| Prescott,
Arizona, USA
| Location
Info: |
Prescott, 90 miles from Phoenix |
| Gardener: |
Bill |
| Overall Size: |
2' x 26' |
| Number of Boxes:
|
6, 2' x 4' sections and 1 section 2' x 2' Box |
| Box Material and
Depth: |
Redwood. Depth is 5 1/2" (depth of 2 x 6 boards. 2' x
2' section is 11" deep.
|
| Type of Soil Mix:
|
Mel's Mix |
| Aisle Width &
Materials: |
No aisles. Ground is covered with rock and weedblock cloth.
|
| Vertical
Frames (number and type): |
I am using concrete construction
grids a a trial. A work in progress. |
| Grid Material:
|
Wood |
| Type of plants:
|
Fall plantings of lettuce, beets, arugula, peas, sweet
peas and misc. flowers. |
| Garden Specialty
Features: |
Waist high for no bending. |
| How
would you like potential visitors to contact you to arrange
a visit? |
By E-mail: sbdeak@msn.com |
| Visiting restrictions:
|
Advanced e-mail please.
|
| Do you
want on-site visits or would you prefer showing your garden
by web site photos, or both ? |
Not sure. How busy can this get? Would welcome an occasional
visitor.
|
| Interesting
facts about you and your garden: |
|
| How
did you get started with SFG ?: |
Used your first edition fanatically when lived in Pacific
Northwest and California. New edition was wondeful to
find. |
| What
advice would you give others for starting ?: |
Start small. Follow instructions closely. |
| What
is the best thing you can say about SFG ?: |
Straight forward and simple. |
| What
is the worst thing you can say about SFG ?: |
Nothing bad to say.
|
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
================================================================= |
Lake
Elsinore, California, USA
| Location
Info: |
Near
Riverside. (Southern California about
30 miles south from Riverside at the I-15 & State Highway 74)
|
Gardener: |
David
|
| Garden Size: |
Overall
Size: Backyard perimeter roughly 312 square feet plus
one 4' x 4'
Number
of Boxes: 14 total and 10 large pots (terra cotta and
various other styles) for large bushes & dwarf trees. |
Grid Material: |
Plastic dowels. |
| Aisle Width &
Materials: |
Yard on one side, fence
on the back side and 4' x 4' spacing in-between boxes for larger pots. |
Vertical Frames: |
One, PVC. |
| Types of Plants:
|
The 4x4 has tomato,
squash, cucumber, radishes, beans & cayenne peppers. Terra
cotta pots; one Dwarf Myers lemon and one Bearss lime, one Asparagus,
and we plan on having one California Laura (Bay leaf), and other shrubs.
In the other boxes we have a variety of flowers to attract Hummingbirds
& Butterflies, we will also plant some of our garden in those
areas. |
Specialty Features: |
The 4x4 is
20 inches tall with a false bottom of about 10 inches of potting soil
mix. We plan on making a copper pipe topiary in the shape of
an umbrella that we saw on 'Rally round the house' cable program with
a Hummingbird vine growing out of it, and we have a 54" x 6"
x 1/2" thick old wagon wheel rim which will be made into a wind
chime that will look like a 'dream catcher'. Our trees are;
Acacia, Parkinsonian (Blue Palo Verde), Australian Tea tree, Chase
(Vitex) or Snowball tree, Strawberry tree, two Queen palm trees and
we plan on a Melaleuca Linariifoila ( Paperbark) tree. (For example,
deck or patio gardens, waist or chair height gardens, or handicapped
gardens.) |
| Contact Info for Visits: |
E-mail:
davkasad@yahoo.com
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
The usual, no pets,
kids if controllable by parents, only on certain days and times, must
be by advanced e-mail. |
Web Site: |
N/A |
| Interesting facts about your garden: |
Several years ago I
watched Mr Mel on TV and was very interested, bought his books &
tapes and began to do Square Foot gardening. When I was in elementary
school here in CA., my Grandmother & I would dig our adobe soil
into a garden with the OLD fashion way of rows, which I didn't like.
