Cinder Block Gardening

And they said cinder blocks don't grow on trees. No, I'm not growing cinder blocks in my backyard now. I'm growing with cinder blocks. These are like LEGOS for big kids.

For raised beds wood is just about all out. Everyone says don't use treated. Well, if you use untreated you'll be replacing boards seasonally. There are railroad ties but the chemicals in them are also a little iffy.

The next logical step seemed to be landscaping stones. They aren't cheap but they're designed for this stuff, right? Well, I've already tried a couple of different kinds and I haven't been all that impressed. Beyond the cost they seem either too small or too irregular in shape. I looked at all kinds of landscaping blocks, imagining, trying to find the right shape and price and color even and I just never could feel completely settled on anything.

And then one day I was doing some more of my usual raised bed Internet research and I found some videos on YouTube that showed some guy using cinder blocks and it appeared he was having the kind of success I was desiring. I especially liked how he used the holes to his advantage, places for trellis poles or other handy upright features.

I decided to get enough for a single 4' x 8' bed two rows high. (I realized today that's a total of 32 blocks.) I was quite satisfied with the results. Some of the first things I noticed was how quickly I was able to load up what I needed and how quickly the bed was constructed. The smaller landscaping blocks just seemed like they took much longer to lay out. The cinder blocks take up more space so if backyard real estate is an issue then blocks with less volume might work better. The size, weight and shape of the cinder blocks meant straighter and more square lines and less gaps. I could also be less concerned about the weight and pressure of the soil inside pushing the walls out. They are easier to stand, walk or sit on too.

The first 4x8 bed I built I employed the use of the holes right away constructing an enclosure to keep the birds off my strawberries. I was quite pleased with the ease and the results. I could tell I was working with a more component like setup that offered me more function and versatility.

Now as I am completing my first season of growing I have started planning to add more beds. I have no doubt I will continue with more cinder block construction.