Raised Garden Beds
Here you will find how I built raised beds for Antwerp Manor of Assisted Living! I luckily had help from Paul Payne, a local woodworker (and my dad!). We built two raised beds that were high enough to allow accessibility for individuals in wheelchairs and those who cannot safely reach low to the ground.
01
Measure and cut wood
Luckily, I had the assistance of a skilled woodworker that was able to help me figure out proper measurements and handle the heavy machinery. We had multiple discussions about the dimensions in order for the residents to be able to access the beds.
Height: 29" inches
Width: 40" inches
Length: 29" inches
Depth: 12" inches/1 foot
02
Construct the "skeleton"
- First we laid the leg pieces flat on the ground with the 40" side pieces on top of where they would be attached, with another side piece 12 inches below the top piece.
- Using a "square", we ensured they were lined up at a 90 degree angle.
- We used screws to attach the side pieces and the legs.
- We also attached a 1" piece of wood around the bottom of the lower side pieces so we would have something to attached the "floor" of the bed to.
- We set up both sides on their ends and attached the 20" end pieces, repeating the same steps as before to ensure they were lined up properly.
03
Place the "floor" of the bed
- The next step was to measure the size of wood needed to fit into the bottom of the raised garden beds.
- We measured and cut 1/2" cedar boards and attached both sides of each piece to ensure they stayed in place.
04
Add the walls/sides
- We then measured the length needed to add the siding of the raised garden beds.
- These pieces of 1/2" cedar boards were attached between the leg pieces on the ends of the raised beds.
05
Sand and round rough areas
- Once both garden beds were put together, we used a router to round the edges and corners.
- Using a sander, I smoothed out the areas where we drove the screws in, as well as other areas that were rough and could cause injury.
06
Apply stain and water seal
- I decided to put a wood stain on the raised beds to give them a more finished look.
- After the stain dried, I put on a water sealant to prevent the wood from rotting.
- Once dry, we delivered them to the Assisted Living facility and filled them with soil!
