You don't have to have them raised, just mark off where you are going to have a path and only walk on that bit. i don't believe in the north south east west thing anyway...but no matter what my bed direction I plant in a grid/block pattern so it doesn't really matter.
Having a bed means you can cover in the spring to warm it up, and not raising it means the roots are closer to the water. Plus, you don't have to fork out the money to buy materials to raise it. Of course, if you have a high water table, then raised beds are probably better. |