waited for it to stop steaming before we planted anything.

Risa adding mulch around the edges.

The bendable pvc pipe holds netting to keep birds & creatures out.

We tilled up the spot next to the garden for tomatoes and squash.

The first planting, left to right:
Purple carrots, beets, sweet peppers, hot peppers, onions.

And they grew!

The tomato plants went crazy- they should have been further apart.

The carrots flattened out, but we harvested over 8 lbs.

The squash plants took over the tomato plants and then the whole backyard.

The peppers turning red and some lettuce growing where the
carrots & beets were.

Risa with one of the many winter squashs: 18lbs 5oz for this one!

Hops growing on the side of the house:
Crystal on the left, Centennial on the right.

We got about 1 lb. of wet crystal hops, about 4 oz dry.
It was only their first year- next year we expect to
have a bumper crop-o-hops!