Success #1: I got all the vinyl cut, routed, and ready to build boxes! Here is my son building a “house.” His fun will be over when I actually set up my boxes!

Success #2: I purchased all the compost, peat moss, and vermiculite I need!!!

Costs:

• $33.50 peat moss (3 bales @ $10.50 each, 3.0 cu ft) Even though these are only 3.0 cu ft, I expect it to expand to double.
• $60.65 vermiculite (3 bags @$19 each, 3.5 cu ft)
• $40 compost (2 cubic yards @ $20 each)
• $25 caps for my garden posts (12 @ $2 each) Helps make the garden look pretty and finished.

I ended up getting the compost from Utah County (in American Fork), since the price of gas pretty much reduced the savings of going to Salt Lake County. The truck I had access to had an extended cab, and a short bed. It couldn’t fit a lot more than 1 cubic yard anyway. The first load spilled over the back (the scoop was bigger than the truck bed), and I hadn’t brought a shovel, gloves, or anything except a tarp to cover it. So I felt we lost a bit of compost. The second time the guy running the front end loader was VERY generous. He saw that a bunch fell out, and gave me a second scoop! Thanks to his generosity, I felt it was worth the extra money.

Another hitch–the truck I used wasn’t really a “dirty” utility truck, but a shiny red truck my dad was selling the next day. So I had to be really careful not to ding up the bed with tools as I moved it all onto my driveway. I mostly used by hands (and back) and I’m pretty sore!

I am very excited that I finally have everything I need to build my boxes and get planting!

Filed under: 2008