Corrimal, NSW

A family in Corrimal first asked for two 3m beds styled to read as a single 6m bed in front of their granny flat — and liked them so much they came back for another two wicking beds, a standard raised bed, and matching timber edging around their existing border. It's a good example of how these gardens tend to grow once the first beds prove themselves.

Styling two beds to look like one long run keeps the design clean, and matching the border edging ties the whole yard together in one considered look, from self-watering vegetable beds through to plain raised beds. The wicking beds hold their water in a reservoir below and feed it up to the roots, so even a larger set-up like this stays productive with very little watering, while a trellis lets the climbers go vertical and save ground space.

In the Illawarra's mild, reliable climate, beds like these crop steadily across the seasons — leafy greens, tomatoes, beans, herbs and more — with next to no daily attention. Growing the garden a bit at a time, as this family did, is an easy way to build up to a serious kitchen garden.

We build every bed from kiln-dried, vegetable-grade timber with a food-safe finish, made to last years and to match neatly if you add more later. If you're in Corrimal, Towradgi or the northern Illawarra and thinking of starting a bed or two — with room to grow — we'd love to help you plan it.