When Mr Mel was viewed on TV it stirred my interest to gardening
that way and have Loved it ever since. |
How did you get started: |
As mentioned above. |
Advice for those starting SFG: |
It is easy, simple,
and a lot of fun especially when you don't have to dig in bad soil. |
Best thing about SFG: |
Fantastic, I wished
it were started when I was a lot younger. |
Worst thing about SFG: |
Nothing. |
|
|
| Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
|
| Carmel,
California, USA
| Location Info: |
Monterey - central coast
California in the Carmel Valley |
Gardener: |
Mandy |
| Garden Size: |
Overall
Size: 9600 sq. feet
18 boxes |
| Box Material & Width: |
Redwood, 3 feet |
Grid Material: |
Twine. |
| Aisle Width &
Materials: |
12' x 3' |
| Type of Soil Mix: |
Part compost, part sand |
| Types of Plants:
|
Vegetables
- lettuce, beets, radish,
carrots, spinach, parsley, onions and Flowers -
poppies, cosmos, marigolds, holyhock |
Specialty Features: |
None – standard
garden. |
| Contact Info for Visits: |
E-mail:
mwinston@asds.org
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
must be by advanced e-mail |
Web Site: |
No website at this time |
How did you get started: |
A gift from a friend and a great way to teach children
about gardening
|
Advice for those starting SFG: |
Be sure to plant your seeds evenly the square. |
| Best thing about SFG: |
My students have responsibility for their squares
and take true ownership of their garden plots. |
Worst thing about SFG: |
So far, nothing.
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
================================================================ |
Ridgecrest,
California
| Location Info: |
Lancaster , CA. |
Gardener: |
Wendy |
Garden Size: |
16' X 20' |
| Number of Boxes: |
2 pyramids, 3-4 X 4's, 2-2' X 5's |
| Box Material and Depth: |
Pine boxes, 6" deep |
Grid Material: |
1" lathe |
Aisle Width & Materials: |
2 1/2' aisles with cedar chips over ground cover
|
Vertical Frames: |
One vertical climbing frame, Mels mesh and frame
Grid Material: 1" lathe |
| Type of Soil: |
Mel's mix |
Types of Plants: |
Bulbs, California popies, lots of flowers, broccoli,
cauliflower, sugar snap peas on the vertical frame, carrots, several
lettuces, cabbage, cilantro, lots of different herbs, onions, and
that is what grew from October through April. |
Specialty Features: |
I like my pyramids the most, but I plan on adding
chair height boxes on my patio because I have multiple sclerosis and
its getting harder to bend or kneel down.
|
Contact Info for Visits: |
E-mail:
wendydfmeyer@yahoo.com
Phone: (760)375-0380 |
Visiting Restrictions: |
Come as you are, kids are very welcome. I have two
cats, so dogs wouldn't be a good idea. |
| Do you want on-site visits or would you prefer showing
your garden by web site photos, or both ? |
I don't have a web site, so on site would be best. I
live way out in the Mojave desert. I don't know that anyone wants
to drive this far.
|
Web Site: |
N/A |
| We would like to show one photo of your overall
Square Foot Garden (can you furnish that ?) |
I will be sending pictures as soon as I get them
developed onto a disk.
|
| Interesting facts about your garden: |
I have MS and this is the only way I could continue
to garden. I can't spend alot of time out in the heat and I sure couldn't
run a rototiller. |
How did you get started: |
The LDS website provident living sent me to Mel
Bartholomew. |
Advice for those starting SFG:
|
DO IT!! |
Best thing about SFG: |
No weeds, no rototiller, easy to cover for winter
and summer sun. |
Worst thing about SFG: |
The boxes are hard for me to make, I have to have
someone else do the cutting of the wood. |
|
|
Santa
Clara, California
| Location Info: |
Near
San Jose, CA. |
Gardener: |
Lisa
|
| Garden Size: |
Small |
| Number of Boxes: |
Four,
but only two are in use. My son likes to play in the other boxes.
|
| Box Material and Depth: |
Redwood, plastic, other scraps of wood. The depth
varies from 3 inches to 12 inches. |
Grid Material: |
Tile scraps |
| Aisle Width &
Materials: |
1 foot - grass and weeds |
Vertical Frames: |
1 made of PVC pipe |
| Type of Soil: |
Some have sand mixed in and some don't. |
| Types of Plants: |
Peas, lettuce,
cilantro . . . assorted vegetables and herbs |
Specialty Features: |
None – standard
garden. |
| Contact Info for Visits: |
E-mail:
turbockow@yahoo.com |
Visiting Restrictions: |
No pets |
Web Site: |
N/A |
| Interesting facts about your garden: |
|
How did you get started: |
I read about it on gardenweb.com
. |
Advice for those starting SFG: |
Look at pictures of what other people have done
and check out the book from the library |
Best thing about SFG: |
It is good for people with small spaces |
Worst thing about SFG: |
So far, nothing.
