Square Foot Gardening
We planted our garden this weekend. We’re doing the Square Foot Gardening method. Each box is 4 feet by 4 feet and divided into 16 square foot sections. Depending on the what you’re planting, you can do 1, 4, 9 or 16 plants in each square foot. Here is my layout for this year. The ones in pink are Leo’s and in blue are Fischer’s. I bought the tomato and bell pepper plants and some basil; everything else is from seeds. As you can see in the pictures above, a few are already coming up. The neat thing about square foot gardening is that the soil is a mixture of pete moss, compost and vermiculite–no actual dirt (fewer weeds!). You can read more about it at the link above, but it’s supposed to grow more in a smaller space.
We planted the kids’ sections for FHE (with a little lesson on faith is like a seed). I forgot to take pictures, so I staged some last night (wasn’t going to tell you, but they looked staged, so what the heck). The kids were excited, but got a little tired of dropping seeds into holes after awhile. They picked out what they planted by themselves – not sure how well watermelon and cantaloupe are going to grow, but we’ll see. Can’t wait to try some garden-fresh vegetables! Next project: learn how to can.
linds said,
May 8, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
those look awesome. i am so jealous. let me know when you are going to start learning to can… i totally want to learn.
the kids look soooo cute in those pictures!
Denton said,
May 8, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
I found a canning class at this little cooking school on Patterson, but I’m not sure if I’m going to do it. It costs $90 for 3 hours, although it does include the cooking of several sauces to can.
I don’t know, I think I just need to find someone who’s canned to teach me.
HML said,
May 8, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
If you lived here you could have a canning lesson with James’ entire family! It’s a lot of work, but they have SO MUCH good food in all kinds of jars. I bet if you could find someone who already has the special gear that would rock…or spend your money on the canning tools…I think there are different things to use for different foods. Truthfully, I have no idea what the hell I’m talking about, but I have just watched James’ family can all summer long and all of their machines are from like 1970.
Those pics are DARLING of the kids…can Leo please be a mini Marissa with a little bit o’ sassOfrASS and salt licker in a couple of those shots? And in that one where they are folding their arms, did you tell them they have to be reverent? What a GREAT idea for the kids to garden! Only you, Den-en!
HML said,
May 8, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
PS-I hope one of your kids drops a D bomb…or the S bomb…Gina, why are you only limiting yourself to one swear word a WEEK? How about 1 a day instead?:)
Tiffany said,
May 10, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
Um, is it just me or did anyone else have deja-vu when the picture changed from Rocky to Leo? I saw her eyes and thought it was going to be another one of Rocky. Wow! I love the planters. I would totally do it but I have a black thumb….
danae said,
May 11, 2008 @ 9:51 pm
oh i’m so jealous..i really want to start an herb garden..but so much stinkin’ stuff to do around this place..josh was just asking me about it this week and i told him i think i’m going to have to do it next yr. HAPPY ANIVERSARY TO YOU GUYS!..i remember when you got married and you came over to oahu for your honeymoon! oh, & i remember getting your invitation in the mail..and being overwhelmed with happiness that marrissa married a good ‘ol white mormon boy! ha!ha! just joking marrissa! i knew you’d find a good one..just look at ya..how could you not! loved reading about you too..awe, a love story!
aimee said,
May 13, 2008 @ 7:34 am
I’m so glad you blogged your garden!! I was actually going to go to your home and take pictures to show Matt what I want in my garden! So thanks for saving me some time, I will be showing Matt when he gets home today! You guys did a fantastic job!
Maylin said,
May 15, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
That is going to be one lush garden! Keep us posted on the growth. Brad worked really REALLY hard on his garden last year only to be disappointed by the ridiculously short growing season of the NW. So this year the garden will be limited to pots on the porch. But look out next year when we are in Cali! But speaking of the NW, when are you guys making your way over here?
Leslie said,
May 25, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
Holy vegetables! Holy Martha! I love it!! I think this is so cool that you’re doing all this gardening. It’s all fun except for the weeding part, but maybe that won’t be so bad in the boxes you’re using. I have loved doing my garden, even though I just end up giving most of the vegetables away. We try to avoid eating most health foods around here. Good luck with yours! I want to see progress pics!
Leslie said,
May 25, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
I forgot to note that I think your children are incredibly adorable. I love seeing pictures of them.