Raised beds in Area 2.

After double-digging, the soil should be leveled. A freshly prepared bed can be seen in the left-hand side of this photo. The raised bed improves soil aeration, water infiltration, and root development. It should never be stepped on or compacted, as loose, well-tilled soil is the secret to high yields.

CREAR uses its raised beds to cultivate a number of species: onions, peppers, lettuce, cabbage, parsley, beets, and tomatoes, to name a few. Mixing a variety of species in the same bed has a number of advantages. Short cycle crops like lettuce and parsley can be mixed with long cycle crops like cabbage and tomatoes. When the parsley is harvested, space is created for the cabbage and tomatoes. Tomatoes repel different insect pests, and a mixed bed reduces the economic risks of disease epidemics and fluctuating market prices.