The Official Site of Square Foot Gardening and Mel Bartholomew, Originator and Author

About Us

The foundation is a fully credited non profit organization approved by the IRS as a 501-C-3 and accepts tax deductible donations for its humanitarian projects around the world.

          Established by the S F G  Board of Directors

SQUARE FOOT GARDENING FOUNDATION

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

  1. To Encourage and Foster the Conservation of the Earth's Natural Resources through composting and practicing Square Foot Gardening

  2. To share Square Foot Gardening with the entire world enabling all people to live a more nutritional, healthy, and self-sufficient life.

SFG STRATEGIES

  1. Promote the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
  2. Encourage Composting.
  3. Emphasize Conservation of Water. (A Natural Resource)      
  4. Enhance Principles of Self Sufficiency Through the Use of SFG.
  5. Accentuate the Beauty of SFG.
  6. Show Adaptability Anywhere in the World.
  7. Explain the Efficiency, Economics, and Ease of Starting SFG.
  8. Demonstrate the Suitability for all Ages and All Abilities.
  9. Highlight Simplicity, Ease of Learning, using Natural Materials.
  10. Emphasize Earth Friendly, Non-Polluting, Non-Land Destroying.

About the Creator, Author, and Founder

MEL BARTHOLOMEW              

  • Graduate of Georgia Tech in Civil Engineering. Built his own Consulting Engineering Firm specializing in site and utility design.
  • Was nominated to be included in Who's Who, Congress Hall of Fame, and New Jersey Famous Engineers.

  • Retired as a successful innovator and businessman in his field at the age of 42.

  • Took up gardening as a hobby, but then set out to solve the frustrations of most gardeners, "To replace the traditional wasteful single row gardening method with a better way to garden, one that's more efficient, more manageable, and less work." His answer was to invent the Square Foot Gardening system.

  • His first book "Square Foot Gardening" became America's largest selling gardening book ever, over a million copies sold.

  • His Square Foot Gardening TV series ran on PBS, Discovery Channel, and Learning Channel for eight years—winter shows filmed at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and then retired again.

  • Left retirement a second time to create the non-profit Square Foot Gardening Foundation, to bring better gardening to all people of all ages, around the world, including an innovative "Garden in Every School program."

  • Mel continues to  write, teach, motivate and inspire.


Some of the major programs he has developed from the SFG system that he invented are:

- A Square Yard in the school yard.

- Global Gardening for third world      countries.

- Table Top Gardens for the elderly and  handicapped.

- Gurney Gardens for V.A. Hospitals.

- Square Meter Gardens for the metric system countries.

- Sit Down Gardening for the obese.

- Garden Boxes for world food hunger.

- High Rise homesteading for feeding 500 people from one acre.


GOD PLANTED THE FIRST GARDEN...

We believe that gardening is much more than a recreational hobby. It even has a spiritual, environmental, and biblical background. Consider these quotes and ponder the implications. One that has always impressed me is the fact, that gardening is so fundamental and basic, it is found on the 2nd page of the Bible.   God planted the first garden -

GENESIS 2:8

 

How old is that ?!

And THEN he placed man into the garden to dress it and keep it. GENESIS 2:15   That's how early this came about and how important it is.

If we are the keepers of God's garden, then we need to do a better job of it.

 

“And the Lord God planted a garden….”

                                                        - GENESIS 2:8

 

“And the Lord God took man and put him into the garden to dress it and keep it.”             

                                                        - GENESIS 2:15

 

“A religion that is not capable of saving its people temporally will never have power to save them spiritually.”

                                                        - Joseph Smith   LDS

 

“We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can…. Study the best methods. Make your garden… neat and attractive as well as productive.”

                                                        - Spencer W. Kimball   LDS

6 years ago, everyone was concerned with the millennium and what would happen.

45 years ago everyone was concerned with the atomic bomb and underground shelters were everything. Every time the economy goes south, many families are caught in a bind for adequate food. Of course in bad times, the government steps in and gives money and food to help out as well as family and all the religious and humanitarian organizations.

But just think if those in need could grow their own and not be dependent on government aid or others to carry them through. What dignity and pride would come with self-sufficiency and control of your own destiny !

Many religions stress preparedness and self-sufficiency in troubled times.

We think that Square Foot Gardening can be a great part of all of those concerns. It is simple, easy, fits in a small space, produces big results, and costs little. It can be sitting there ready, or better yet, if you practice it now, then you'll be more prepared for the future and whatever it brings.    Mel Bartholomew   SFG

 

 

SQUARE FOOT GARDENING

THE MOST PRACTICAL PREPAREDNESS GARDEN

During a time of crisis, when we may be living on what we can produce, it will be important that gardening have the features of Square Foot Gardening:

•  Easy to understand. Does not require extensive training or years of experience
Anything to make gardening easier or simpler should be done. This is especially true for beginners, but even experienced gardeners will benefit from easier methods.

•  Requires much less effort; No Heavy Digging, No Tilling, Very Little Weeding
There will be much to do. Having LESS to do in the garden will really help!

•  5 times more productive than conventional gardening
Few families have enough land to be self-sustaining. Therefore, high production in a small space is needed. The Square Foot Gardening method is at least 5 times more productive in the same amount of space as conventional row gardening.

•  Uses much less water - Each plant is given just enough
Water may not be flowing from the tap, and may even have to be carried long distances by hand. Using a minimum amount of water will be important.

•  Uses fewer seeds. No seed goes to waste
Seeds may not be easily available. None will go to waste through over-sowing.

•  Is not dependant on fertilizers. Your own compost provides the nutrients
Commercial fertilizer may not be available. Compost is renewable and sustainable.

•  Does not require a tiller or other expensive tools
Gasoline to run a tiller may not be available, nor may other garden tools.

•  Can be done anywhere - Soil is not an issue
Traditional gardening usually takes several years to “condition” the soil. Square Foot Gardening uses an easily prepared soil mixture that replaces “bad soil”, providing excellent results immediately.

As an essential part your preparedness program:

Learn and practice Square Foot Gardening - begin today

During a time of need, many people will be digging up their lawns to plant gardens, only to become frustrated with the results. Please don't be one of them - PREPARE NOW

All above names and included material are copyrighted by Mel Bartholomew and any extended use by others except for review, brief descriptions, and credit mentions, must receive prior written permission.

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