a day in the life of a latvian mom

I originally wanted to share everything once it was finished, but knowing myself, I might forget — so instead, I’ll post small progress updates along the way.

This year, a big dream is finally taking shape — I’m starting our own kitchen garden!
I’ve been gathering ideas for a long time, and now the first pieces are falling into place.

Instead of building everything from scratch, I found a practical and budget-friendly solution: pallet collars. I got 37 used pallet collars for just 7 euros each, and I couldn’t be happier. They are sturdy, easy to stack, and perfect for creating neat raised beds. Plus, they already have that rustic, lived-in charm that feels right at home in the countryside.

A huge thanks to Jānis’ dad, who helped me transport them all using his van! 🚐 Without him, I don’t know how we would’ve moved so many at once from Riga to Gulbene… 200 kilometers.

The plan is to set up a no-dig raised bed garden.Why no-dig? Well, our soil here is very heavy clay — I can make pots for sure! Instead of fighting the clay, I’ll build on top of it: layering cardboard, branches and organic matter, and good soil inside the pallet collar beds, letting nature do the hard work over time.

I love the idea of letting the earth breathe and heal without turning it upside down. Four years ago, this area was dug 2.5 meters deep to install our geothermal pipes, and it’s all pure clay. Every time it rains, it turns into a slippery mess! My goal is to avoid disturbing the soil by flipping it over year after year. Plus, I just can’t wrap my head around the idea of adding soil to clay and magically expecting it to transform into rich, fertile ground. It’s CLAY, after all! That’s why no-dig gardening feels like the perfect approach — gentle, natural, and sustainable.

This is just the beginning of the journey, and I’m not good at documenting it… We started to working on the garden and I hope to scrap a few pictures together to show the progress.

Ilze