Hello from Central Illinois

Hello!

I've been reading about SFG for about a year and really wanted to start this year.  Hubby wasn't interested.  Then I found SFG kits from Suncast on sale at Menards - they were on clearance - over 50% off.  So I'm picking them up tomorrow!

My greatest concern is how to buy what I need to make Mel's Mix on my own.  He talks about how many Square Foot of the mix you need; everyone seems to sell the components by quart, etc.  I'm not good at figuring out how to convert this and I don't have a teenager to help me.

Hoping to find some information in the forum to direct me on how much to buy.

Looking forward to chatting with fellow Square Foot Gardeners.

This is not exact, but will give you a ballpark purchasing guide that assumes you do not have your own compost pile. 

1.  The book ALL NEW SQUAREFOOT GARDENING, 1ST OR 2ND EDITION

2.  For every 4x4 bed you need five - six 40 lb bags of 5 different KINDS of compost, 4 cu ft of vermiculite and a 2 cu ft bale of compressed peat moss. This will actually make closer to 12 cu ft of MM, but having excess is not a bad thing.  I use 10 cu ft per bed to start although you don't actually need quite that much. 

Most commercial composts come in 40-50 lb bags, some in 20 lb.  Bat guano and worm castings I believe come in smaller packages, but are powerful additions.   The composts do not have to have exactly equal amounts of each type. I wouldn't match worm casting lb for lb with cow manure.   Having excess blended compost on hand is not a bad thing since this is what you replenish your squares with.   With the above amounts on hand you will be able to measure and mix the 1/3,1/3,1/3 amounts using a bucket or container.


The vermiculite database may be assistance in locating a source near you for vermiculite. - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkxGrCEb40U2dExrM09fbk9zWnE4cC1Gb2oyamVOMVE&hl=en#gi


https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/h22-mel-s-mix-calculator

Hope this helps.

Kay

Hi Flutterby.  Welcome!

The All New SFG 2nd Edition will give you measurements as well.

Hello and thanks!  I have the book, but just couldn't wrap my head around the amounts I needed.

I'm starting 3 beds at 4' x 4' each.

Wish me luck!

FlutterBy, Welcome to the Forum!   

Thank you for the welcome, Sanderson.

I went out and bought supplies today.  Still need to find one more kind of compost.

You'll be fine! 

But be warned:  SFG is addicting...!

AtlantaMarie wrote:You'll be fine! 

But be warned:  SFG is addicting...!

+1 what she said! (as I plot where to put box #9)

GG

I think I'm already addicted.  I told my husband I bought one bed kit, then fessed up and told him I had ordered two.  They were less than 1/2 price.  I couldn't help it when they on sale further - I bought a third!   Assembly this weekend.

I can't wait until I show him how much better my garden grows in comparison to his regular garden!

 

Flutterby, Plus, you have all of us to help you succeed!

+1, Sanderson!

Welcome! You will do fine with SFG. The rewards are plentiful.

Pappy