The Square Foot
Gardening Foundation
Home
What is SFG?
Calendar/News/Regions
Teaching/Learning
Help &FAQ's
Garden Supplies
Forums
USA
Grab the edge of the paper, and with the mouse button pressed, drag the page over. Give it a try!
Location Info: Smyrna , TN, 15 Miles South of Nashville
Gardener: Kevin
Garden Size: all in about a 12 x 12 area
Box Material and Depth: 2 x 6 studs and 6 in depth
Grid Material: Burlap Twine this year
Aisle Width & Materials :3 foot isles with grass
Vertical Frames: 1 7ft trellis from PVC and Burlap Twine
Type of Soil Mix: Mels Mix and 1 box of regular dirt
Interesting facts about you and your garden: Late Starter in may
Types of Plants : Celebrity Toms, Roma Toms, Big Boy Toms, Watermelon Jubilee and Charleston Gray, Pimienta Peppers, Jalapeno peppers, Bell peppers Chile Dulce and Big Bertha, Anahiem Peppers, Cantaloupe- hales best, Garlic, Evergreen bunching Onions, yellow neck Squash, Brocolli, lettuce romian, butterbibb, great lakes crisp head, mesculin, mustard, spinach, blackeye peas, bush green beans and vine green beans.
Also have containerized some basil chives, parsley oregano, cilantro. Cherry toms and some plum toms. Yes I am obsesses ;)
Contact Info for Visits: zepster1018_comcast.net
Visiting Restrictions: Come as you are
Web Site:I will try to get web page up soon
How did you get started: Stumbled upon the website
Advice for those starting SFG: Read the book first.
Best thing about SFG: As Tony the Tiger would say Its GreeaATTT!!!
Worst thing about SFG: I suddenly have the urge to spend all my money in seed catalogs and find myself aimlessly wandering the local garden centers.
Smyrna, TN
Location Info: Austin (actually between Austin and Dripping Springs)
Gardener: Monica & Ron
Garden Size: 12' x 24'
Box Material and Depth: wood--8"
Grid Material: twine
Aisle Width & Materials: 2-3' cedar chips--weed cloth under entire garden
Vertical Frames: fence
Type of Soil Mix: medium vermiculite, peat moss, 3 composts
Interesting facts about you and your garden:
Since I lost my job, this garden has been my pet project. It has re-acquainted me with nature and encouraged me to experiment with photography. We sure do have some beautiful caterpillars and bugs in Texas!
Types of Plants: Zucchini, yellow squash, chards, chives, 3 different eggplants, 7 different tomatoes, 4 different peppers, pole and bush beans, canteloupe, cukes, lettuce, radishes, spinach, mint, dill, fennel, onions, garlic, marigolds, lemon balm, sunflowers, thyme,basil, oregano, marigold mint and more. We're also doing a fall garden...
Contact Info for Visits:
By E-mail: mshomos_hotmail.com
Visiting Restrictions: no pets, advanced email
Web Site: http://homepage.mac.com/mo.sho/Square_Foot_Garden/
Specialty Features: deer (and dog)-proof
How did you get started: We took a permaculture class and they suggested SFG.
Advice for those starting SFG: Make it bigger
than you need if you have the space, or at least plan it for future expansion. It's so easy to take care of, you'll want to plant more! Also, plant different species and mix them up so you can monitor what
does best where.
Best thing about SFG: I actually DO have a green thumb after all!
Worst thing about SFG: Why didn't we do it before?
Austin, TX
Location Info: Near Houston Austin TX
Gardener: Todd
Garden Size: Overall Size: 72 square feet
Number of Boxes: 1 box, 3.5'' in the ground, before finding web site and the box method.
Grid Material: Venetian blinds.
Aisle Width & Materials: 2', hay.
Vertical Frames: 1, string on 1"x 2" frame for peas.
Types of Plants: Fall garden: spinach, turnips, collards, lettuce, mustard, beets, carrots, radishes, onions, garlic, marigold, nasturtiums, peas.
Contact Info for Visits: N/A
Visiting Restrictions:
Web Site: http://www.greengraphics.us
Specialty Features: the box I built, has 3.5'x2"x2" corner posts for support of a removable 4'x4' critter control screen for sprouts and clear plastic for heat in the winter.
How did you get started: Curiosity and wanting to eat higher off the food chain than grocery stores.
Advice for those starting SFG: Enjoy, the disappointments are the most educational and you don't have to break your back to attend school.
Best thing about SFG: 20%!!!
Worst thing about SFG: Now I have 1800 square feet of clover that may never become green manure.
Posts Support Box & Vertical Frames
Location Info: 50 miles north of Austin on I-35
Gardener: David
Garden Size: 1x1, 1x8, 4x4 8 boxes, so far. Box Construction, Depth & Materials: 6", 2 x 6 redwood and pine (4 boxes), landscape timbers (2 boxes), bricks (1 box), logs (1 box)
Grid Material: Wire
Aisle Width & Materials: 4', carpet
Vertical Frames: 7, old 3" cedar fencing screwed to the sides of the boxes. Now prefer electrical conduit but it's $3.50 a stick now (was $1.14 when I started).
