How to Start a Raised Bed Garden on a Budget

Starting a raised bed garden shouldn't require a massive investment. While cedar lumber is traditional, it rots over time and has become increasingly expensive. Galvanized steel beds are often cheaper, easier to assemble, and outlast wooden alternatives by years.

Once you have your bed, filling it is the next hurdle. Using the 'hugelkultur' method—placing logs, sticks, and yard waste at the bottom before adding soil—can drastically reduce the amount of expensive potting mix you need to buy. Combine this with affordable fabric grow bags for smaller crops to stretch your budget even further.