Raised Bed Revolution: Build It, Fill It, Plant It... Garden Anywhere!

by Tara Nolan

Raised bed gardening is the fastest-growing garden strategy today, and Raised Bed Revolution is the definitive guidebook to mastering this consistently proven and effective gardening method. Raised Bed Revolution provides you with information on size requirements for constructing raised beds , height suggestions , types of materials you can use, and creative tips for fitting the maximum garden capacity into small spaces— including vertical gardening . Enhanced with gorgeous photography , this book covers subjects such as growing-medium options , rooftop gardening, cost-effective gardening solutions, planting tips, watering strategies (automatic water drip systems and hand watering), and more. The process of creating and building raised beds is a cinch, too, thanks to the extensive gallery of design ideas and step-by-step projects . This gardening strategy is taking serious root . Why? Several
Find out more about why everyone is joining the raised bed revolution,  roll up your sleeves and join in !

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Nature

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

Tara Nolan is a garden writer and editor who regularly writes about gardening for the Toronto Star, as well as for magazines, including Reader’s Digest and Canadian Living. She is one quarter of the popular website Savvy Gardening and was the award-winning web editor of Canadian Gardening magazine’s website for six years. Tara also does work for the Toronto Botanical Garden and the Canadian Garden Council, and volunteers for the Royal Botanical Garden. Her first gardening book, Raised Bed Revolution, will be published in May 2016.

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a newly released edition and I don’t know if changes have been made. It will be good for people who want a lot of photo inspiration and there are a fair number of plans to build your own. In a lot of cases I cringed and thought “How much poison would you like to feed your family?” because there were a lot of projects using things like old drawers, suitcases, plastic lining and pallets. In a few cases she cautioned about these materials and not to use them, and then she featured them later in the projects anyway. She warned you not to use cinder blocks because of the dangerous chemicals in them and then has a project using cement blocks that look exactly the same. She does give good information about safe new wood though.

There’s also not much information at all about actually gardening in raised beds. This is more about building them and showing pretty gardens that have them.

If you’re looking for aesthetic stuff about raised beds and Pinterest kind of content and building plans, this will be a great book.

Note to the publisher that does not affect my rating: this was a really unpleasant ARC to read because the photos were such terrible quality. I assume the printed version will be high quality but it is difficult to review a book with such awful resolution.

I read a temporary digital version of this book for review.

[Deb Blackbourn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by far the best book I've seen on raised bed gardening! It covers raised beds in a variety of locations, materials needed, composting, vertical gardening & many more topics within gardening. I didn't receive this book in time for this year's gardening, but I will definitely use it next year! (I think someone may have looked at it before it was actually delivered to me as the packaging seemed to have been opened & taped shut!) I would recommend this book to anyone considering vertical growing or raised bed gardening. I could see this book used in schools, retirement communities - anywhere the ease of gardening & space issues are needed.

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure if revolution is the right term for gardening, it's an awful like actual work. The biggest tip I can give you about raised bed gardening is to start small and add to more beds over time. I started out with small bed made of cinder blocks that had tomatoes and squash, and this year I had 2 prepaid beds installed, bought 400 lbs of organic top soil and a truck load of mulch. It's a lot of work to move all the topsoil and mulch to the garden, and there is still a pile of mulch blocking my driveway. And neither bed has enough dirt to plant anything. Yes, this book has lots of great advice but just start small.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


I rarely purchase books anymore because I am so lucky to receive many books from authors around the world requesting reviews. So, if I am going to spend over $25 on a book, it had better be good.

RAISED BED REVOLUTION is an amazing resource guide for anyone who wants to start gardening but wants to do it in "raised beds".

I broke my back six years ago, had a titanium rod placed in my back to replace the 5 vertebrae that were shattered and have had excruciating back pain ever since. Why am I mentioning this in a book review? Well, that is simple really.

I LOVE fresh garden vegetables. I used to have a massive vegetable garden years ago and there is just nothing better than going out and picking green beans and peas for that day's dinner. You can't get any fresher than that. However, my back pain has not allowed me to garden. It is too painful to get down to the ground to pull weeds or even to water the garden.

That is where RAISED BED REVOLUTION comes in. Most of the "raised beds" are still located at ground level, but imagine lifting that raised bed up to waist height and being able to plant with absolutely no bending. What a phenomenal idea.

This book has numerous plans for all kinds of raised beds and each plan comes with detailed instructions, a detailed list of required materials and even step by step photos to go along with the instructions. Basically this book is idiot-proof.

The great thing is that not only does it include garden ideas and projects, it is not just a "build-it, now figure the rest out yourself" type of book.

RAISED BED REVOLUTION includes details of what to fill your new raised bed with (do you use topsoil? What about compost? Etc.)

Don't know what you want to plant? No worries. Author and Master Gardener Tara Nolan has you covered. If you can think of a question that relates to raised bed gardens, the answer is almost certainly included in this amazing book.