Types of Plants: Okra, red potatoes, cow peas, crookneck squash, butternut squash, parsley, comfrey, turnips, rosemary, lavender, onions, various flowers.
Contact Info for Visits: By E-mail: dgibson_hot.rr.com.
Visiting Restrictions: Kids and pets if controlled by parents/owners, most evenings by arrangement.
On-site visits.
Web Site: Pictures coming, web site coming
Specialty Features:
Interesting facts: Learning to combat the biggest problem here in Central Texas --the heat in July and August. This method readily lends itself to shading. Fully-grown okra plants survive through the summer to take off again when it cools off in the fall
How did you get started: Became tired of tilling up a huge area, then watching it go to weed. Researched several methods. Found Mel's first book in the local library, bought my own, then found the web-site.
Advice for those starting SFG: Follow Mel's advice explicitly until you learn what works for you.
Best thing about SFG:
Very, very few weeds. EASY to maintain.
Worst thing about SFG: Took a while to get things planted the first time (took longer to get started compared to tilling and planting, but it pays off!)
Belton, TX
Location Info: Pidcoke, Texas 10 miles north of Copperas Cove, Texas
Gardener: Bob
Garden Size: two 3' x 3', one 4' x 8', two 2' x 4', one table top 4' x 4' , and Several other experimental sizes.
Grid Material:
Aisle Width & Materials: Minimum of 3 feet
Vertical Frames: Tomatoes watermelons beans luffa gourds cucumbers
Types of Plants: Most vegetables and many flowers
Specialty Features: Entire layout is designed to show how simple it can be to raise your own healthy food in a small area and/or on the family farm.
Contact Info for Visits: Email: bhill_global5.net.
Phone: 254-248-0607
Visiting Restrictions: * Please call or email in advance Young children are ok if kept with parents at all times. * Teenagers are welcome with parents' permissions and may visit with prior parental coordination * No individual visits by under age children.
Web Site: No.
How did you get started: I was raised on a farm. While serving in the military, I missed the fun or working (playing) in the dirt. I first purchased my copy of Square Foot Gardening about 15 years ago. While still on active duty with the Army, I had several square gardens.
Advice for those starting SFG: JUST DO IT !!! Check out the web site, talk to and/or visit someone that has a square garden, and get the book.
Best thing about SFG: Enjoy your garden without breaking you back.
Worst thing about SFG: Cautioncan be very habit forming.
Copperas Cave, TX
Location Info: South of Austin Lockhart TX
Gardener: Doretta, but known as "Dee"
Garden Size: Sizes: 25' x 44", 32' x 44", 8' x 44" x 2 and Number of Boxes: 5 & planning an asparagus bed, which will be about 15' x 44" when finished.
Grid Material: Bailing Twine
Aisle Width & Materials: 3', beds #1, #2 & #3 are 2" x 6" upright sided. Bed#4 is framed with cinder-blocks and Bed #5 is an old glass shipping case, while bed #6 will be sided on two sides by C Perlin (sp?) and two 2" x 6" on each end for 12" depth.
Vertical Frames: Each bed has a cattle panel in the middle which provides support for all climbing vegetables; one portable bean trellis (A frame) & one portable adjustable 44" x 10' frame that uses replaceable string mesh.
Types of Plants: Flowers: hollyhock, marigolds (I hate their smell.), nasturtiums, petunias, phlox, purselane; Herbs: basil (several varieties), oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage; Vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, cauliflower, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green peppers, okra, onions, spinach, squash (Tatume & Zucchini), tomatoes & asparagus in the future.
Specialty Features: Country Setting.
Contact Info for Visits: E-mail: DMakerEnt_AOL.com
Visiting Restrictions: No pets, kids if controlled by parents (unsupervised children will be given a free kitten or puppy, whichever is available at the time), only by appointment, made in advance via e-mail, etc.; come as you are. Prefer showing garden by web site photos because use of tobacco around my garden is strictly forbidden.
Web Site:
How did you get started:
Advice for those starting SFG:
Worst thing about SFG:
Lockhart, TX
Location Info: Wellborn Wellborn Texas
Gardener: Robin
Garden Size: Overall Size: 2 boxes 8'x 8'; 1 box 4'x 8' (The 8' x 8' size makes it more difficult to work the center boxes. This is an experiment for this year.)
Number of Boxes: 3
Box Material: and Depth: Landscape timbers (I used railroad ties before, but I wasn't comfortable with having the chemical, Creosote, in my garden)
Type of Soil Mix: Compost from Bryan Municipal Landfill (recycled from grass clippings, tree trimmings and leaves as well as bio-solids from the City of Bryan Municipal Waste). I add organic fertilizer when I replant a square. I have also introduced earthworms this year.
Grid Material: Wooden slats from hardware store
Aisle Width & Materials: about 3', grass
Vertical Frames: none (yet)
Types of Plants: Rosemary (in center square), yellow crookneck squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, mixed lettuce, broccoli, bell peppers, jalapaeno peppers, Sage, thyme, oregano (herbs and Marigolds planted around the border to repel pests).