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
================================================================ |
| Ellicott,
Colorado, USA
| Location Info: |
Near
Colorado Springs, in El Paso County. |
Gardener: |
Stephanie |
| Garden Size: |
Overall
Size: 16' x 16'
6 boxes, 4x4 each in rows of 3, (2 4x12 boxes) Type of Soil Mix: Peat
moss, compost, sheep-n-peat and top soil; Source of compost material
used in mix: aged horse manure. |
Grid Material: |
twine. |
| Aisle Width &
Materials: |
2
feet around the sides, and 3 feet between the rows. As of now,
just packed dirt. Would like to put in landscape material with
wood chips for a permanent aisle way. |
Vertical Frames: |
PVC frame for
the entire north box. These frames are 5 feet tall by the length
of the box. (12 feet) |
| Types of Plants:
|
Tomatoes, zuc.,
cuc's, onions, radishes, beans, peas, peppers (hot and mild), corn,
cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, flowers and a designated box
for strawberries. |
Specialty Features: |
None – standard
garden. |
| Contact Info for Visits: |
E-mail:
shadylaneranch@earthlink.net
Other
719-683-9577. |
Visiting Restrictions: |
Please email
me for details if you would like. Otherwise, no dogs please!!!
(our chickens roam free at times). |
Web Site: |
N/A |
| Interesting facts about your garden: |
We
have a short growing season here, therefore we started everything
under cold frames this early May. I have enjoyed gardening,
but this year, by far, has been the most successful. Even though
we had a ton of hail storms this season, everything is growing
great. I owe that to the fact that the plants are in the SFG.
|
How did you get started: |
My mother had one of
the original SFG books from the 80's, so I thought it would be fun
to research on the Internet as well as reading the book to get me
started! |
Advice for those starting SFG: |
Research, and good soil
!! |
Best thing about SFG: |
Lack of weeding needed.
More room for more choices. |
Worst thing about SFG: |
So far, nothing.
This is my first year and everything is doing great !!! |
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
|
|
Norcross, Georgia,
USA
| Location
Info: |
Near
Atlanta |
Gardener: |
Jim |
| Garden Size: |
96
square feet (6x16sq. ft.) |
Grid Material: |
I’ve marked
off the boards with a marking pencil every 12”, but really I mostly
“guesstimate” the 1ft. squares by drawing lines in the dirt.
It works just fine. |
| Aisle Width &
Materials: |
The
center aisle, two cross aisles, and surrounding perimeter between
the six boxes and fence are 2 feet wide, covered with pine bark and
wood chips. This provides enough space to move and to work around
each box. There is a gate in the fence at one end of the center
aisle to bring in a wheelbarrow. |
Vertical Frames: |
In
the spring I erect 6 each (one per box) 6’ foot high “u” shaped
frames made from 1”x 1” pressure treated lumber. I hang nylon strings,
1’ apart, from the tops and tie them to nails in the boxes’ boards.
I use these to suspend my tomato plants, pole beans, peas, and cucumbers.