The pictures are phenomenal and if they don't inspire you to want to build a raised bed garden of your own, then nothing ever will.

My husband took ideas from this book and made some changes that work better for me and now I have two amazing 8 foot by 2 foot raised bed gardens that are high enough for me to be able to garden without discomfort or pain. What a thrill! If you would like to see pictures of what my husband built visit my blog at AmiesBookReviews dot Wordpress dot com

I rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I highly recommend this book. It is worth every penny. I believe that it is also available as an EBook, but my advice is to actually splurge and buy the hardcover version. It is a book that has so many wonderful ideas and so much useful information that you will return to it over and over again in the years to come.

To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://AmiesBookReviews.wordpress.com

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book full of plans for raised beds, inspiration for raised bed gardens, and lots of pictures of what you can do in raised bed gardens, this is the book you want. If you're just looking for information to build a raised bed, read this.

If you're looking for guidance on mixing soil for raised beds, growing techniques, soil maintenance, placement advice, etc, this one might not be for you. I wish it had taken a more in-depth look at the gardening side of building raised bed gardens, rather than just hover around the construction. There are 3 different ways just to make giant wood rectangles for your raised bed garden. I don't think I needed that many.

I suspect that this was edited together from content of a blog/website and other books. I know I've seen some of the photos - and even entire tutorials - in other books from the same publisher. It's not bad information, though you might want to pair it with a book on gardening if you're a beginner.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideas and plans for beds and a bit more. Mostly I love this book as a gallery of bed ideas! Many photos and plans to get your creative juices flowing -- and if you are not "handy" there are ideas for you also.

[Olivia Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative

This book provides in-depth discussion for making and using raised beds in your garden. It covers a wide range of information from construction and garden planning to soil health and dealing with pests. There are also step by step instructions (with pictures!) on how to build a wide range of beds and accessories like trellis' and greenhouse covers. It should be a go to for beginners but there are lots of interesting ideas that may benefit more experienced gardeners as well.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of creative ideas for getting started with a raised bed garden. Also includes DIY for building beds of different designs. Details on how to lay out your garden and space your planters is also included. Does not go into much detail about choosing plants or managing your garden.

[Coriander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely great photo inspiration and I appreciated the detailed diagrams and instructions for how to build the beds. I'm a little bummed though because I was hoping there'd be some recommendations for how high to build them to avoid bending over/back strain. I know this a very niche need for directions but it is the primary reason I picked up the book.
It did have great recommendations for figuring how much soil I'll need and for potentially useful add-ons like row cover, trellis-ing, etc. Definitely expanded my thinking about what I'll want to make and how and what I might add to it as I go. Also I wish there was more info about what on average the various projects might cost. Obviously this varies by time and place but even a snapshot of what they cost related to each other from one specific time and place would be useful information for me.
So, good overall and definitely useful, but not perfect....in some ways just because it's not perfect for me, and in other ways that are maybe broader and applicable to more readers.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is packed with information, ideas and plans for anyone looking to jump into raised bed gardening. It's also dense with photos, which for some is a huge bonus.

I personally went to this book looking for information on how to grow raised bed mixed floral/vegetable gardens and in that regard, I found this book a little lacking. I found the type dense and sometimes not particularly helpful, in that it spoke in generalities rather than specifics. I also found it a bit odd that on more than one occasion, we saw the repetition of photographs.

If you're looking to make a raised bed, this is a great book to pick up. The designs at the back are easy to follow and would help anyone get started.

[Brianna Reagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're a complete novice to gardening, then this book is probably for you. If you have had any measurable gardening experience at all, then most of this book won't benefit you. A lot of the book is galleries of pictures for inspiration, which you can just as easily find with a simple Pinterest search. None of the info was groundbreaking or all that informative. That said though, if you are completely "green" :) in the area of gardening and want to learn how to begin with raised beds, then this wold be a good place to start.
The only redeeming part of the book for me was that the author included several detailed "how-to's" for building a few different raised bed options.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was heavy on pictures and light on substance. It's important to note that this is a book about raised beds, not a book about gardening. I was hoping for some more practical advice about planting schedules, seed depth, row spacing, etc. There was some practical advice, like a recipe for soil, but by-and-large, it was a let down. Even the blueprints for building raised beds were lacking in detail.

This book in three words: Fluffy, Superficial, Idea-inspiring

Notes/Quotes and other things to remember: Copper tape is a thing.

[Niki Jabbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and informative, this book is packed with fun DIY ideas for growing food and flowers in raised beds. I love that there is a wide variety of projects featured, many made from up-cycled materials.

[Lisa S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tried to satisfy everyone and then satisfies no one.

This book is way too general. If I want to know which type of bed for the particular veggies I'm growing, I can't. The resource section is so sparse that you would do better just googling the information you need.

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instructions for planting and building. The instructions for the variety of raised beds are mostly based on wood, although one uses steel panels.

