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This course covers all aspects of building a beautiful raised bed garden. Designed for beginners curious about gardening, this course also has insights that a seasoned gardener would appreciate. There is a thorough walk through of constructing a demonstration raised bed, and how best to adapt it to suit your preferences. 

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This course covers all aspects of building a beautiful raised bed garden. Designed for beginners curious about gardening, this course also has insights that a seasoned gardener would appreciate. There is a thorough walk through of constructing a demonstration raised bed, and how best to adapt it to suit your preferences. 

The raised bed is designed to be built with minimal materials, low cost (less than $10 USD), and basic equipment. No special vehicles or power tools are required to procure and work with the materials. The course also goes through maintaining a raised bed garden with modules on planting, watering, and so forth. Total video runtime is 30 minutes. 

One of the key learning outcomes for this course is to have you take away a core set of foundational horticultural and light carpentry concepts that can be adapted and scaled to your particular context. Because of the many benefits a raised bed garden can bring about, our hope is that you're inspired and encouraged to start a raised bed garden of your own. Music provided by bensound. 

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to build a raised bed with minimal materials, equipment, and cost.
  • Understand all the basic aspects of maintaining a raised bed vegetable garden: planting, watering, etc.
  • Knowledge of basic light carpentry concepts and how to apply them.
  • Adapt foundational horticultural concepts to suit your specific circumstances in creating and maintaining a vegetable garden
  • Insights to encourage and instil confidence to create a beautiful, productive growing space that will last for years.

Syllabus

Introduction

This lecture will introduce this course on raised bed gardening in a fun and engaging style. Students should come away with a sense of the overall tone and content of the course.

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Understand the benefits of gardening in general, and raised bed gardening in particular.

After completing this lecture, students will have a better understanding of some of the benefits of gardening in general, and raised bed gardening in particular. 

After completing this section, students will understand what basic equipment is required to build a raised bed. They'll also understand some of the alternatives that can be employed.

After completing this lecture, students will have a better understanding of what type of equipment is involved in building a raised bed. They'll also know what are some of the available alternatives.

Understand the types of materials to use in building a raised bed.

After completing this lecture, students will understand what are the best materials to use for building raised beds and what materials to avoid.

Know the measurements to make and how to cut the material appropriately.

After completing the lecture, students will understand the different measurements and cuts to make in building a basic raised bed.

Walk through the base construction for the raised bed.

After completing this lecture, students will understand how to build a base for any raised bed. 

Add to the base and scale the height of the raised bed.

After completing this lecture, students will understand how to scale the height of a raised bed by adding level to fit their preferences. 

Capping off the raised bed.

After completing this lecture, students will understand how to cap off a raised bed in a simple and elegant manner.  

Understand the different options available to enhance the raised bed.

After completing this lecture, students will understand how to enhance a raised bed with alternative styles of capping, cladding, and additional structures. 

Understand how best to install the raised bed, and the types of soil to fill it with.

After completing this lecture, students will understand how to install a raised bed and the types of soil to fill it with.

Understand how to plant in a raised bed garden.

After completing this lecture, students will understand how to plant in a raised bed garden for optimum space utilization.

Understand the different ways to water a raised bed garden, with some innovative options for better resource management.

After completing this lecture, students will understand some different ways to water their raised bed garden, including some innovative options for better resource management. 

Come away with the confidence and knowledge to build, start, and maintain a raised bed garden.

This is the final lecture and students should come away with enough knowledge and insight to get started in building and growing a beautiful, productive raised bed garden.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides a strong foundation for beginners who are curious about gardening
Includes insights that a seasoned gardener would appreciate
Features thorough walkthrough of constructing a raised bed
Examples demonstrate how to adapt the bed to suit preferences
Emphasizes minimal materials, low cost, and basic equipment
Provides comprehensive guide to maintaining a raised bed garden

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Beginner's Guide to Gardening: Building Raised Beds with these activities:
Review Basics of Geometric Measurement
Refresh the basics of geometric shapes and how to make measurements before getting started with this course on raised bed gardening.
Browse courses on Geometry
Show steps
  • Review the definitions of common geometric shapes like squares, rectangles, and triangles.
  • Practice measuring the length, width, and height of different objects using a ruler or measuring tape.
  • Calculate the area and perimeter of different shapes using the appropriate formulas.
Guided Tutorial: Planning and Designing a Raised Bed Garden
Follow a guided tutorial that will walk you through the steps of planning and designing a raised bed garden.
Show steps
  • Gather necessary materials like graph paper, a ruler, and a pencil.
  • Choose a suitable location for your raised bed garden, considering factors like sunlight, drainage, and accessibility.
  • Determine the size and shape of your raised bed based on the available space and your gardening needs.
Create a Compilation of Gardening Resources
Gather and organize a collection of gardening resources, such as websites, books, and videos, that can serve as a valuable reference for further learning and troubleshooting.
Show steps
  • Search for and identify reputable sources of gardening information.
  • Create a list or document to organize the resources by topic or category.
  • Include a brief description or annotation for each resource to provide context.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Practice Building a Raised Bed with Minimal Materials
Practice building a raised bed using minimal materials and basic tools to reinforce the techniques learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Gather materials such as untreated wooden planks, screws, and a drill.
  • Cut the wooden planks to the desired length and width for the sides and base of the raised bed.
  • Assemble the raised bed by attaching the sides to the base using screws.
Guided Tutorial: Troubleshooting Common Raised Bed Gardening Problems
Follow a guided tutorial that addresses common problems encountered in raised bed gardening, providing practical solutions and tips to overcome these challenges.
Show steps
  • Identify common problems such as pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and watering issues.
  • Learn about the causes, symptoms, and effective remedies for each problem.
  • Develop a troubleshooting plan to address specific problems that may arise in your own raised bed garden.
Start a Raised Bed Garden Project
Apply the knowledge and skills gained in the course by starting your own raised bed garden.
Show steps
  • Choose a suitable location for your raised bed garden.
  • Build the raised bed using the techniques learned in the course.
  • Fill the raised bed with soil and compost.
  • Plant your desired vegetables, herbs, or flowers.
  • Maintain your raised bed garden by watering, fertilizing, and weeding regularly.
Attend a Workshop on Raised Bed Gardening Techniques
Attend a workshop led by experienced gardeners or professionals to gain hands-on experience and insights in raised bed gardening techniques.
Show steps
  • Research and identify relevant workshops in your area.
  • Register for the workshop and prepare any necessary materials.
  • Actively participate in the workshop, ask questions, and take notes to enhance your learning.
Contribute to Open Source Gardening Projects
Engage in open source gardening projects to contribute to the community, expand your knowledge, and stay updated with the latest advancements in the field.
Show steps
  • Identify open source gardening projects aligned with your interests and skills.
  • Join the project community and explore opportunities to contribute.
  • Develop or improve gardening tools, resources, or documentation.