I twirl the tomato stems around the string as they grow. |
| Types of Plants:
|
I‘ve
grown most every vegetable, but have narrowed it down to the ones
I enjoy eating the most. These mainly are: lots of tomatoes
and beans (bush and pole), radishes, lettuce, peas, onions, peppers
(sweet and bell), eggplant, cucumbers, and corn. I also mix
in various flowers for show. |
Specialty Features:
|
As stated, I
purposely placed my garden next to a pond which provides a convenient
source of water. |
| Contact Info for Visits:
|
E-mail:
jbfeeley@mindspring.com |
Visiting Restrictions:
|
No general restrictions,
but give me notice so I can provide directions and be at home |
Web Site: |
N/A |
| Interesting facts about your garden: |
Nothing
special. I’m retired and do this as a hobby and for the
unmatched taste of home grown vegetables. |
How did you get started: |
I saw the SFG
book in the library, read it, then bought a copy. |
Advice for those starting
SFG: |
Start
small and limit how much and what vegetables you plant until you see
how much of each you get. |
Best thing about SFG: |
For me it changed
growing vegetables from a chore into a pleasure. |
Worst thing about SFG: |
It
is so easy you have to resist the temptation to expand too big and
thereby defeat its basic purpose which is to keep things simple, stupid. |
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
|
| Peachtree
Corners, Georgia, USA
| Location Info: |
Atlanta |
Gardener: |
Rob Gibson |
| Garden Size: |
12-feet
by 15-feet 1 Box
|
Grid Material: |
None (shhhh) |
| Box Material & Width |
Wood, 6 to 12 inches |
Aisle Width & Materials: |
3-feet, pine bark mulch |
| Type of Soil Mix: |
70% humus, 30% clay
|
Vertical Frames: |
4 metal trellis |
Types of Plants: |
Tomatoes, green pepper, eggpplant, cantaloupe,
zinnia, marigold, cosmos |
Specialty Features: |
N/A |
| Contact Info for Visits:
|
Phone: 770-368-2051
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
Phone first
|
Web Site: |
No. |
How did you get started: |
Read about 6 or 7 books including Mel's
|
| Advice for those starting
SFG: |
Start small in the sunniest spot available.
|
Best thing about SFG: |
Reading SFG helped me organize the establishment
of a garden |
Worst thing about SFG: |
Some plants like eggplant grew so well that spacing
greater than 1 foot might be needed. |
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
Macon,
Georgia, USA
| Location Info: |
Macon, GA |
| Gardener: |
Tim - 35 & Max - 3 |
| Overall Size: |
4 X 4 |
| Number of Boxes: |
6 |
| Box Material and Depth: |
Pine / 6 inches deep
|
| Type of Soil Mix: |
Mel's Mix |
| Aisle Width & Materials:
|
2 feet wide, weed block cover with pine bark mulch
|
| Vertical Frames
(number and type): |
Jute String |
| Grid Material: |
Vinyl |
| Type of plants: |
Carrots, Five Color Chard, Spinach, Rocket, Radishes,
Red Sail Lettuce, Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce, Soyo Long Cucumber,
mint, fingerling potatoes, marigolds, petunia.
|
| Garden Specialty Features: |
Quality time with Dad and Son |
| How would you like
potential visitors to contact you to arrange a visit? |
By E-mail: timcunningham@hotmail.com
|
| Visiting restrictions: |
advance email |
| Do you want on-site
visits or would you prefer showing your garden by web site photos,
or both ? |
Prefer web site, photos
|
| Interesting facts
about you and your garden: |
I try to use only heirloom seeds. Constructed and
maintained by the brightest little boy you have ever seen. (Partial
much?) |
| How did you get
started with SFG ?: |
Online forums |
| What advice would
you give others for starting ?: |
Start small. Follow instructions closely. |
| What is the best
thing you can say about SFG ?: |
Straight forward, simple and organized. If you have
to have things neat, maybe a little O.C.D. inclined, this is
a tidy garden
you can love.
|
| What is the worst
thing you can say about SFG ?: |
Cats think it is the best toilet ever. |
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
|
| Rome,
Georgia, USA
| Location Info: |
Northwest of Atlanta
|
Gardener: |
Alex Westberry |
| Garden Size: |
4 - 3
are 4' by 8' and one is 3' by 17' wood, 6" deep
|
Grid Material: |
String. |
Aisle Width & Materials: |
2' - grass
|
| Type of Soil Mix: |
Peat moss, compost, cow manure |
Vertical Frames: |
4 - wooden with netting |
Types of Plants: |
lettuce, tomatoes, beans, peppers
|
Specialty Features: |
N/A |
| Contact Info for Visits:
|
E-mail:
aaberry@bellsouth.net
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
email first
|
Web Site: |
No. |
How did you get started: |
I read the book
|
| Advice for those starting
SFG: |
Make a plan first....dont just jump in head
first
|
Best thing about SFG: |
It works!
