Introduction to Squarefood Gardening
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Transcript of Introduction to Squarefood Gardening
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
[email protected] you need help with your boxes