Introductionto

Squarefoot Gardening

Jennifer AllenRegular Person

I know what you’re thinking . . .

Gardening is too hard

It takes too much time.

It takes too much work

Soil PH? What’s that?

I don’t want to spend all day pulling weeds!

PESTS! FERTILIZER!

Watering

I kill everything!

Equipment

My goal for today . . .

“I can do THAT.”

Why would you want to garden?

It’s empowering to create your own food.

It saves money. It promotes your vitamin D! It’s something families can do together. Great learning tool for kids.

What kind of gardener do you want to be?

Container gardenerSeed sprouterbig gardenersmaller gardenersquarefoot gardenerfruit trees and berry bushes

Why is it better?You don’t have to worry about your existing soil.

Takes only 20% of the space of traditional gardening.

Less work thantraditional gardening.

Keep it simple!

Mel Bartholomew Inventor

Best-Selling Gardening Book

PBS TV Series

Non-Profit Foundation

Schools

Humanitarian

Just 3 Steps

1. Build a box

2. Fill it with Mel’s mix

3. Add a grid and start planting

Pick a location

6-8 hours of sun each day

Clear of trees and shrubs

Doesn’t puddle after it rains

Most importantly, close to the house

The 10 Basics - #1 Layout

Always think in squares: 4x4

#2 - Boxes

Build boxes4 feet wide

and 6-8 inches

deep

#3 - Aisles

Leave 2-3 feet aisles

#4 - Mel’s Mix

1/3 peat moss

1/3 coarse vermiculite

1/3 compost

#5 - Grid

Mark of your squares. Don’t just eyeball it!

#6 - Care

Never walk on your growing soil.

Work from the aisles.

Pick off pests.

Visit your garden once a day.

#7 - Select

Pick your seeds/plants and plan your

squares using 1, 4, 9 or 16 plants per square

#8 - Plant

Plant only as much as you need.

Thinning is all but eliminated.

#9 - Water

Water often especially at

firstand on hot

days.

#10 - Harvest

Harvest continually.

Add additional compost and replant empty squares with a new crop.

#11 Cook and Preserve (according to Jen)

1. Freeze

2. Dehydrate

3. Ferment

4. Maybe some canning . . . Tomatoes

5. Share

Be creative

Containers

Go vertical

My Garden – 1st Year

One tomato plant in an old wooden ammo box

One pepper plant in a 5 gallon bucket

Herbs

My Garden – 2nd Year

I asked for ONE 4x4 box. . .

My Garden – 2nd Year

I asked for ONE 4x4 box. . .

My Garden – 2nd Year

I asked for ONE 4x4 box. . .

My Garden – 2nd Year

I asked for ONE 4x4 box. . .

My Garden – 2nd Year

I asked for ONE 4x4 box. . .

All I asked for was one little 4x4 box . . .

Resources – Missing from the handout

www.omagro.comCity of Omaha compost

cckw@cox.netIf you need help with your boxes