|
Worst thing about SFG: |
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
|
|
Bloomington,
Illinois, USA
| Location Info: |
McLean County, Illinois
|
Gardener: |
Anna Hubbard |
| Garden Size: |
12' x16', Number of Boxes: 4;
will be 6, Box Material is 2x6 wood and depth is 6" of Mel’
mix
|
Grid Material: |
1x2 wood. |
Aisle Width & Materials: |
2’-3’ gravel. |
Vertical Frames: |
Two 4-foot sections. |
Types of Plants: |
Vegetables. |
Specialty Features: |
In backyard. |
| Contact Info for Visits:
|
E-mail:
ahubb2000@hotmail.com
Phone:
309-661-3259
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
Onsite visits. No pets,
please call or email in advance but can be that same day. |
Web Site: |
No. |
How did you get started: |
A friend told me about
the web site. |
| Advice for those starting
SFG: |
Plan in the fall and build
boxes and soil in fall, not in windy March or April. |
Best thing about SFG: |
No weeding!! Really easy and organized and doesn't
produce too much. |
Worst thing about SFG: |
Not enough to do... ha :) I guess building the actual
vertical frame was the hardest but once done it stays put :) |
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
Bluford,
Illinois, USA
|
Location Info: |
Bluford, Illinois
|
| Gardener: |
Josh, 12 years old! |
| Garden
Size: |
4 foot x 4 foot |
| Number
of Boxes: |
4 |
| Box Material
and Depth: |
1" x 6' cedar |
| Grid
Material: |
1/4 inch x 1 inch wood strips
|
| Aisle
Width & Materials: |
3 feet |
| Types
of Plants: |
cabbage, bush green beans,
carrots, radish, onion lettuce, lima beans, tomato, cucumber,
okra, bell pepper, hot banana pepper, sweet banana pepper, beets,
cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, yard long green beans, potatoes,
strawberries, snapdragons, dahlia, zinnia, wave petunia, dianthus,
balsam, marigold verbena, petunia, salvia, and gladiola |
| Specialty
Features: |
|
| Contact
Info for Visits: |
tgreene@midwest.net
618-732-8762 |
| Visiting
Restrictions: |
no restrictions |
| Web
Site: |
N/A |
| How
did you get started: |
I attended Mel's Seminar in
Feb 07 |
| Advice
for those starting SFG: |
Mel's SFG method WORKS! Start
making yours today! |
| Best
thing about SFG: |
It's easy, it produces an abundance
of crops in a very small area. |
| Worst
thing about SFG: |
There is nothing bad I can
say about SFG, it is just fantastic! |
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
|
| West
Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| Location Info: |
Near Indianapolis |
Gardener: |
Bill |
Garden Size: |
50' x 100' (ten boxes)
|
Grid Material: |
Plastic Venetian blinds |
Aisle Width & Materials: |
4 foot aisle - pressure treated 2 X 8 |
Vertical Frames: |
5 |
Types of Plants: |
Tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupes and strawberries,
lettuce |
Specialty Features: |
As I am 88 years
old, I designed this garden so I could get around it in a wheelchair
in the future if I have to . Tomatoes grown in cages. |
| Contact Info for Visits: |
E-mail: wsabel@insightbb.com
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
None. |
Web Site: |
Not yet. |
How did you get started: |
Mel’s book. |
Advice for those starting SFG: |
Talk to others
who are doing it. |
Best thing about SFG: |
Less work and
saves a lot of seeds. |
Worst thing about SFG: |
Deer eating
my strawberries. |
|
|
Louisville, Kentucky
| Location
Info: |
Louisville |
| Gardener:
|
TOM |
| Overall
Size: |
64 sqft |
| Number
of Boxes: |
I have 2 4x8 raised bed gardens
plus a few containers for herbs |
| Box
Material and Depth: |
Landscape timbers - 15 inches
deep |
| Type
of soil mix: |
Straight Compost |
| Aisle
Width & Materials: |
3 feet (in the process of laying
pea gravel) |
| Vertical
Frames: |
N/A |
| Grid
Material: |
|
| Types
of Plants: |
(2) California Wonder Peppers,
(4) Rainbow Peppers, (1) Eggplant, (1) Poblano Pepper, (6) Broccoli,
(6) Cauliflower, (6) Brussels Sprouts, (4 small rows) Blue Lake
Bush Green Beans, (4) Rainbow Tomatoes, (2) Brandywine Tomatoes,
(2) Roma Tomatoes, (8) Collards, (6) Cabbage, (intercroppings
of carrots, radishes, etc), pots with herbs, and a few other
things outside the boxes |
| Specialty
Features: |
|
| Contact
Info for Visits: |
E-mail only |
| Visiting
Restrictions: |
|
| Web
Site: |
|
| Interesting
facts about your garden: |
This is my first square foot
garden. It was so easy to plant and it is even easier to maintain.
