Startup costs?

[JamieBrewHa]

We moved this summer so we are starting from scratch this season. We have a lot critters to protect from, so we are building a fenced in garden bed. The startup cost is looking like $400 and that's before any soil we might have to buy because ours isnt the best. So tell me, is this just the cost of starting when you have to build an enclosure... or do you think it could be done cheaper? As it is, DH priced it out with plywood (I know not ideal) and the cheapest materials, so I'm just looking for someone else to tell me if we're spending money we dont need to. I've been searching craigslist for used materials and am not find anything...

[mattemma04]

Consider fencing in with plastic fencing,and some bird netting over the top.Also, away from the garden flip some grass and plant some type of fast growing crop to attract critters.Set up a trap in that location to reduce your critter population. If you don't have chickens encourage raptors to the area to eat up the critters that will eat your crops.

We have lots of critters but so far the above mentioned things have helped.
Keep checking craigs for deals.They do crop up,and then you can spend more on soil and seeds.Might be able to get free pallet wood and can build with that.

Plant your trees and shurbs the first year.I wish I had,and would have fruits by now.

[goldfinches]

You're fencing your garden with plywood? I would definately try using metal stakes with coated metal fencing instead. You won't get much sun on your plants with plywood walls.

[JamieBrewHa]

Originally Posted by mattemma04

Consider fencing in with plastic fencing,and some bird netting over the top.Also, away from the garden flip some grass and plant some type of fast growing crop to attract critters.Set up a trap in that location to reduce your critter population. If you don't have chickens encourage raptors to the area to eat up the critters that will eat your crops.

We have lots of critters but so far the above mentioned things have helped.
Keep checking craigs for deals.They do crop up,and then you can spend more on soil and seeds.Might be able to get free pallet wood and can build with that.

Plant your trees and shurbs the first year.I wish I had,and would have fruits by now.

yes, i definitely want to find the moeny to get the trees and shrubs in this year so we can get fruit in a few!

What kind of plastic fencing are you thinking?

I had to lol on the critters - cause bear and deer are two of our big problems and I cant see trapping them... though groundhogs are fierce around here too, so I suppose they could be trapped.

Originally Posted by goldfinches

You're fencing your garden with plywood? I would definately try using metal stakes with coated metal fencing instead. You won't get much sun on your plants with plywood walls.

LOL - no we're not fencing the whole garden in with plywood. We are using plywood to frame the bottom of the lot.... (sinking it into the ground to keep critters from digging under - so it'll be like 6" under ground and 6" above ground... about 1/2" thick) and then attaching wire fence to that to go the rest of the way up .. the fence will be mounted on 4" x 4" x 6' posts (that are also sunk into the ground at least 6"). I dont think metal would be less expensive but I could look into it.