Square Foot Hero Gardens

Our SFG projects from 2009 (Original Instructor Certification) to present:

CRUMC Demonstration Garden -- Our Little Garden Helper

Converting abandoned Boy Scout raised bed project to Square Foot Gardens
(They requested that we allow the canna lilies to remain, so it was a challenge planting our squares before they sprouted in the spring!)

The CanDo! Crew springs into action ~

This was originally our son Mark's herb garden, but the bunnies and other critters from the park next door thought he planted the goodies just for them!;-) Instead of making a screen covering for his box (which had been relocated to the front beds for more sun,) we decided to convert it to a Square Foot Hero Garden planted with two shades of Mexican Heather, dedicated to my father, Herbert W. Davidson, Sr. (USAAF-WWII, deceased,) brothers, Herb Davidson, Jr. (USN, USS Forrestal, Vietnam, deceased) and Walter Clifton Davidson (USAF,) plus my ever-lovin' husband, Chuck Ard (USN, USS Nimitz.) 

Honorable mention goes to my mom, Phyllis Clifton Davidson (Navy brat, Army wife, and Rosie the Riveter) and our nephew, Phil Ard (USMC,) who has served multiple tours of duty in the war zone. Thanks to Mel Bartholomew for the inspiration and special granting of my retroactive (Spring 2009) Teacher/Speaker diploma from Square Foot University on this lovely Memorial Day weekend 2010!

-=- Once when one of [Mary Baker Eddy's] students asked her permission to put flowers on the graves of Mrs. Eddy's family on Memorial day, she replied, "I love you, and thank you, but they sleep not there. Let the dead bury the dead. Jesus." [Quote from HealingUnlimited.org] -=-

See The Amazing Story of the Square Foot Hero Garden (Originally submitted for the Square Foot Gardening Foundation Teachers Contest): http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/CanDoCoop-1004823-candocoop-squarefootherogarden/ ♥

Citrus County Current Feature Photo
The CanDo! Crew-n-me hosting an educational booth and tending Laura Lou Fitzpatrick's Square Foot Hero Garden.

The newspaper caption reads: Penne Ard, a certified teacher of Square Foot Gardening, [hosts] an educational booth at Market Day. In front are her daughters.

Photo courtesy of the Crystal River Current/CLAIRE PHILLIPS LAXTON

Square Foot Gardening 2012 Summer Contest Entry - Church Category

For converting established raised beds, the local Master Gardener strongly advised using 6 Mil Black Plastic as a liner to prevent the chemicals from leaching out of the pressure-treated landscape timbers. There was some confusion from the Foundation as to whether this would cause a mold problem. I didn't think it would be any different than using a plastic planter box with drainage holes, but haven't been able to confirm that with Mel, yet.

Here's the original PowerPoint Presentation for the contest entry:
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/vickiewatson3-1504737-unity-citrus-square-foot-garden

[Unity of Citrus Board Member] Ken Norquist, pictured above, is a contractor by trade and he not only made the custom plaque stand, but the cedar grids.

Ken also procured the loan of these antique wrought iron gates for visual effect and installed them himself, and boy, were the melons and tomatoes happy to see some long-awaited vertical frames!!

Oh, WOW! You've been busy, busy, BUSY!!! Thanks for sharing your gardens!

That is just too AWESOME! Thanks for allowing us to enjoy the pictures.

Thanks for the feedback, y'all ~ It's nice to be recognized and appreciated!!

Great pic's, thanks!

Very nice beds! It's obvious lots of work went into your project(s) and you had some great helpers! The antique gates are beautiful and a nice touch!

Always wonderful to get the thumbs up from fellow SFG enthusiasts ~ Thank You!! for the encouraging words. I'll pass them along to the Crew!!

Thank you for showing me your memorial gardens . I found the concept very moving .. I have several mates who never made it to their end of service discharge dates.

Here in the UK we will be having our British Legion services of rembrance on 11 NOV for all people killed ,injured or mentally scarred in all our conflicts for our friends , foes & innocents alike .