[Kelly Osmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, straightforward and with a handful of good ideas and tips that I may actually try!

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read and practical advice on growing in raised beds, my favorite way to grow.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very helpful. I will being using it for my garden next year.

[Francesca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great photos but I could have read blogs to gather the same amount of information contained in this book.

[Lynn Coullard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a super book, but a few good tips that were interesting.

[Laura Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive book covering all you need to know about raised bed gardening, plus more. It gives plenty of examples of different kinds of raised beds so is perfect for finding inspiration. Also covered is building and using raised beds in both large and small spaces, including vertical gardens, growing in repurposed containers, cold frames and much more.

The book contains detailed instructions for building your own raised beds from wood and customising them for example adding benches to them. Building from repurposed wood is covered, as is making a raised bed with a pond in it! We are taught how to make planters out of everything from an old vintage suitcase to gas pipes. One of the main features of the book is building your own beds and planters out of wood so be aware of this if you have no intention of ever making your own.

In addition to creating beds and planters, the book also covers what to grow and has suggestions of what to plant in each planter that you are guided to make yourself. So even if you do not wish to make your own beds, you can still use the planting guidelines in the book.

Overall, I was very impressed both with the quality of information in this book and the clear photos and diagrams. If you are interested in creating your own raised bed garden, or even growing in planters on your patio, you would do well to read this book.

With thanks to Netgalley and Cool Springs Press for providing an advance review copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we check "raised bed garden" at pinterest we will saw so many beautiful and pleasing to eyes garden plots. The esthetic aspects make people's interest to start gardening as new hobby. Actually raised bed will providing extra benefits outside pleasing our eyes.

Raised Bed Revolution is a friendly guidebook to everyone who want to learn about the magic behind this "planting inside the boxes" stuff. First we will get alot gallery of many types and models of this raised beds. Then we will learn about all benefits and why we should try it. Raised bed is perfect to optimize small areas to produce more. It will reduce time to purification the soil, reducing water and fertilizer also make it easier to control. It is so much delightful to see how creative people with the shape of the raised bed and some personal adjustment to suit their soul condition. Already made rised bed could be costly so the author also offer some how to DIY several type of it.
I really like learn from this book and successfully make me interest to do another continuous reading to know more about the topic. I wish author write about how to keep our boxes safe from bugs or termites from underground soils.

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press for provided me this copy. I am grateful and my thoughts are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Raised Bed Revolution" is about gardening using raised garden beds. The author described why you might want to use raised beds and a wide variety of different ways to do raised beds, from different heights to the various materials that can be used. The book included several step-by-step projects for creating your own raised beds, from materials to finished project. She also included many colorful pictures of raised beds to inspire the reader with ideas. The projects included a basic raised bed placed just above the ground to garden beds tall enough to sit on the edges to a vertical garden. Overall, I'd recommend the book if you're serious about trying this way of gardening.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Dianna (SavingsInSeconds blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have wooden raised beds as well as multiple containers in my backyard garden. I read Raised Bed Revolution so I could get ideas about adding more raised beds, different styles of raised beds, and planting guides. The book had beautiful color photos that made me excited to try some new things, and I also bookmarked some design ideas that I'd like to try. I read gardening blogs and have searched for raised beds online, so I have seen most of the ideas featured here. Still, it was a worthwhile read and I especially enjoyed looking at the photos.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful photos and suggestions for styles and varieties of raised garden beds. I was really only interested in the "essential" model but I really appreciate that the cut list and plan is included so I can show it to my husband and say "build me this please". Good if your looking for ideas and inspiration, even better if you want a good solid plan for how to make a raised bed work, hint... it needs to be deeper than you think to be successful.

[Anna O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated seeing many different aesthetic approaches to raised beds using a multitude of materials. The instructions for building looked very clear, and I appreciated that they repeatedly offered alternative ideas to eliminate common barriers regarding sourcing and construction. This would be a helpful book to have in your collection if you anticipate making many different styles of raised beds and don’t want to source design plans elsewhere.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of ideas for raised garden beds with some instructions and tips. It is a good resource for gathering ideas and to keep on hand for later inspiration. There is no actual advice on how to garden in raised garden beds other than making sure to have proper drainage, air flow and temperature.

[Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice review. Not a step-by-step book, but a good way to start with the subject. Very good photos and helpful points about the details and considerations, e.g. access, complementary plants, materials. More of an 'approach to' than a 'how to'. Great for walking around and appreciating gardens in your own area with a more informed eye to the choices made, and how they work in that space.

[Mark Smiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the book I needed! Plans for raised bed gardens which are elevated so I do not have to stoop down or sit on the ground to garden. I am glad our library has this and I can check it out over the coming months. Many wonderful ideas.

[Polly Krize · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best books I've encountered about raised bed gardening. How to build them, what to plant, where to put them, everything is covered in this outstanding book for any gardener interested in raising their own food.