|
| How
did you get started: |
Saw it online, got the book,
read it, did it. Pretty straight forward. |
| Advice
for those starting SFG: |
Make sure you leave room to
add more in the future, I know I want to add more for next year.
|
| Best
thing about SFG: |
Easiest, Fastest, Most Effective
and Efficient way to have a home garden. My neighbor talks to
me about it eveyday that he sees me out there, which isnt very
often because its so easy to maintain. But I do go look at it
every day just to see its progress and grab a quick bite to
eat ;-) |
| Worst
thing about SFG: |
That I didnt build more boxes.
|
|
May
15, 2007
May 29,
2007
June 13, 2007
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
Union, Kentucky
|
| Location
Info: |
15 miles south of Cincinnati , Ohio
|
| Gardener:
|
Bruce
|
| Overall
Size: |
128 square feet |
| Number
of Boxes: |
8
Total |
| Box
Material and Depth: |
Treated lumber, 10” |
| Type
of soil mix: |
Compost, sphagnum peat moss, shredded
mulch, composted manure, pasteurized pelleted poultry litter.
|
| Aisle
Width & Materials: |
3 feet, turf |
| Vertical
Frames: |
2-electricalconduit with nylon
mesh, 4 pre-made bar stock |
| Grid
Material: |
String |
| Types
of Plants: |
Corn, squash, onions, peppers,
peas, cucumbers, beans, basil, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, spinach,
chard, radishes, lots of herbs and flowers |
| Specialty
Features: |
100% Organic soil, fertilizer,
pesticides |
| Contact
Info for Visits: |
E-mail:
blongacre@fuse.net |
| Visiting
Restrictions: |
Advance notice only
|
| Web
Site: |
N/A
|
| Interesting
facts about your garden: |
|
| How
did you get started: |
Found the web page on a Google search
in 2004 |
| Advice
for those starting SFG: |
Start with 1-2 boxes, visit garden everyday
|
| Best
thing about SFG: |
Minimal maintenance
|
| Worst
thing about SFG: |
Nothing |
|
|
| Location
Info: |
Near Lake Charles, Jeff Davis Parish |
| Gardener: |
David |
| Garden Size: |
4 ft
x 8 ft Overall |
| Number of Boxes: |
1 |
| Box Material: and Depth: |
1 x6,
12 inches deep |
| Type of Soil Mix: |
Amended
Soil |
| Vertical Frames: |
2 one
on each 4 foot end |
| Grid Material: |
Plastic
clothes line |
| Type of plants: |
tomatoes
,okra, beans, cucumbers, jalapeno peppers |
| Interesting facts about you
and your garden: |
Made
from recycled materials |
| How did you get started with
SFG: |
From
your book checked out at the library |
| What advice would you give
others for starting: |
Buy
and read first the book its all there |
| What is the best thing you
can say about SFG: |
Everything |
| What is the worst thing you
can say about SFG: |
Nothing |
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
Waterville,
Maine, USA
| Location Info: |
15 minutes' drive north of the Capitol City of Augusta (the
only large city in Maine is Portland , and it doesn't really
qualify as a large city)
|
Gardener: |
Meg |
Garden Size: |
Overall Size:2'X25' u-shaped inside a
low fence, another 10' or so in the works |
| Number of Boxes: |
One continuous box in a u-shape bordering
a low fence |
| Box Material: and Depth: |
Old ripped-out baseboards 6" deep, also 1X6
lumber |
Grid Material: |
Wood lath strips |
Aisle Width & Materials:
|
No aisles at present, just the grass (which
does take a beating) |
| Type of Soil Mix: |
Mel's Mix made with peat, vermiculite, and
Coast of Maine shellfish compost and lobster compost as well
as composted manure |
Vertical Frames: |
Using wire attached to the low fence for now,
hope to do vertical frames properly next year. |
Types of Plants: |
Vegetables including cabbage and broccoli,
squash and tomatoes, Kentucky wonder beans, lettuces, radishes,
green onion, carrots, herbs, and marigolds |
Specialty Features: |
Our garden shows how a tiny postage-stamp
of yard (half of which is taken up by one tiny driveway) can
be preserved for usable space while still having a vegetable
garden. |
Contact Info for Visits:
|
By E-mail: langdonslady@gmail.com
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
You may drive by and take a look, but for
more info or to meet, email me and we will set something up!