Contact Info for Visits: birdie056_yahoo.com
How did you get started: I read the first Square Foot Gardening book about 20 years ago and have been a fan of SFG since then.
Advice for those starting SFG: Just build one 4x4 square and compare the results with your traditional row garden. You will be convinced that SFG is the way to go!
Best thing about SFG: My garden always looks nice, the vegetables are thriving, very little weeding required, great production from a small area.
Worst thing about SFG: Other gardeners think that my garden is "cute", don't appreciate that it is a functional, productive, "working" garden (until I start hauling in the produce, then they are believers!)
Wellborn, TX
Location Info: Near Salt Lake City
Gardener: Julie
Garden Size: 42' x 12'.
Number of Boxes: 12 - 4' x4' boxes made of pine 2 x 6's
Grid Material: Electrical, plastic covered copper wire
Aisle Width & Materials: 2-3 feet
Vertical Frames: We made the frames with conduit and field fence posts and 3 of them use field fence and 3 use the mesh trellis you can purchase at Home Depot.
Types of Plants: Pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, cantaloupe, beans bush & pole, cucumbers, carrots, cilantro, parsley, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, spinach, peppers.
Specialty Features: nothing really special, just pretty
Contact Info for Visits: Email: julie_transtarbows.com
Visiting Restrictions: No pets, notify me in advance.
Other Information: I live in the northern part of Utah Our climate is cold winters, hot dry summers. Moderate temperatures in the spring and fall. My husband helped me get it set up. But ever since then, I am the one who does the garden--it's that easy.
How did you get started: I was sick of weeding the garden and having it look a mess all the time, so I attended a SFG class at my church and got inspired. We moved all the soil from our existing garden out under some trees in our yard and then built the boxes and put them inside the garden spot. We put weed block under the boxes except for the one with carrots in it. But even then, we have not had many weeds in the carrot box. Then we ordered Mel's Mix from a place in Draper, (they are out of business now) and drove nails into the boxes to wrap around the electrical wire for the grids. Then started planting.
Advice for those starting SFG: It takes a bit of work to get it set up, but once it's set up, it's a breeze. It's the best gardening plan I've ever seen. We plant so much and we enjoy eating fresh vegetables right out of the garden all summer long. Hardly any weeding, not hard work at all. Just do it! You won't regret it!
Best thing about SFG: It's easy and it works.
Worst thing about SFG: I've learned not to plant some of the plants as close as it says. It gets overgrown and I end up pruning my tomato plants back.
Alpine, UT
Gardener: Jim
Garden Size: 1- 4X16 box, 1-2X16 box, 2-4X4 boxes, 1-2X6 box, 1-1X4 box
Grid Material: All 2X8 redwood with the exception of one vinyl box.
Aisle Width & Materials: 3 feet
Vertical Frames: 5-All electrical conduit pipe
Types of Plants: Many lettuce varieties, beans, carrots, beets, zuchinni, other winter squash, tomoatoes, potatoes, corn, strawberries, asparagus, chard, spinach, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, carnations, marigolds, salvia, basket-of -gold, bachelor buttons, etc.
Specialty Features: none to speak of
Contact Info for Visits: email: jrt2020_2_MSN.COM phone: (801)553-2558
Visiting Restrictions: Visits set up in advance, no pets please
Web Site: none
How did you get started: I got tired of pulling weeds all summer/fall, and most of all, I hated it when one of my neighbors continually out-produced me while seeming to do very little work
Advice for those starting SFG: In my mind, I can't figure out why you would want any other kind of garden
Best thing about SFG: It's easy, it's fun, and it is so organized. No more messy gardens out in the back corner of the house
Worst thing about SFG: Come the middle of summer, it gets real boring-all you end up doing is sitting back and watcing everything grow
Draper, UT
Location Info: East of Ogden, which is north of Salt Lake City--Eden Utah
Gardener: Mel.
Garden Size: Condo deck - 3' x 6', Three 2' x 2' planter boxes; one 1" x 6" cedar wood sides plywood bottom eight holes per box drilled for drainage and two pre molded from recycled plastic 2' x 2' boxes.
Grid Material: Wood and plastic strips.
Aisle Width & Materials: Boxes staggered in height in corner, no aisles.
Vertical Frames: None.
Types of Plants: Flowers, flowers, flowers. Eden Utah
Specialty Features: A lot of color in a very small space.
Contact Info for Visits: Sorry, No Visitors.
Visiting Restrictions: N/A
Web Site: www.squarefootgardening.com
Interesting Facts: This deck garden gets only 4-5 hours of sunlight, yet everything grows well and is very colorful. Also, I never thought I could fit so much into such a small space; everyone is amazed when they see it.
How did you get started: Its all in the Book.
Advice for those starting SFG: Start small, add more later.
Best thing about SFG: It works for everyone.
Worst thing about SFG: Haven't thought of anything yet.
Eden, UT
Location Info: Holladay-Near Salt Lake City UTAH
Gardener: Sherm
Garden Size: 1- 4X4 box (first experiment)
Grid Material: Blue hay bale twine
Aisle Width & Materials: They will be 3 ft.
