I have devoured the book All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space!
I was planning on joining a local community garden, and even had my deposit paid and lot reserved. It was advertised as a “beautiful lot, right next to an old church, with shade and grass for the kids to run around in.” Sounds great, huh? Well, they left out the part about being right off an alley, next to a yard full of waste, with a very fierce sounding dog. Not quite the blissful gardening atmosphere I was hoping for, so I asked for my deposit back and decided to have a go at it in my own yard. My back yard is very shaded, so I am limited to growing one side and the front of my house, which is why square foot gardening was appealing.
The following photos are not meant to be a tutorial. The book does such an awesome job of that, with many beautiful photos, so if you are interested in doing this, you MUST get the book. My hope is that the following photos will inspire anyone out there that have thought about gardening but felt too overwhelmed by it all. If I can do this, ANYONE can! I have hit some roadblocks, (I am NOT a fan of hardware stores, and have been visiting them often lately) but just kept going.
*Square Foot Garden Update
All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space!
All New Square Foot Gardening Cookbook: Taking the Harvest to the Table
This post is linked to:
The Do It Yourself Showoff Parade @ The DIY Showoff
Your Life, Your Blog @ Real Life
Do It Yourself Day @ A Soft Place To Land
Talented Tuesday @ Frugal Family
Works For Me Wednesday@ We Are That Family
Penny Pinchin’ Party @ The Thrifty Home
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
Make It Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints On The Fridge
Linky Loves Friday @ Sweet Charlie
New Nostalgia – Growing Radishes
May 12, 2014 at 2:23 am[…] had a yummy salad last night, made with lettuce, swiss chard, and radish from our square foot garden. I can’t believe I’m actually succeeding at growing food! My girls little […]
Kendra Goodrich
April 22, 2010 at 5:36 amI have the book and actually taught it several years ago. Now I have a house and can finally do some gardening! Thanks for the reminder. I hope you grow lots!
Mary Ellen
April 20, 2010 at 3:25 amI used the square foot gardening method and like it. I will be doing basically the same thing this year but not dividing into squares. There is a book something like the lasagna method which is one I want to read and I think may be similar to sq. foot but maybe using rows?
Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden
April 17, 2010 at 5:28 amI’ve seen that book before so I’ll be interested in your experience! The bed looks great. I love gardening season!
Thanks for linking up to Make it Yours Day! Have a great weekend!
Amy Bowman
April 16, 2010 at 11:44 pmso many fun comments and encouraging words..thank you.
the garden is looking good, can’t wait to write an update..seeds are sprouting..its actually working!!
There are a few new faces in these comments, looking forward to “meeting ” you and visiting your blogs!
Kate
April 16, 2010 at 3:51 pmI watched a program on one of PBS gardening shows a few years ago and decided to give this a try for my herbs. Worked great and they’re still occupying their foot with the exception of my Rosemary and Lavender which had to be moved in order to grow MORE basil 🙂
Kami @ Sweet Charli...
April 16, 2010 at 3:41 amYou have inspired me to start a garden! Thanks so much for linking up with us!
Fawnda
April 15, 2010 at 9:42 pmIt looks interesting… I have a black thumb when it comes to growing things… I wish I could be a gardener! I am so impressed with the work you have done so far! : )
Maria and Michelle
April 15, 2010 at 5:15 pmWe have plans to build our first sq ft garden this weekend! I can’t wait to follow you on your progress. I’d love for you to follow mine!
{Maria}
Your Frugal Friend, Niki
April 14, 2010 at 5:23 pmHi there! Niki here, stopping over from WFMW. I just wanted to pop in and check out your blog. I like what I see so far.
Stop by my blog, Free 2 Be Frugal, when you get a chance!
I am starting one of those gardens this year too..good luck.
erin
April 14, 2010 at 10:51 amAhhh. I LOVE that book. I bought it last winter and devoured it too! Then, my mom saw it on my table and STOLE it. Then she had my dad build her two of those boxes. She did very well last summer with her gardens. Keeps everything so neat. I am inspired to go and STEAL my book back and I might even steal one of her boxes! 🙂 Those sugar snap peas sound like a great idea! I remember liking that Bartholemew tells you what to plant and when so that you don’t have 20 heads of cabbage to deal with at once! Great book.