:) |
Web Site: |
yes my blog at http://mysquarefootgarden.blogspot.com/
|
How did you get started: |
Started researching space-saving plans on
the Web when we bought this house last year, because we have
so very little yard, and I was determined that my daughter should
grow up eating and raising organic vegetables and fruits. Bought
the book after seeing the website. |
| Advice for those
starting SFG: |
First
and foremost, buy the book! The charts on succession planting
and planning timetables were invaluable.
Don't be frightened
by the initial expense for the soil materials, etc. Just imagine
what you would pay for all that organic produce in one year
at the supermarket! It pays off.
Also, if you do what
I did and use existing rich soil underneath to invite earthworms,
be sure to really till and expose the existing soil, and get
rid of whatever was growing there first. I still have to pluck
crabgrass shoots and clover out of my SFG. However, not too
many, and they are easy to pull through the soft soil. Also,
if you live in a northerly climate as I do, Mel's instructions
to use a sun-warmed bucket to water from are even more important.
I was lazy and used a hose, and discovered that the ice-cold
hose-water made things grow really, really slowly. On the
plus side, ice-cold hose water does keep lettuce from bolting
longer! But for summer crops, the bucket is important. |
| Best thing about SFG: |
The space-savings.
The GRIDS! My husband wasn't sure they were necessary, but believe
it, for the purposes of looking like an organized project instead
of a mess, and for the purposes of easily planning how much
of what goes where, the grids are essential! |
| Worst thing about SFG: |
Haven't
really found a down-side yet. I am really glad I found out about
SFG for my first gardening experience, because it has been easy,
fun, and successful. |
|
|
Frederick,
Maryland , USA
| Location Info: |
I
am about 40 miles North East of Washington, D.C., and about 40 miles
West of Baltimore, Maryland
|
Gardener: |
Donald |
Garden Size: |
40 square feet. Two boxes: one 8 X 4 (ground) and
one 4 X 2 (three feet high on deck) Landscape ties that are about
4 inches thick |
Grid Material: |
Twine |
Aisle Width & Materials: |
I will be constructing one vertical frame from ˝
inch electrical conduit, conduit elbows, and nylon mesh netting with
7 inch holes |
Vertical Frames: |
I will be constructing one vertical frame from ˝
inch electrical conduit, conduit elbows, and nylon mesh netting with
7 inch holes. |
| Type of Soil Mix: |
Mostly Mel's Mix, with top soil, garden soil, and
a base of sand. |
Types of Plants: |
Tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers, spinach, lettuce,
cabbage, broccoli, carrots, beets, peas, beans, marigolds, and nasturtiums.
|
Specialty Features: |
I have a 4 X 2 box that I made for the
deck. I placed it in a partially shaded area and grow lettuce and
spinach in it. For the 8 X 4 in the back yard, I used pvc to construct
hoops, and then used a row cover and plastic to keep out pests, strong
winds, and heavy rains. I also used a row cover and plastic for the
deck box, but I first inserted wood stakes inside the cart on all
sides to hold up the covers.
