If you had told me even a couple of years ago that I’d be responsible for keeping thirty-two separate things alive this summer, I probably would have laughed, poured a fresh cup of coffee, and walked away.
Full disclosure: My past plant record is…questionable. I have literally killed succulents (the plants universally voted easiest to keep alive) because I either forgot they existed for three weeks or hyper-focused and accidentally drowned them with love. If I can get this raised bed to produce actual food, anyone can.
Three little girls already keep my hands completely full. But apparently, I like a challenge. Because as of last month, my summer headcount has officially jumped to thirty-two.
Three girls. Twenty-nine veggie and companion plants. And one absolutely massive raised bed.
The 4×8×2 Beast
When we decided to do a veggie garden this year, we knew we needed something substantial. We ended up with a giant 4×8×2 raised planter bed from Lowe’s. Let me tell you, when a planter is two feet deep, filling it up is an absolute workout. I wanted the taller raised bed so I didn’t have to be on my knees, in order to work in the garden.
Pro-Tip: Save your budget by filling the bottom half for free with yard debris—think sticks, logs, and fallen leaves. Top it with a layer or two of cardboard to create a sturdy “platform” so your soil doesn’t sink straight to the bottom. It saves you cash and gives your plants great drainage!
I’m pretty sure half the fun for the girls was just watching the mountain of dirt get delivered, and the other half was actively helping me fill, shovel, and smooth it all out. If you’ve ever wanted to see the girls (mainly my middle child) completely covered in dirt with pure joy on their faces, just give them a kid-sized shovel and a giant garden bed to fill.
Once the dirt settled, it was time to introduce the new “babies” to their home.
The Master Headcount
We didn’t just plant a garden; we planted a full-blown grocery store aisle. Here is the official roll call currently living in our backyard:
- The Tomato Patch: We went big here! We have four grape tomato plants (perfect for the girls to pluck and eat right in the backyard), one big yellow tomato that my father-in-law gifted me, and two classic Better Boys.
- The Pepper Row: A little flavor, zero spice (because, toddlers). We planted a green bell pepper, a banana pepper, a red lunchbox pepper, an orange lunchbox pepper, and a completely heatless jalapeño!
- The Space Hogs: Three squash plants and two zucchini plants. If you know anything about squash, you know they plan on taking over the world by August. Lesson learned for next year: give these drama queens their own zip code.
- The Rest of the Crew: One climbing cucumber bush, four aromatic basil plants, two beautiful companion marigolds to help keep the bugs at bay, and one rosemary.
- The Great Groundhog Heist of 2026: We started with high hopes and a full row of green beans. Local wildlife had other plans and treated our bed like a five-star, all-you-can-eat buffet. RIP to the fallen beans, but shoutout to the four brave survivors still holding down the fort!
Pro-Tip: Buy a terra cotta pot, plug the hole in the bottom, and bury it. Then fill it with water. When I went out of town, I didn’t have to worry if it rained or find someone to water for me.
Finding the Beauty in the Mud
Is a raised bed a lot of work? Absolutely. Keeping twenty-nine plants watered, weeded, and protected from local wildlife while chasing three kids is a daily balancing act.
But out there in the mud, something really sweet happens. The girls are learning where their food comes from. They are checking the tiny yellow blossoms every morning to see if a tomato or a zucchini is starting to peek through. They’re learning patience, getting their hands dirty, and helping me build something from scratch.
It might be chaotic, and I might be outnumbered by green things, but I wouldn’t trade our little backyard jungle for anything.
Pro-Tip: The real secret to a giant raised bed? A handy husband. Specifically, someone who doesn’t mind carrying a small mountain of soil bags in ninety-degree heat while you supervise with an iced coffee.
Stay tuned for the next update, we are starting a fall garden (because keeping more things alive sounds like a good idea)—assuming the squash hasn’t swallowed the backyard by then!
Well…Bye! May your coffee be strong and your toddlers’ tantrums be short!