[LittleMissRecycle]

I am in the process of clearing a disused area in the top of my garden, which involves clearing a lot of ivy and brambles and I need to make a raised bed and then sort the earth... does anyone know the best way to do this??

[Swing Swang]

Why do you need to make a raised bed straight away? Get the plot cleared systematically, plant as you are going along, get the aspects right, get a feel for the soil, see where the sun falls, check out frost pockets etc etc then sort out the raised bed over the winter months when nothing much else is happening.

[mumofstig]

IMO unless the soil is very poor or you have a bad back you don't need raised beds at all Our grandads never had them!
Dig a small area/bed at a time and using chicken pellets, FB&B, or Growmore you could plant and have some crops growing fairly soon

Ideas for raised beds (if you really do insist on them  )

Here
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=75572.msg857270#msg857270

[sarah1983jane]

Hi LittleMissRecycle
I had the same thoughts as you last year but what I ended up doing was digging a few beds and digging a trench around them to make a clear line of grass path / veg plot - easier to cut the grass that way too.
This is my second growing season and its working well, I have looked but by the time you buy the stuff needed for a raised bed, in my opinion they are not worth it.
Raised beds do look very neat and tidy but loads of money

Good Luck with the veggies