Vertical Frames: Tripod made of 3-1 x 2s, 8 ft. long suports wire fence trellis and 5 gal. water bucket (more about this later)
Types of Plants: Pole beans, carrots, beets,tomoatoes, strawberries, spinach, cabbage, spinach, bush pickles. radishes, brocoli, sweet pepers. Note tomatoes and beans 8 ft. tall.
Specialty Features: Irrigated , using an automated drip irrigation system. Dual water supply.
Note 5 gallon bucket suspended 4 ft. above the box, to irrigate using sun warmed water. The other system used water from a garden hose. Water was turned on automatically by a battery powered timer. Applied 1/2 inch of water every 2 days. Worked "GREAT"
Contact Info for Visits:email: tricklefox_juno.com
phone:801-272-2354
Visiting Restrictions: Visits set up in advance, rambunctious children may be placed in chains
Web Site: n/a
How did you get started: Attended Mel's lecture at a home and garden show. Got all enthused and decided to give it a try.
Advice for those starting SFG: Pay close attention to Mel's suggestions. I think I added nitrogen fertilizer when it wasn't needed and had poor luck with root crops--radishes and red beets
Best thing about SFG: It's easy, it's fun, and I don't think I pulled a weed all summer
Worst thing about SFG: The initial set up is a little expensive if you can not scrounge used box materials. Could not find the prescribed compost material near where I live
Holladay, UT
Location Info: East of Ogden, which is north of Salt Lake City
Gardener: Pam
Garden Size: Four boxes 4 X 4
Grid Material: wooden dowels
Aisle Width & Materials: 2' wooden walkways made from extra cedar house siding
Vertical Frames: Chicken wire for peas
Types of Plants: Peas, spinach, lettuce, swiss chard, onions, cucumbers, asparagus, garlic , beets, basil
Specialty Features: Mel likes the metal brackets that my husband put on the corners of my 4th box.
Contact Info for Visits: Email: pam_ovba.org
Visiting Restrictions: Arrange by e-mail.
Web Site: Not yet.
Other Information: Mel didn't think a "traditional" gardener could be converted ! HA ! This method was made for me !
How did you get started: Mel asked my help with this web site last year, and I learned by reading the pages.
Advice for those starting SFG: Talk to someone who has done it - it really simplifies the starting process - where to get the materials, etc. Better yet, go see some gardens !
Best thing about SFG: NO WEEDING (except those tiny little sprouts that might appear - takes one minute per month to weed).
Worst thing about SFG: It seems like a big expense at first, but the pay back is more than worth it.
Huntsville, UT
Gardener: Michael
Garden Size: 18' x 18'
Grid Material: 1 vinyl blind slats
Aisle Width & Materials: 3 foot aisles with crushed rock and stepping stone
Vertical Frames:
Types of Plants: Strawberries, peas, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli and sugar snap peas.
Specialty Features: Polyvinyl fencing to keep out our dog.
Contact Info for Visits: Email: carterml55_comcast.net
Visiting Restrictions: No restrictions
Web Site: I do not have a web site as yet.
How did you get started: I started SFG in 1981
Advice for those starting SFG: Dont use anything but vinyl for the boxes. I have tried all types of wood and they fail after a few years. Home Depot sells 16 - 2X6 rails (enough for one box) for less than a dollar a foot.
Best thing about SFG: NO WEEDING!!!!
Worst thing about SFG: Not a thing. And I am serious. The ground was hard to prepare for the boxes because of uneven ground but that was no fault of SFG.
Layton, UT
Location Info: Near Ogden, North of SLC
Gardener: Karen
Garden Size: 30' x 60', fenced and Number of Boxes: 15
Grid Material: wood lath
Aisle Width & Materials: 3-4 feet, pea gravel
Vertical Frames: 5
Types of Plants: Corn, asparagus, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, peppers, onions, herbs pumpkins, zucchini, squash, sunflowers, various other flowers.
Specialty Features: Three gardens planted and designed by children. Strawberry pyramid.
Email: sweetlandofliberty2003_yahoo.com
Visiting Restrictions: Please e-mail in advance and make arrangements for a visit. No Sunday visits. Bring the whole gang. Everyone welcome.
Liberty, UT
Location Info: Magna
Gardener: Kelly
Garden Size: Overall Size: 128 sq feet, Depth 2X6
Number of Boxes: 6
Box Material: wooden
Grid Material: Aisle Width & Materials:
about 24", bark over ground cover
Vertical Frames: none yet, but I will be building two frames from steel pipe, with a nylon mesh for my cucumbers, and squash
Types of Plants: strawberry, carrot, cabbage, tomato, broccoli, spaghetti squash, red cabbage, cucumber, beet, chard, white onion, red onion, peas, spinach, pole beans, zucchini, thyme, basil, sage, oregano, garlic, pumpkin
Visiting Restrictions: advance notice
How did you get started: my wife found your book at a yard sale years ago. I read it, and he described how I was gardening as though he had been looking over my shoulder the entire season.