LaVonne
April 14, 2010 at 7:44 amAmy, you are the second blog I have read about this book. My husband and I are wanting to start a garden this month. I need to check this book out! Thanks for sharing!
Our Lives
April 13, 2010 at 5:25 pmAmy, this is truly a big project you are under taking, but what a wonderful outcome it is for you and for your family! I can hardly wait to see what you will be harvesting this fall!
Oh, and thank you for featuring me again. Your link party has been a great motivational tool for me to get my delinquent projects done! Thank you for hosting it, Amy.
Laurie
April 13, 2010 at 2:40 pmThis is awesome! Great job! Way to go tackling the awkward hardware store haha. Also really love your pretty rocks instead of mulch. I think I will have to do that b/c my mulch just keeps blowing away in windy kansas!
Destri
April 13, 2010 at 1:33 pmAwesome! I need to do something like this so my kids don’t run over my tomatoes this year!
Laura
April 13, 2010 at 2:30 pmWhat a great idea. I’m so glad I found your blog through Talented Tuesday.
I would love it if you joined my “Saturday is Crafty Day” party on April 24th! Stop by my blog for details.
Michelle
April 13, 2010 at 2:09 pmI do square foot gardening and last year was amazing! I had veggies galore all from 2 4×8 garden beds!You will love it!
Jenni
April 13, 2010 at 2:00 pmWow! What an undertaking! I look forward to seeing how it goes! I should take time to read your references instead of gardening by the seat of my pants here. Maybe we can call it a trial year too since it’s our first full year to garden at this house? Thanks for commenting on my projects–so glad I found your blog!
thingsyoudidntdo
April 13, 2010 at 1:26 amSo glad you found the book and that it appealed to you Amy. I found your blog via Megan @ Sorta Crunchy and am really enjoying it 🙂
Good luck with the garden! Sounds like you’re off to a great start! We’ve had good success with many of the plants you’re trying…and by we I mean my husband has had great success growing them and I have enjoyed eating them! LOL
robyn
April 12, 2010 at 5:51 pmyay for gardening! i keep wanting to do some of this on our front porch (our backyard is super shady as well, and the front yard is our only spot for gardening) with some tomatoes in pots and some snap peas and even some lettuce (i LOVE summer salads) but haven’t gotten around to it yet. thanks for the subtle push!
Alicia
April 12, 2010 at 8:59 pmMy parents just started one of these a few weeks ago and have already been able to harvest some of their chard!
Joy
April 12, 2010 at 7:57 pmI love gardening and use the square-foot gardening method too! I started with just one 4×8 box, and this year added a second one. In the first one I paid the money to make Mel’s mix with vermiculite and perlite and the whole works. This year, I made my own mix with organic topsoil, composted manure, peat, etc. We’ll see how it goes. I’ve planted peas, carrots, swiss chard, and spinach so far. I need to get my lettuce in soon, but my dog started digging in my box! So I had to stop, get some chicken-fencing up, and I haven’t had a minute to put more seeds in!
I found you from REal Life Sarah’s blog. Nice to meet you!
talesofahummingbird
April 12, 2010 at 7:55 pmgreat post – thanks, i will have to check it all out. i too am creating a tiny garden in the few available spaces in my yard and also have much shade as a limiting factor. never thought to put snap peas on the front porch, may have to give it a go!
Sarah @ Mum In Bloom
April 12, 2010 at 7:11 pmAmy how inspiring! We’re covering our septic covers and tank area this year with a raised garden.. I’ll have to take out this book and have a look. I’ve planted cherry tomatoes and strawberries in pots as well so we can eat them straight off the kitchen deck. I purchased my first CSA last Friday just in case my garden fails on our first try… but also because it’ll be so exciting getting an awsome box of produce from it each week 🙂
Cassadee
April 12, 2010 at 5:52 pmI am trying this for the first time this year too! Thanks for posting this. We are renting so I didn’t want to do anything in the ground and this was a great alternative. The only place for it to go is in my flower bed…I have to sacrifice a rose bush. It’s the only place that gets the best sunlight. What did you use for your bottom? Do you use Mel’s Mix? Vermiculite is very expensive! Thanks!!
Angie
April 12, 2010 at 5:03 pmCan’t wait to give this a try! I’ve been wanting a veggie garden for I don’t know how long!!