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I have two gardens, a flower garden, and a vegetable garden. For flowers, I like pretty things, lots of color, and plants that repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes (rosemary, lavender, citronella, marigold, and catnip). I also prefer perennials so I don't have to replace all my plants yearly. We also have roses for the scent and blueberries for the birds.
For my vegetable garden, I chose dog-safe veggies for my vegetable mix and a few vegetables for myself (I love artichokes).
Easy Raised Vegetable Garden for Dogs
I nearly got suckered (by myself) into buying a Facebook ad this month. It was for a product called Lettuce Grow, an all-in-one (plant starters, plant food, water, etc.) in a futuristic white tower marketed to people who want to grow fresh vegetables but don't have the space.
It's a cool product but outside my budget. There are more affordable versions, but they're smaller, and I'm not sure about the quality. So, I walked away from my computer, grabbed my car keys, and headed to the stores.
What I Purchased for the Raised Garden
- 2 feeding troughs (we drilled holes for drainage)
- organic garden soil
- organic compost
- artichokes (for humans)
- bell peppers
- broccoli
- cabbage (red and green)
- cauliflower
- cucumber
- kale (three kinds)
- parsley (two kinds)
- spinach
- strawberries
- tomatoes
This is the start of my garden and spent less than $300 for everything (the biggest purchase being the troughs). I shopped around for what I could use for the raised garden and the troughs were the most affordable – they'll last for a long time, they look nice, and they're huge.
Vegetable Seeds
I prefer to buy starters because they're easy to grow, but this year I couldn't find green beans anywhere (I went to four locations), so I purchased a few vegetable seed packets and plant starter trays to try something new. These are the seeds that I'll be working with this year:
- collard greens
- green beans
- wheatgrass
Choosing Vegetables for Dogs
I would love to say that I put a lot of thought into each vegetable and then rattle off all the nutrients they bring to my dogs' diet, but I'm not that complicated.
I prefer vegetables that are easy to grow, dog-safe, organic, and low glycemic. That's it.
Vegetables are a great source of fiber (great for gut health), antioxidants, and additional nutrients. Some people question if the nutrients in vegetables are bioavailable, and some question if the small amount of vegetables we add to our dogs' diet (5-10%) makes an impact. I can't answer these questions. I know what I'm doing for my dogs is working, so I'm keeping at it.
You may have read that rosemary will cause your dog to have seizures, but this warning refers to rosemary essential oil. To be safe, I avoid rosemary extract when cooking for my dogs. Sadly, with the growth in popularity of essential oils, we're seeing low-quality products hitting the market. This is why I only shop with three brands I trust – animalEO (essential oils formulated by a holistic veterinarian), Plant Therapy, and Simply Earth. The rosemary plant is safe for dogs and is rich in antioxidants, supports gut health, AND repels biting insects.
Each Spring Garden
Each spring, I start on my garden, which includes planting starts and seeds. I'm still working on growing my seeds into viable starts. I enjoy watching everything grow, and transplanting things as needed. Once my vegetables reach the correct age, I harvest them (once or twice a month) and mix up small batches of purred, mixed vegetables for the dog.
Gardens in Small Spaces / On a Budget
Although I live on five acres, I don't have a traditional garden because we also have wildlife (moles, rabbits, deer) to contend with. So, I prefer container gardens, which are affordable, easy to maintain, and perfect for small spaces (my patio and deck).
Here are some tips for building a garden when you're short on space and funds:
- used flower pots (and other containers) on the Facebook Marketplace (or Craigslist)
- 50-pound bags of organic soil at Costco for less than $8 a bag
- buy seeds when they go on a BOGO sale; watch for sales off-season
- look for starts on the Facebook Marketplace (or Craigslist)
If you're reading this and bummed that you don't have the space for a garden or the funds for one of those futuristic things being marketed – no worries. Farmer's Market season is coming soon, and when I can't grow vegetables, I love to support local farmers, and you can do the same!