Advice for those starting SFG: go for it. It doesn't have to be perfect, just do it, and learn as you go.
Best thing about SFG: NO WEEDS!!
Worst thing about SFG: nothing at all
Magna, UT
Location Info: About 40 miles south of downtown Salt Lake City
Gardener: Lori
Garden Size: 136 sq ft
Grid Material: Vinyl
Aisle Width & Materials: 4 ft wide grass as well as 4 ft wide gravel
Vertical Frames: Five frames,. Four are
electrical conduit with nylon netting. Also have one antique cast iron bed footboard as a vertical frame (found without its matching headboard at a thrift
store.)
Types of Plants: Tomatoes, Several varieties of squash, beets, carrots, onions, peppers, eggplant, beans, radishes, peas, cucumbers. Used marigold
and onions in each box for natural pest control
Specialty Features: Along with the antique cast
iron bed footboard, I also use other antique pieces to provide interest to the garden.
Contact Info for Visits: By E-mail: gimmeflowers_hotmail.com
Visiting Restrictions: kids if controllable by parents,
no pets (my dog gets jealous), evenings and Saturdays by appointment only.
Web Site: I started a site once but didn't finish. My job is internet related so once I get home, well, I'd rather garden.
How did you get started: My mom bought me the
book. What I had tried previously didn't work out too well so I gave it a shot.
Advice for those starting SFG: Use weed block under your boxes and don't be afraid to experiment. Mistakes will be made that you can adjust for and try something different the next year.
Best thing about SFG: No weeding!!! I've never had success like this with other attempts at growing a garden. I had so many cucumbers from just 2 squares I made bottled pickles for the first time and they were awesome!
Worst thing about SFG: Drawing a blank on this one.
Orem, UT
Location Info: Near University of Utah
Gardener: Bryan
Garden Size: 10' X 10' with two Boxes: 4'X4' boxes (abutted against each other, one vinyl, one cedar) and one 1' X 8' (between last box and a chain link
fence)
Grid Material: Vinyl horizontal blinds connected with small machine bolts & nuts. My grids are made of white vinyl and show up well, however, they are partly obscured by straw and by a raised potato box (covering three squares).
Aisle Width & Materials: 3' wide and roughly paved with carpet squares
Vertical Frames: One 4'X 9' tall (with woven nylon mesh) and one 4'X 7' tall (with molded nylon mesh) , also a 6' tall chain-link fence.
Types of Plants: I am an experimenter, and I like to try unusual plants. This year, I am attempting a short-season artichoke, pineapple sage, fennel, and "elm oyster" mushrooms. I have a few visible failures.
Specialty Features: My garden is situated in a 10'X10' plot in a community garden plot that reassigns plots every year. I have managed to fit two 4'X4' boxes and one 1'X8' box into this space, with good accessibility and three-foot aisles on each side.
Contact Info for Visits: Email: bjl8_utah.edu
Visiting Restrictions: Must be by advance e-mail. Limited times, mostly evenings or weekends. No pets. Children if well-behaved.
Other Information: My grids are made of white vinyl and show up well, however, they are partly obscured by straw and by a raised potato box
(covering three squares).
How did you get started: I got hooked on gardening about three years ago, but I was frustrated that I didn't know where to start. Everybody else had THE way to garden, and they were all different. One day in the winter, I found an old pamphlet from Thanksgiving Point, and thought "That's just what I need!" I got the book, and now I have an opinion on everything. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm always right, but it's wonderful to have a starting point to adjust from. That's why SFG is PERFECT for beginners-- if you don't know where to start, it tells you, and sets you off on a superior gardening method.
Read the book AND the web site articles, as there have been important improvements. Start small and really commit to that patch. Plants can't take the week off from being watered. Try to find a permanent location. Invest in really good, well-balanced compost. Don't expect SFG to solve ALL your problems; after all, it's still GARDENING and gardening can be fickle.
Best thing about SFG: I LOVE being able to plant such a huge variety of plants in a small space. People say "Oh, you're planting those too close together" or "You don't have room for pumpkins!" I just smile, because I know better. Even when I'm embarrassed about my garden, because several squares are unplanted or such-and-such isn't producing as well as the neighbors, people come by and tell me how beautiful my garden is! Many even say it's the prettiest garden in the neighborhood, even when I'm looking at some of my neighbor's plants in envy. It's always compact and attractive, because I put flowers up front, and it's easy to keep weeded. Almost NO WEEDS. I despise weeding, and SFG almost eliminates it! Compact beds are easy to work and plant. I sit on a bucket or kneel on a pad, and I can do it all!
