Hi Eric – if you have true bedrock at 2′ deep, then I would probably make raised beds. You could still do an in-ground garden, but mainly focus on above ground vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, squash, peas etc. You can grow in 2′ no problem. There are lots of people who even grow vegetables in 5 gallon buckets with holes drilled in them. Effective is relative, as long as you come out ahead financially and enjoy it, it is worth it. Personally, I like being able to pull out hot peppers all year from the freezer to use in eggs, etc. You could take a piece of rebar or something to try to probe other areas of your yard to see if you find something more favorable.

I can understand the rock situation. We are in Appalachia and although not on a ‘mountain’, we are rocky and undulated enough. See here and here for examples. There is one strip of that garden that is about 3-4′ wide that is almost solid rock. Not solid, but like a gravel range that varies in size from golf-ball to tombstone sized. But, it isn’t totally solid. So, I assume (or hope) that fibrous roots find the cracks. None the less, I removed about 2-3′ of rock, and have backfilled with topsoil/compost. But, I’ve gotten decent yields overall in this garden. Also, my garden is 17’x17′ for reference. The 4′ fence actually keeps the deer out. I can’t explain why, it is like it just makes it inconvenient enough to where they go eat the neighbors flowers instead.

My method for removing rock (which at times seems solid) is as follows;
– I have a 5′ digging bar
– 4′ spade
– Use the digging bar loosen/crack the rock. Find cracks, areas I can lever off ot.
– Pry up large rocks. Once I can remove them, I remove them.
– For smaller rocks, I fill my wheelbarrow and dump somewhere else.
– For the bigger rocks, I’ve just tossed them along a fence. Assuming that I will someday build a firepit with them.

So, if you are actually on bedrock, I’m not sure you have many options. Raised beds would be more expensive, but much less effort. Plus, if you would have to backfill with bought soil for an in-ground garden, perhaps it would make raised beds more attractive. But I definitely sympathize with your situation. My back does too.

Joe

Hi Sean, in the article I stated four 4’x8′ beds 15″ deep. Not a single 4’x8′ but four of them. So, that would be approximately 6 yards of soil.

I checked my local prices, and the lowest cost topsoil I found was $15 per yard. So, $90 is correct for the assumptions I laid out. Granted, topsoil at $15 per yard is probably pretty horrible. But I’m trying to show the lowest cost I can.

You are also very correct in using sealer such as mineral oil or some other safe finish for the boards will greatly extend their life.

Additionally, if you stain the boards with food grade sealer and line with weed fabric you can triple the life of the boards.

cost nothing , offcuts and corrogated iron. I go to the streets and clean leaves from the drains and paths. compost food scraps in the bed, dig up some lawn for soil and hey presto , raised bed easier to pick strwberrie.sComment

Hi MaryKay – Congrats on your new garden! Compost is key for me, as it allowed me to have a good vegetable harvest from the first year onwards. Luckily I haven’t had to deal with moles/voles or groundhogs where I live. I think it has to do with how rocky the soil is (seriously). And, we live next to a forest that has a healthy fox and snake population, which probably helps too. But good luck! It feels great growing your own food!

-Joe