We have 3 new ones for next season, hopefully one more to come 
Planning to give over the whole allotment bit at the bottom of the garden to potatoes next year, with the chives, rhubarb and some other bits (maybe leeks? nasturtiums?) for biodiversity.
the four big beds, all made of reclaimed wood and old tiles from the roof
It’s been really noticable this year that the more food we grow, the smaller are our shopping bills, also much more work, but it’s very joyful
So now, my baby bed in detail…
just created
It’s in “the hot place”, a sunbathing area of near tropical climes, the place of the toolbox of lettuce (actually mixed salad leaves this year) with house walls to the North and East, shelter from trees and shrubs all round and refelective light walls too – I think I could probably lay cookies out to bake there on a hot day!
All the beds are layered up thus:
a layer of kitchen compost, should be thicker really but wanted to get this one going
seaweed from the beach, mainly kelp
4 growbags chucked in the top
Having observed the propensity of lettuce to survive even the fiercest winters I have planted winter density seeds in there and also garlic round the edges. There may be something unsightly done with bubble wrap and wire as it gets colder.
and randomly:
blackcurrant and apple pie
oatly less artistically arranged this time… we highly recommend growing blackcurrants – the abundance! the easy jam making! the easy freezing! the gorgeous smoothies… and pies…
and a mother sheep feeding lambs behind barbed wire:
beautiful horns she has
I desperately want raised beds for next year but suspect it won’t happen
I just find the soil here such hard work at the moment as we had to remove huge bushes and lots of rhododendrons which have just sapped the goodness out the ground. Although, I could just dig some compost and seaweed into the ground just now and hope the dog doesn’t dig it all up!
Do you soak your seaweed before burying it in the ground or just throw it in as is?
No, I just chuck it in and have always got good results. There is conflicting advice out there on this – some say wash it several times and chop up, others say rain washes away surface salt deep into the ground so it doesn’t matter. Traditionally coastal farmers used to take it straight off the beach and plough it in. It is great stuff, rots down fast, full of nutrients and other plant protecting properties
raised beds do make everything that bit easier, less weeding, easier weeding/planting/picking but it is just getting the time/energy/stuff to build them initially.
oh and by the way – I have 2 courgettes growing!! finally
I was just going to ask about the courgettes!!
I have lots of female squash flowers so I have high hopes. Pleased to hear about your courgettes! We’ve just had some for our dinner…so fresh and crisp. Delicious.
Must make a trip to the beach and take a large bin bag!
I think I’ll just have to put up with weeding for the next couple of years…although I’m not very diligent I have to say!
seaweed can also be used as a mulch – put on top of the soil and reducing weeds
supposed to discourage slugs too.
Oooooo!!!! Lovely raised beds! I’ll show John these when he gets home. He LOVES his raised beds at the allotment and now I have a wee one of my very own in our small garden. It has cabbage, kale, lettuce and leaf beet, all ready to be picked fresh for smoothies! We’re so envious of your lovely big garden!
I’m also envious of you living by the sea. Not just for the fresh seaweed, but for the views. I LOVE a sea view!
On the other hand, we’re lucky enough to get as much free council compost as we want and that saves quite a bit of money and fills up raised beds quite nicely…
And I’m hungry just looking at that pie. Dare I say that we’re having courgette flan for dinner? Yellow courgette, now marrow, actually. I’ll have to cut it up small. Not boasting or anything…
I eat Kelp noodles on the time, which Im mentioning because for some silly reason I imagined kelp to be really translucent looking, like the noodles are – which by the way are lovely to eat!
Great pie
it is great to have those greens at hand for smoothies isn’t it? free compost sounds great – I went and looked at our council’s unbelievably slow website but it seems they don’t oblige… no surprises there! you are the Courgette Queen Penny
my two little ones are slowly growing 
I’ve had those kelp noodles Mel, really nice. I wonder if they make them with soaking water or something – a lot of clear covered slime on the kelp, bit like linseed soak water.
Cheese and courgette muffins for us today …we have had loads from one plant and nothing from the other …odd!!
I have printed off your photos and hung them in the kitchen to inspire hubbie !! He has been talking bout doing them for 2 years !!
ooh, a savoury muffin! that is quite surreal to think of our raised beds on display in your kitchen
we did talk about them for years too before actually doing…
Well, I have to be honest… John grew them… But I’ve cooked with them A LOT! Planning on trying to make marrow and ginger jam soon… Or marrow chutney…. I’ll let you know!