Worst thing about SFG: A lot of expense initially. Since I have to redo things every year, ( editors note because he gardens in a community garden and moves it from year to year ) it gets to be expensive and a lot of work (dig a trench for manure under the tomatoes, level the soil, assemble the boxes, fill with soil-- I saved the soil from last year, but when I don't, it's costly). True, Mel gives some great tips for getting free stuff, and the tips work. But opportunities aren't always there, and you have to buy things. Note: A permanent location would eliminate a lot of MY problems, but it still might get pricey for others at the very start. Soil needs tweaking. I bought cheap compost to start. It would have been better to start with higher-quality compost and organic nitrogen. Lovely fluffy soil dries out quickly in raised beds, especially on the corners. Of course, it retains better than sandy soil, but my neighbors are farming in clay, and they don't have to water as often. Hand watering is time-consuming, and hard to get enough water in midsummer. I usually overhead water to save time-- but overhead watering was a DEATH SENTENCE for beans this year!
Salt Lake City, UT
Location Info: 3 hrs east of Provo, and Salt Lake City; Northeastern Utah
Gardener: Donna
Garden Size: Approximately 20'x30'
Grid Material: Venetian blind strips, fastened at the intersections with small nuts and bolts.
Aisle Width & Materials: 2-3 feet. I laid down flattened cardboard moving boxes and covered them with several inches of wood chips (free) from a tree-trimming operation in the neighborhood.
Vertical Frames: none installed yet (this is a brand new garden).
Types of Plants: So far mostly a lot of salad greens, including several types of lettuce, kale, arugula, mizuna, spinach, and chard, plus onions, garlic, cole crops, and other cool-weather vegetables, plus a few squares of potatoes using the "high-rise" boxes of 1x4 for added depth, and several kinds of flowers.
Specialty Features: I installed PVC "foundations" on the cedar frames, to hold black plastic hoops, and have been using plastic tunnels to get an early start, so that I was able to start harvesting greens in April, about the time the local extension agent said I could start planting them. Since our last frost date isn't until late May or early June here, I also have an area to one side of my garden where I have set up protective devices to get an early start on tomatoes and other frost-sensitive plants.
Visiting Restrictions: No pets, children fine if controlled by parents, e-mail in advance of visit, please.
Other Information: would enjoy on-site visits
How did you get started: I came across the book in the early '80s, and was really impressed. I have used a lot of the ideas over the years, sometimes combined with other methods, but keep coming back to the basic idea. However, this is the first time I have done the full program, with the grids and everything. Actually I tried strings last year, but they didn't work very well. We have moved around a lot, so I have had lots of opportunities to start new gardens, using different methods, such as double-dug beds, sunken beds, etc. We just moved here in December, so I have been working during the late winter and early spring to get my boxes set up and planted, and the effort is paying off now with a nice bowl of greens every day.
Advice for those starting SFG: Just get started and do it!
Best thing about SFG: It is much easier on my back (compared with methods that require so much digging), and it looks nice, even before you get any plants in the ground, because of the grid system. And no hoeing weeds all summer!
Worst thing about SFG: It does take a committment to spend the money on the materials to set it up, but once it is done, you get a quick payback with beauty, harvest, and ease of upkeep.
Vernal, UT
Location Info: Southwest Corner of Salt Lake City area. Near Rose Canyon and the Kennecott Copper Mine
Gardener: Shelley
Garden Size: Overall Size: 16' x 20'
Number of Boxes: (3) 16' x 4's and (1) 8'x4'
Box Material: and Depth: White Vinyl, 5.5"
Type of Soil Mix: Mel's Mix
Grid Material: White Vinyl Vertical Blinds cut and Stapled together. Not so great, have to do something different next year. One blew away already.
Aisle Width & Materials: Aisles are 3 feet wide, planning on grassing them eventually, but just dirt for now.
Vertical Frames: 9 or 10, some Electrical conduit with netting, some T Posts with netting
Types of Plants: Corn, Peas, Carrots, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Beans, Lettuce, Chard, Onions, Peppers, Cabbage, Brocolli, Strawberries, Rhubarb, Parsley, Basil, Sage, Marjoram, Oregano, Thyme, Cilantro, Catnip, Chamomile, Zuchinni, Banana Squash, Pumkins- lrg and decorative sizes, Cucumbers, Watermelon, Canteloupe, Honeydew and more I'm sure, can't think of them all.
Contact Info for Visits
By Appointment in the evenings or on Saturdays. Kids are fine if well behaved. No Pets. Email first then we'll exchange phone numbers.
Web Site: I don't have a website right now, but could be possible. I will send 3 or 4 pictures, and they are all worth seeing. :_)
Specialty Features: I'm using Mel's "high rise apartment buildings" for my Carrots. Made out of the same vinyl, just bracketed together with screws. Looks really nice, and the neighbors always ask what they are for. I placed the Garden very near the house so I could go out and enjoy it any time of the day, but the neatest thing is that I planned it so that it would be in the shade by 5pm every day so I can water and such in the early evenings without running out of daylight.
How did you get started: My mom emailed me some different techniques, this and Mitleider, and I thought this looked simple and straightforward. Not too complicated. Plus I knew I needed to do Something different as I just built a new house and the ground is solid rock. I planted a simple garden last year and it grew, but just digging the holes for the 8 or 9 plants I put in took forever. We have no other vegetation except for a few trees, so I really wanted to get the garden going right away as we can't afford to put in our yard this year.
Advice for those starting SFG: Get creative, don't stress. You really can't mess it up, you can just make it better each year.
