Tales from the Garden

Ken Kuhne's Grow Y'Own raised beds make it possible to grow vegetables in a backyard that is otherwise infested with wandering, thirsty, plant-choking roots. In weather that drops to the teens each night in winter, I still have a robust harvest of arugula, tatsoi, and other greens happily growing under the fitted row covers. This is a terrific solution to many of the challenges that the New Mexican backyard gardener faces.

Deborah Madison, author of Local Flavors - Galisteo, NM

We have had success with our Grow Box in San Diego. Your construction made the box easy to assemble. We experimented with several different seed varieties last fall. It was a learning experience to find out the plants that work best with the fall and winter sunlight and temperatures. This winter we grew beets, radishes, cauliflower, spinach, parsley, carrots, onions,garlic, and broccoli. We like having fresh vegetables in our back yard.

Charles Garren - San Diego, CA

Although Charlie has done most of the work, having more past experience in growing veggies, I have enjoyed the process too, and am looking forward to our Spring and Summer harvests. With the longer days, we are seeing impressive progress. Thanks for your help in all of this.

Maggie Garren - San Diego, CA

August 2, 2009 - Dear Ken,
Pics of your creation taken today! Not sure how long it has been - about 3 1/2 weeks, I think????? Our little garden is amazing - thrilling! We are already cutting lots of lettuce and taking large pinches of the herbs.
I e-mailed these to a couple of friends suggesting to those who can afford it the 8 footers -- a field of them - 1 for lettuces, 1 or 2 for everyday vegies, 1 for asparagus, 1 for herbs, 1 for exotics, 1 for melons, 1 for berries, 1 for corn, 1 for squash,1 for gourds - and suggested that I would be happy to diversify each one with companion planting and edible flowers!!!!!! Hopefully they'll purchase one!
Thanks again

Jeanne Pschor, A Happy Customer

To Ken at GroYown,
I installed one of your units in early July of 2009 which is extremely late in Ohio to plant. Within days after planting seeds, I had sprouts and the "starts" immediately acclimated and produced.
As a cancer survior I am more conscious of what I eat. During my cancer treatments we watch our diet and made sure any produce we bought was organic - NO PESTICIDES We had no idea how expensive buying exclusively organic could be. With your raised bed planter I have been able to have fresher and obviously less costly vegetables and herbs. I don't have to worry about questionable chemicals being sprayed and the handling of the lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and other produce which we consume.
Here is a personal thank you for introducing us to GroYown.

John McKay - Dayton, Ohio

October 19, 2009
I have enjoyed this soo much. My husband put up the remesh like you suggested and we had a wall of tomatoes!
I know my sister in law had contacted you about a new summer cover (her dog ate ours up).
Thanks again and I'm hoping to purchase another next spring! I might get in touch with you about heating options-we'll see how this winter goes

Evelyn Hurtado - Pecos, NM

December 15, 2009 - Hi Ken,
I have been meaning to get back to you. We did get our 2 beds together and planted (in July!) and we were happy with the covers. No Tears or rips - though there wasn't much taking them on and off. We had a great crop of green peppers, squash, salad greens and herbs. The beets, carrots and onions would have done well, if I had thinned them. Mostly I wanted to plant with our 2 and 5 year old daughters and I wasn't too concerned about the output last summer! I'm not trying to keep them going this winter as I'm just too busy right now. I'm very excited to get them replanted early in the spring. Overall, we are very, very happy with the beds. We have had a very stressful and busy year with ill and aging parents. Gardening has always given me a great deal of peace. Just looking out at the resting gardens and my beds makes me feel happy during these cold and grey days!
Thanks.Happy winter.

Karin and Roy - Centennial Colorado

September 21, 2009 Dear Ken,
the result after only 4 weeks....topped my wildest expectations! Absolutely fascinating, amazing and fun...

Warm regards Iris

June 10, 2009 Ken -
Tetsuki and I went to check the veggie box this afternoon after the driving rains. When we opened the protective awning, we were so surprised to see little red radish heads beginning to poke their tiny heads through the soil!
We both cheered and were awed by the creative power of nature. Like new parents in the maternity ward. I remember when they were just seeds...
The entire garden is lush and abundant (and mouse-free). We decided to call the incubator "Ken's Magical Box."'
Thank you SO much!

Liz & Tetsuki

March 01, 2009

New photos of boxes that have plants that have wintered over and new lettuce coming up from seed after being planted last week!

Janet O'Neal - Galisteo, NM

February 9, 2009. I started spinach, beets, arugula, bok choy & parsley on Oct. 28 - germinating them indoors and planting the gro-box on an even grid. It was 4 weeks to the first picking, 6 weeks for 2 salads daily - after 8 weeks we were picking pounds - enough for daily salads, cooking greens, plus extra for some neighbors. It's February now and still quite a little jungle abounds..."

Scott Diffrient - Galisteo, NM

3/12/09

This is a picture from this morning of Scott's bed in Galisteo. Its totally filled with spinach in the front 3 rows, and then beets and herbs in the back.

Ken Kuhne - Galisteo, NM

February 18, 2009. 'The 'Hoop' is wonderful! Currently we have 14-15 different veggies growing. We planted March 8th and have harvested various types of lettuce four times. The French radishes are ready to be harvested this weekend. We are really enjoying our Hoop experience.'

Marilyn Oatway, - Bernallilo, NM

January 4th, 2009. It's snowing outside. The temperature has dropped as low as 15 degrees. Yesterday I picked arugula, romaine, chard, mache, and parsley. With the plastic covering, our vegetables keep growing. All summer we can eat lettuce under our shade cloth without it bolting. We enjoy fresh greens all year long.

Judy Tuwaletstiwa, artist - Galisteo, NM

April 4th, 2010. I'm mechanically the most inept person in the neighborhood, but your nifty grow bed went together without a hitch yesterday afternoon. Today, we'll dig up sod in our backyard, position the bed in place, and fill it with your prescribed soil mix.

Gregory King - Lexington, KY