It looks like several of your gardens have some kind if water bottle. What kind of self watering container is it attached to? Many of us would like specific instructions please.

So happy to hear the Memorial Garden touched your heart, David ~ we recognize Veterans Day on November 11th here in the US, as well.

Our Hero Gardens were originally inspired by Mel's Freestanding SFG project at the Salt Lake City VA Hospital many years ago. The story got lost in the shuffle when the site was revamped, but I managed to save a sample photo from the original webpage, which I posted in the Hero Garden album on our community page, Sowing Seeds of Love & Appreciation: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=181382505244038

CaptainKidney wrote:It looks like several of your gardens have some kind if water bottle. What kind of self watering container is it attached to? Many of us would like specific instructions please.

Happy to oblige, Mike! I found these handy watering companions at a little Tea Bar (aka Back Porch Garden) here in Crystal River a few years ago. They're called Plant Nannies (ceramic stakes) ~ love 'em as a no-fuss natural drip system! http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Plant-Watering-Stakes-4-packs/dp/B00164IW1S/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

One of my Callanetics students painted the bottle (the one with flowers) on the left side of my son Mark's Butterfly Hero Garden, and Laura Lou Fitzpatrick (another of our heroes from Page 1) found a beautiful old bottle for her box displayed at Heritage Village. Still keeping an eye out for vintage bottles myself!

My friend, Cynthia, reported that the Plant Nannies were out of stock at Amazon when she searched last year and they apparently have not returned. Looked like the original manufacturer was no longer making this item, but may have rebooted since then. I had also googled for "Add-a-Bottle Plant Nanny" at that time, and got a lot of results 'though most said the product was not available.

For anyone who stumbles upon this exchange and wants a plant nanny of their very own -- I'm not sure about the reputation of this vendor, but here's a link to one of the only ones I found last year with plant nannies in stock (if the page is up-to-date):

http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/plant-nanny-watering-stakes

Thanks for asking, even if that was more information than you bargained for! ;-) Happy Monday, Everyone!!

Found our flyer from Global Youth Service Day (Featuring Square Foot Demonstration Gardens -- see the original Community Garden in the Back 40):

luckypenne wrote:

CaptainKidney wrote:It looks like several of your gardens have some kind if water bottle. What kind of self watering container is it attached to? Many of us would like specific instructions please.

Happy to oblige, Mike! I found these handy watering companions at a little Tea Bar (aka Back Porch Garden) here in Crystal River a few years ago. They're called Plant Nannies (ceramic stakes) ~ love 'em as a no-fuss natural drip system! http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Plant-Watering-Stakes-4-packs/dp/B00164IW1S/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

One of my Callanetics students painted the bottle (the one with flowers) on the left side of my son Mark's Butterfly Hero Garden, and Laura Lou Fitzpatrick (another of our heroes from Page 1) found a beautiful old bottle for her box displayed at Heritage Village. Still keeping an eye out for vintage bottles myself!

My friend, Cynthia, reported that the Plant Nannies were out of stock at Amazon when she searched last year and they apparently have not returned. Looked like the original manufacturer was no longer making this item, but may have rebooted since then. I had also googled for "Add-a-Bottle Plant Nanny" at that time, and got a lot of results 'though most said the product was not available.

For anyone who stumbles upon this exchange and wants a plant nanny of their very own -- I'm not sure about the reputation of this vendor, but here's a link to one of the only ones I found last year with plant nannies in stock (if the page is up-to-date):

http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/plant-nanny-watering-stakes

Thanks for asking, even if that was more information than you bargained for! ;-) Happy Monday, Everyone!!

Here is the Harbor Freight version that attaches to 2 litre soda bottles.
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-watering-cone-set-93182.html

Kay

Kay,

Thanks for the Harbor Freight information. My veggies will love you come the heat of summer down here in super hot Florida (we are freezing down here right now .....it is all the way down to 59).

Mike