Best thing about SFG: NO WEEDS!!! It's amazing!
Worst thing about SFG: Well, I am having trouble with the soil holding the moisture. I've been having to soak my garden every single day. But hey, it still looks great ! And really that's the only trouble I've had. click here to edit and add your own text.
Herriman, UT
Location Info: Near Winchester
Gardener: Frank
Garden Size: Overall: 20x20, Four 4X4 boxes that are 6'' deep filled with Mel's Mix.
Grid Material: nylon cord.
Aisle Width & Materials: Currently 3 ft. grass. Planned: stone.
Vertical Frames: 4
Types of Plants: veggies, fruits and flowers.
Specialty Features: None.
Contact Info for Visits: Email: fturfler_su.edu
Visiting Restrictions: Must be by advance e-mail.
Other Information: My grids are made of white vinyl and show up well, however, they are partly obscured by straw and by a raised potato box ( covering three squares).
How did you get started: Inherited a SFG book and tried it out.
Advice for those starting SFG: Jump right in!
Best thing about SFG: I spend less time working in my garden and get more results. On average I spend 5-10 minutes a day tending to it.
Worst thing about SFG: Nothing.
Boyce, VA
Location Info: Bellingham, near Seattle
Gardener: Debra
Overall Size: 60' X 5'-8'
Number of Boxes: 6 1' - 2' wide boxes varying in length from 10' to 15'
Box Material and Depth: New pine 6"
Type of Soil Mix: Compost/Vermiculite/Sphagnum moss
Aisle Width & Materials: 4' - 5' new wood chips
Vertical Frames (number and type): 1 7' frame of rebar against a 4' brick wall
Grid Material: Nylon Net
Type of plants: Vegetables, herbs and flowers
Garden Specialty Features: We had children involved, so we planted lots of strawberries and sunflowers. The garden is an elevated rectangle above a brick wall with an elevated perennial garden 4' above it that formed the back brick wall. We planted that as well.
How would you like potential visitors to contact you to arrange a visit? By E-mail: howaboutart_yahoo.com
Visiting restrictions: This garden is on the property of a women's transitional housing project and cannot be visited without a project member or staff worker accompanying them.
Do you want on-site visits or would you prefer showing your garden by web site photos, or both ? web site photos only
How did you get started with SFG ?: Master Gardens program
What advice would you give others for starting ?: Just do it, it's sheer joy
What is the best thing you can say about SFG ?: It became a neighborhood marvel for those who could view it, so everyone around has enjoyed it! We started out with only 2 women and 3 children doing all the watering and care, and as it grew 70% of the women were participating. They have taken care of it themselves all summer, and even had enough tomatoes to donate some to the Food Bank! The SFG plan was beautiful and easy to take care of - I don't think any other form of gardening would have encouraged these families to participate. It was a great success.
What is the worst thing you can say about SFG ?: It ended up being rather expensive, as many team members bought new materials instead of using recycled or free things, but they were willing and able!
Bellingham, WA
Location Info: Vancouver , WA SFG in Vancouver, Washington
Gardener: Diane
Garden Size: Overall Size: 20 x 3
Number of Boxes: Box Material: and Depth:
Grid Material: blinds
Aisle Width & Materials: n/a
Type of Soil Mix: lots of compost, vermiculite and sand-top soil mix
Types of Plants: lettuce, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, onion, garlic, carrots, beans (bush and pole), tomatoes, cucumbers
Number of Boxes: 2 ( 10 x 3 )
Box Material and Depth: regular wood planks, 6 high
Contact Info for Visits: 503 737 3107 Mo-Fri, 8-3 pt
Visiting Restrictions: none
this is my second sfg. I had to move my old one. This is not the best spot in the yard. I am planning to move it back to the old place sometimes this fall to be ready for early planting the next year.
How did you get started: after reading Mels book two years ago
Advice for those starting SFG: Just do it
Best thing about SFG: That is the only way I can grow something without loosing battle to weeds, too much planting,.
It is movable.
I LOVE IT,
I LOVE IT.
Worst thing about SFG: Nothing really, I enjoy every moment of it
Vancouver, WA
Location Info: Spokane
Gardener: Francisca
Garden Size: Outer dimensions: Rear wall 112, right rear 88, left side 56 and front corner is 56 x 32 Roughly 36 squares.
Grid Material: Plastic weed eater line.
Aisle Width & Materials: 32 inches from fence to rear of garden, eventually river rock.
Type of Soil Mix: Yard Mix, manure and compost.
Vertical Frames: Two vertical frames made of bent conduit and cotton rope.
Types of Plants: Tomatoes, Peas, Corn, Carrots, Hot Peppers, Green Prppers, Marigolds, Cucumbers,Yellow Squash, Zuchini and Strawbberries inside the cinderblock frame border.
Number of Boxes: One box in an "L" shape.
Box Material and Depth: Cinder Blocks
Interesting facts about you and your garden: It's elevated so the animals stay out and helps with bad backs.
How did you get started: In Pullman, Washington. A friend gave me the book in 1997. But this is only the 2nd. year I have been able to use it. I'm glad I went back.
