Square Foot Gardening

Square Foot Gardening is a simplified method of gardening that anyone can use anywhere.  You can adapt it to the local environment and location you live.  Whatever part of the world, whatever soil (or no soil), learn about how you can grow your own food and/or flowers.

Square Foot Gardening was developed by Mel Bartholomew - a retired efficiency expert.  Over the last 25 years or so he has helped people around the world to enjoy gardening and to be able to grow some of their own food.  He started a non profit foundation to help teach this method to as many people as possible. There are now square foot gardens all over the world. See the official website
Square Foot Gardening

Some advantages -

less seed is wasted - no thinning

grow a wider variety of vegetable without having too much of one thing at one time

less work

no tilling - as a Square Foot Gardener for 20 years I have never tilled my garden

less expense

more fun

great tasting, money saving produce you grew yourself

great for any age - great experience for children

garden in places you thought were impossible for gardening

requires 80% less space than a traditional garden 

less water 

fewer weeds

fewer insect pests

The Ten Basics of Square Foot Gardening

Layout - arrange your garden in squares instead of rows.

Boxes - build boxes to contain your soil mix - no need to dig up your existing soil

Aisles - Space boxes 3' apart

Soil - Fill boxes with Mel's soils mix: 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite

Grid - Make a grid which divides your box into square feet. Its not a real square foot garden without the grid.

Care - Easily tend your garden from the aisles. No need to walk on your garden.

Select - Plant something different in each square - 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants per square foot.

Plant - Plant only what is needed - why plant more just to thin the extra plants out later

Water - Water by hand or with a drip system

Harvest - Enjoy the easiest grown best tasting vegetables and herbs. Then add some compost and plant your next crop.

For more information visit
Square Foot Gardening

and read his books.  Your local library should have a copy of this garden bestseller.  However, you will likely want to purchase your own after reading it.  Try to find the newest version: All-New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space by Mel Bartholomew

For information about growing herbs How to Grow and Use Herbs