|
| Contact Info for Visits: |
E-mail: dmartin301@hotmail.com
|
Visiting Restrictions: |
No onsite visits, please. Visit through pictures. |
Web Site: |
Not yet. |
How did you get started: |
My dad and I saw the shows when I was a
kid, but didn't act on it at that time. After moving to my first
house, about 25 years later, I thought a few vegetable plants would
be nice, but I don't have enough space. I then remembered Mel's show
from when I was a kid. Funny how the brain stores these things for
future use. I started poking around on the web to see if Mel still
existed, and, sure enough, the man and the method were still in tact. I
was so excited! I began reading the website, emailed Karen with questions,
borrowed a copy of the book from the library, and soon afterward,
I bought my own copy. Even though the season had ended for starting
vegetables (October), I started putting together the garden plot and
soil. The following February, I covered the plot with landscape fabric
and by mid-March, I was off and running! I had started from seed indoors
under lights using seed starter mix with vermiculite. |
Advice for those starting SFG: |
Read the website first to get a basic understanding
of the method, then read the book. Email Mel or Karen with any questions
you have-- they are very encouraging and responsive. Also, get your
kids and wife involved. What a wonderful object lesson for the kids!
|
Worst thing about SFG: |
Initial
costs for vermiculite, compost, peat moss, and trellis material,
however, once all that is established, costs should stay minimal.
|
Best thing about SFG: |
It allows someone
with a postage stamp backyard, like myself, and a deck, to literally
grow more vegetables than you can imagine!
|
|
|
Back
to Neighborhood Garden Index
=================================================================
|
|
Tilghman Island, Maryland , USA
Photo's
Below
| Location
Info: |
Easton
Md. We are on an Island in the middle of Chesapeake Bay. 11 miles
from St. Michaels and 24 miles from Easton. |
| Gardener: |
Charlie |
| Garden Size: |
20'x16'
Overall size
3 4'x4'x6" , 1 4'x4'x12"
, 1 2'x20'x6" , 2 1'x16"x6", 2 1'x8'x6" boxes. Three foot vinyl
picket fencing, lined with chicken wire. Aisles made with pea-gravel.
Entire garden area covered with weed proof liner material.
4- 4'x4' , 1- 2'x20', 2- 1'x16', 2- 1'x8'
All boxes constructed of cedar wood and brass screws.
|
| Grid Material: |
1/4" x 1" pine lathe. |
| Aisle Width
& Materials: |
2 foot and 3 foot made with 3-4"
of pea-gravel |
| Vertical Frames:
|
Four, made from galvinized conduit
pipe set on 18" re-bar, according to instructions in the book. Netting
purchased on the Internet. Attached with plastic ties and reinforced
against the garden fence . |
| Type of Soil
Mix: |
Compost blend of Blue Crabs, Leaf
compost, manure compost, organic compost, Humus |
| Types of Plants:
|
Vegetables, Herbs and flowers. Will
be experimenting with various types and varieties until I find out
what will work well for us. |
| Specialty Features:
|
I've designed the garden to be an
intimate place where one can relax and enjoy the plants, I plan on
a fountain for the center where the sound of the water will enhance
the expierience.
|
| Contact Info
for Visits: |
|
| Visiting Restrictions:
|
Please Email in advance but we cannot
accommodate pets, sorry. Kids are fine, we have 6 grandkids!! |
| Web Site: |
N/A |
| How did you
get started: |
I've been planning since I first
saw the PBS program many years ago. |
| Interesting
Facts about your garden: |
I've been planning this for many
years. My previous home was on the side of a mountain and totally
wooded. I have dreamed of having the room for a sq. Ft. Garden for
a long time. My retirement property is perfect and I have spent the
winter months building and planning. I'm almost ready to make "Mel's
Mix" and begin planting!!!!!! |
| Advice for
those starting SFG: |
Get the book, read the book and
FOLLOW the book to the letter! It's easy enough, don't look for shortcuts,
it's all in there! |
| Worst thing
about SFG: |
It's a little pricey to start and
you have to keep reminding yourself that it's a one-time cost that
is amortized over time. Mel's Mix, is indeed ,very valuable!!! |
| Best thing
about SFG: |
It's so simple to start and once
you are up and running it's almost maintenance free! |
|