Career center

Learners who complete Beginner's Guide to Gardening: Building Raised Beds will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Horticultural Assistant
A Horticultural Assistant plays an important role in the success of plant life at conservatories, botanical gardens, and other horticulture-related businesses. They also work with researchers in universities and private enterprise. This course can help develop a foundation in light carpentry and horticulture, which will prove essential for work in this field. Further professional development and training may be necessary to qualify for most Horticulturist roles, but this course can lay the groundwork.
Landscape Contractor
If you wish to start a career where you can work outside and create beautiful landscapes for others to enjoy, becoming a Landscape Contractor may be an exciting career path. This course helps build a foundation in light carpentry and horticulture, key skills that professionals in this field need. Further training will likely be necessary, but this course offers a great start.
Farm Manager
Farm Managers oversee and operate farms. This course may be helpful to Farm Managers who want to expand their knowledge of gardening and horticulture. This course provides an overview of some of the key elements of successful gardening and carpentry, which can serve as a complement to existing knowledge and experience.
Florist
Florists arrange flowers and create floral arrangements for a variety of occasions. This course provides an overview of gardening and horticulture, which can be helpful to those who want to become a Florist. Additional training or education may be necessary.
Landscape Architect
Landscape Architects design and plan outdoor spaces. They may work on projects such as parks, gardens, and other outdoor areas. This course can help build a foundation in horticulture and carpentry, which can be a stepping stone to further education or training in Landscape Architecture.
Farmer
Farmers grow and harvest crops. They may work on a variety of crops, such as fruits, vegetables, or grains. This course provides an overview of gardening and horticulture, which can be useful to those who want to go into farming. It will be important to gain further training in this field.
Arborist
Arborists are experts in tree health and disease. They may work in a variety of settings, such as municipalities, universities, or private enterprise. This course can provide a foundation in horticulture, which is important for Arborists to have. While additional education and training will be necessary, this course can help build foundational knowledge.
Greenhouse Manager
Greenhouse Managers oversee and operate greenhouses. They may be responsible for growing plants, maintaining equipment, and managing staff. This course provides an overview of gardening and horticulture, which can be helpful to those who want to become a Greenhouse Manager. Additional training or education may be necessary.
Gardener
Gardeners care for plants, flowers, and trees in a variety of settings. This course can help build a foundation in horticulture, which may help qualify you for work in this field, especially in greenhouse settings.
Plant Pathologist
Plant Pathologists study and diagnose plant diseases. This course can provide a foundation in horticulture, which may help aspiring Plant Pathologists qualify for entry-level positions. Further training will be required.
Horticulture Technician
Horticulture Technicians work with plants and flowers in a variety of settings, such as greenhouses, nurseries, and gardens. This course provides an introduction to horticulture and light carpentry skills, which may be helpful for those who wish to become Horticulture Technicians.
Urban Forester
Urban Foresters manage trees in urban areas. This includes planting, pruning, and removing trees, as well as managing tree pests and diseases. This course provides an overview of horticulture, which can be helpful to those who want to become an Urban Forester. Further training or education may be necessary.
Botanist
Botanists study plants and their life cycles. This course can provide a foundation in horticulture, which may help aspiring Botanists qualify for entry-level positions. Further training will be required.
Soil Scientist
Soil Scientists study the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. This course provides an overview of horticulture, which may help entry-level Soil Scientist job seekers qualify for work in this field. Further training will be required.
Landscape Designer
Landscape Designers plan and design outdoor spaces, such as gardens, parks, and other outdoor areas. This course provides an overview of horticulture and carpentry, which can be helpful to those who want to become a Landscape Designer. Further training or education may be necessary.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Beginner's Guide to Gardening: Building Raised Beds.
Considered to be one of the most comprehensive vegetable gardening books ever published, this book offers detailed information on growing vegetables in all types of gardens, including raised beds.
Provides valuable insights into companion planting, a technique that can enhance the growth and yield of your raised bed garden by planting compatible species together.
This highly regarded book introduces the concept of square foot gardening, an efficient and space-saving method that can be easily adapted to raised beds.
This comprehensive guide to organic gardening covers all aspects of the topic, including tips for raised bed gardening.
This comprehensive gardening guide offers valuable advice on all aspects of gardening, including raised bed gardening.
Offers a comprehensive introduction to permaculture, a sustainable gardening approach that can be applied to raised bed gardening.
This practical guide provides tips and techniques for extending your growing season, including strategies for raised bed gardening in different climates.
Introduces the concept of vertical gardening, a space-saving technique that can be adapted to raised beds.
This practical guide provides a wealth of information on organic gardening, including tips for raised bed gardening.

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