Advice for those starting SFG: Be patient, if you don't follow the suggested you may not have as good of results as you wanted. The first time I used SFG I followed the mix diretions, this time I didn't and things didn't take off as well.
Best thing about SFG: Space and water conservation.
Worst thing about SFG: I haven't found anything yet
Veradale, WA
Location Info: Half-way between Milwaukee, WI and Madison, WI (Half-way between Jefferson, WI and Sullivan, WI, just North of Highway 18.)
Gardener: Ron Overall Size: 40 square feet
Number of Boxes: Two boxes 4ft X 4ft each and two 1ft X 4ft
Box Material and Depth: 2X8 construction grade lumber screwed together with 1/2" plywood bottoms
Type of soil mix: "Mel's Mix" from local stores. (I had to settle for medium coarsenes vermiculite or wait another two or three weeks.)
Aisle Width & Materials: I have the boxes set on pallets and can move them easily with a pallet jack to allow for sun or rain, etc. or use my bobcat loader to set them onto a table for "raised bed" gardening. I will be able to move the boxes into a shed overnight when frost threatens.
Vertical Frames: I constructed a vertical frame on one side of each box using 1/2" electrical conduit and 90 degree elbow connectors. I ordered the nylon netting from SFG
Grid Material: I used pine strips 1/2" thick cut from the edge of 1 X 12 pine board and used waterproof "Gorrilla Glue" at the intersections (I used 7/16" staples to secure them until the glue cured) and screwed them in place with 3/4" stainless steel "drywall type" screws.
Types of Plants: I have four squares of bi-color sweet corn; one square of bush string-beans; one square of oriental string-beans; several squares of carrots; one square of radishes; several squares of leaf lettuce; two squares of spinach; two squares of beets; two squares of swiss chard; a couple of squares of zucchini and summer squash; one square of watermelon; a few squares of herbs,chives, onions and parsley; three squares of peas; and four squares of tomatoe plants. All were planted by seed except the tomatoes. (SPECIAL NOTE: I purchased the "New SFG book" June 21, 06 and thought it was too late in the season to start; (plus we would be away from home for most of the month of JULY, leaving the garden mostly un-attended) but I thought the most I could lose was a few dollars worth of seeds even if it was a total failure but I would probably get SOMETHING by trying, but NOTHING by waiting. Most gardens here in Southern Wisconsin are well on their way in early May.) My garden was planted June 27th, 2006!!!
Specialty Features: I have access to pallets and recently purchased a pallet jack, so it seemed a good idea to set my "gardens" on pallets so I can relocate them for sun/rain etc. We have extensive tree cover on our property of 10.7 acres which is mostly wild marsh and wild woods, so an area with much sun is hard to find. I also wanted to have the potential of waist high gardening, so the pallets make that possible.
Contact Info for Visits: E-mail: rdcass_hughes.net
Phone: 920-699-8246 (home) 920-988-6900 (cell)
Visiting Restrictions: No "drop-in" visits. Call or email so we can be sure to enjoy visiting with you in person.
Web Site: I have a web site for the sales route in Wisconsin and Illinois we service during the winter months with Florida citrus and one time around for Georgia Peaches in June/July every summer. I will be having a link at the bottom of the first page to show photos etc. of my SFG. That address is: http://www.cass-industries.com
Interesting facts about your garden:
How did you get started: In the early 1980's I made four raised bed gardens inspired by the first SFG book and TV program. It was fairly successful, but using local soil etc. I did have some problem with weeds etc. We had to move early 1990's and have been building our "homestead" since then and attempted a small conventional garden one season, but gave up because we did not have the time to attend to it when it needed attention the most, and we had such linited area of sufficient sun. I had forgotten all about using SFG method!
I ran across the new book at the Farm & Fleet store June 21st of this year, got re-inspired, and, against the advice of my wife, (she felt we did not have time enough and it would be a failure due to lack of attention) I quickly gathered everything together and used up about two days time building, preparing soil and planting; then went on our sales route for the month of JULY, and were home to water or look at the "garden" two Sunday afternoons. Our garden has been growing now for only one month since planting, and it is VERY exciting to see the results. We should be able to harvest salads in just a few more days. We will have to see if anything else matures enough to harvest, but it looks like a bumper crop if the season lasts long enough. I plan to make several more squares so we can enjoy more flowers and more types of vegatables.
Advice for those starting SFG: DO NOT WAIT!!! No matter when you decide to start, just DO IT; and at least get your feet wet trying; you can't really lose anything; but you can get some experience that will help next season. (The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, the second best time to plant a tree is today!!)
Best thing about SFG: It truely is SIMPLE; requires so little effort, equipment, space and time. (I spent less than $25.00 for the boxes & grids and less than $75.00 for "MEL"S MIX soil and seeds, and I have enough seeds for many seasons plus the soil will always be there.)
Worst thing about SFG: It is so simple it is hard to believe it works so well!! Not enough people know about it. We have to get the word out to EVERYONE! (I printed a few dozen copies of your brochure to share.)
Helenville, WI
