Macy and I went to a Northwood's gardening seminar several months ago and one of the speakers was the CEO of Square Foot Gardening, a not for profit group. Founded by Mel Bartholomew, and still the guru, it is a different approach to gardening. 30 years ago he got interested in gardening and evolved the Square Foot Gardening approach. He had a show on PBS, then both the Discovery and Learning Channels. Basic principals are small plots that can be easily tended, idealy 4x4 foot, but any size works. No rows, but 1 foot grids for planting. So tomatoes and peppers are one per grid, lettuce 4 per grid, radishes 16 per grid...you get the drift. Other basic rule is Mel's mix...one third peat moss, one third vermiculite, and one third blended compost. When you rotate a crop add a trowel of compost.
We're giving it a go. Our challenge is a short growing season, soil that is 1/2 sand, 1/4 rock, and 1/4 roots, and we're in the woods...shade! We do have abundant water though.
We'll keep you posted.
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| Here's Mel's book, second addition. Over 30 years he's evolved the approach. Basic principal for now...you can grow anything in 6 inches of the right soil |
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| According to Mel if you don't have the grid it ain't square foot gardening...we're all in. |
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| Staining the beds to match the house....seems like a good idea. |
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| Working on Mel's mix. Blended compost in Mel's definition is at least 9 different composts. Sorry Mel, we'll have to settle for 3 or 4. The problem with a cult is it's so confining. |
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| We'll place the beds somewhere in this area, grass is just coming in...no doubt the best places for the beds will be where the grass comes in best. |
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