The Barrel Garden

Waaay back last winter before I'd decided to move in we discussed a garden.  Big beautiful vegetable garden that would provide us with pounds and pounds of fresh produce that we could eat and pickle.  It would be wonderful.  Growing our own food would be so exciting and save some money at the grocery store and it'd be so healthy!
But there was a caveat.  The septic system.  It needs to be replaced.  The property is set up so that the place I envisioned my garden would probably become a main thoroughfare for equipment.  I did not want to spend all the time it takes to make a garden only to have it be trampled by machines and men.  I imagined backhoes and work boots stomping all of my almost ripe produce into the ground within a matter of seconds.  That simply would not do.  I needed to think of an alternative.

I considered small a raised bed garden not in an ideal location but an adequate one.  It'd be safe from tracks and boots.  But what if it ended up being in the way anyhow?  What if preserving the garden hampered the construction of the septic?  That's no good.
So, I resigned myself to sacrificing the garden for a summer and I would just buy a few pots for a couple of tomato plants like I've done in the past.  It wouldn't be the epic bounty of produce that I'd wanted but the septic is a priority and it'd just be for ONE summer. 
As I surfed the web looking for container gardening tips I stumbled across the 3-D Barrel Garden.  It. Was. Amazing.  All the plants I wanted in one small container.  Was it even possible?  Was it a scam?  At home the idea was met with unexpected interest and enthusiasm.  I am lucky enough to have one of the most resourceful men on the planet as my boyfriend.  He already had a plastic 50 gallon barrel and huge garage filled with tools and he needed a project.  So, he said we should order the plans.  I sent them my money they sent me a DVD and an instruction book and Parker set to work.  First, he built the barrel a custom pallet so he would be able to move it around the yard using the tractor.  Then he made a pan to catch extra water.  He installed a valve on the pan in case the barrel was moved into the garage it wouldn't leak water all over the floor.  Then he moved on to the barrel.  That seemed to take for ever.  Creating all the little pockets along the side.  It wasn't particularly difficult just tedious.  After what seemed like forever it was finally finished!  It was hideous!  That garish blue of the barrel all of the marker lines where we'd screwed up when placing the cups.  But this ugly thing was going to make my summer.
We filled it with dirt and I carefully tucked my tomato seedlings in to their cups and planted some cucumbers, beans, radishes, carrots, and lettuce as well.  Then we hauled it out to the yard and waited.
It WORKED!  This crazy idea I'd purchased off the Internet actually freaking WORKED!  The radishes and the lettuce are done for the season but the cukes, beans, and tomatoes are still going strong.  I've been having a grand time pickling everything or cooking meals with it. It's been great.  I love summer.