It started by tearing out Buddy’s dog pen, which was right outside our kitchen door. We had to put Buddy to sleep. Walking out the kitchen door and seeing his vacant pen was too much of a reminder of ole Buddy Boy. He was with us 15 years and was a big part of our family.

But with my health issues: cancer, colitis, pulmonary embolisms, heart attack, bla bla bla, I wasn’t up to tearing out Buddy’s pen, even though I was the one who erected it years ago. I called our handy dandy lawn mowers from Hinkle Lawn Service. Caden Hinkle said, “Sure,” he’d rip that dog pen out for us.

When the pen was gone, the barren spot sure did look lonely. Once again I got to thinking, which can be dangerous. Our garden spot was way at the far NE corner of our two-and-a-half acre lot, and it’s a long walk. This last year I had started the garden, but because of my health, wasn’t able to take care of it. The garden grew up in weeds. Once again, Hinkle Lawn Service to the rescue. They chopped out all the weeds.

I mentioned to Ginnie, “How would you like to have a raised garden bed right there where Buddy’s pen was? That way all we’d have to do is step out of our kitchen, pick some herbs, tomatoes, lettuce, whatever, without bending over.” Ginnie latched onto the idea quicker than she said yes when I asked her to marry me.

Once again I enlisted the help of Caden Hinkle. I told him I wanted the raised garden bed to sit on the ground, be made out of railroad ties, and be filled with black dirt. Ginnie put the kibosh on creosote, which pretty much ruled out RR ties. But good ole Caden found used ties at Menards that had the creosote weathered off. Done.

The ties were 8′ long. Ginnie and I put our heads together, which can be dangerous also, and came up with a plan for a raised bed three RR ties high, 16′ long, and 8′ wide, for a total of 128 sq ft. Which is a big raised bed. But I like big things. Caden is 6’5″ tall.

Caden and his helper Chase went to work and placed the ties. Caden was ready to cinch the ties together when I said, “Hole up a minute, there Caden. Could you notch those ties and put them together like Lincoln Logs?”

Caden scratched his head. “Reckon so, Curt. If that’s what you want.”

Ta da. We now have what may be a very first of its kind, a raised garden bed made from RR ties, and notched together like Lincoln Logs–not like these puny little raised beds made for city slickers and apartment dwellers. No siree, Bob. We’re calling it a Lincoln Bed.

People have been stopping on the highway and asking questions, “Where’d you get the RR ties? Did you build it? Who built it for you?”

I can’t wait to get some seed in the ground. I’m thinking herbs, pole beans, a few tomato plants, peas, lettuce, climbing cucumbers, radishes, onions and maybe a couple tall sunflowers to keep an eye on things. The Dutchman’s Store in Cantril has bulk seed, so we won’t have to buy and waste packages of seeds. “Gimme four bean seeds, please.”

BTW: Notching those ties was a lot of work, Caden about wrecked two chain saws, plus his hands and back. Old creosote ties are not easy to cut. They’re abrasive. Caden worked until 2:00 am notching and cussing.

It’s a work of art. We’re renaming it a Lincoln Bed Sculpture! Caden says that he’s never notching another RR tie. (Famous last words.)

In the old garden spot, I think I’ll plant grass seed and let Hinkle Lawn Service mow it. Until the next bright idea comes along.

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Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.