SFG NEW Book Question.

Ok Money is tight my book has disappeared I can get the second edition for $11.98 or the 2013 edition for $15,00

Is there enough new data in the new book to warrant the more expensive version?

Please be honest and not just following the party line.

Thank you.

I would get the new one.

Perhaps this previous thread will help you.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t14630-2nd-edition-all-new-square-foot-gardening
You can get a preview of the book on Amazon as well. Ultimately, only you can make the decision of whether it's worth it or not.

I am really confused. I thought the 2nd edition was the latest out?????????

Someone please enlighten me.

Hoggar wrote:Y?

I think the $3 difference is worth it for an updated edition.

bnoles wrote:I am really confused. I thought the 2nd edition was the latest out?????????

Someone please enlighten me.

Yes, the ANSFG Book, 2nd edition was released in 2013.

Thanks Camp!

bnoles wrote:I am really confused. I thought the 2nd edition was the latest out?????????

Someone please enlighten me.

My understanding is the first edition was:
Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space with Less Work by Mel Bartholomew (Mar 10, 2005)
ISBN-10: 1579548563

Second edition is:
All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew (Feb 14, 2006)
ISBN-10: 1591862027

Which would make the newest edition the 3rd:
Square Foot Gardening Answer Book: New Information from the Creator of Square Foot Gardening (Dec 12, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1591865417

Any way I ended up ordering the new one because While I was looking for carrots it popped up in an Amazon search for $11.66.
Here is the link.
Square Foot Gardening Answer Book on Amazon.
Always happy to share a good deal!

I believe that the first book, SFG, is considered a book unto itself.

The ANSFG is so different that it's its own animal, with a 1st and 2nd edition. I can attest to the vast differences because I started out with SFG and then switched over to ANSFG midstream.

The Answer book is a totally different animal, too, I believe.
Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

CC

CapeCoddess wrote:I believe that the first book, SFG, is considered a book unto itself.

The ANSFG is so different that it's its own animal, with a 1st and 2nd edition. I can attest to the vast differences because I started out with SFG and then switched over to ANSFG midstream.

The Answer book is a totally different animal, too, I believe.
Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

CC

I think you are right. I don't have the original SFG book. I have the 1st edition of ANSFG. I have on order from Amazon the 2nd (2013) edition of ANSFG and the new Answer book (came to just over $25 total so free shipping). I should have them next week to compare.

Cheapest are the Kindle versions if you can stand not having a real book to page through and make notes in.

$9.99

Kay

Mel's original book (published in several editions) described a gardening method he developed while he served as director of a community garden on Long Island in NY and later as a host of a PBS TV program. It expounded the concept of square foot gardening, but his beds were in-ground, separated by planks he laid on the ground (so Mel had lots of experience trying to navigate around in a garden with beds spaced only 12-18" apart, hence his current 3 foot recommendation).

I own a later edition of his earlier book and it is a treasured possession. When I first started gardening at our house in 1986, I had to build raised beds because my back yard was just glacial till and forest duff on top of ledge, shaded by pines. Mel's technique of square foot gardening seemed to apply just as well to my raised beds. so I found the book extremely valuable to me. I filled the beds with my own concoction of peat moss and bagged top soil and compost. It worked extremely well for several years until the pine roots invaded the beds and strangled everything.

Now I have a plot in the town's community garden and have covered it with raised beds filled with Mel's mix. My guide in doing this was Mel's new book, the All New Square Foot Gardening (to distinguish it from Mel's first book). In ANFSG, Mel introduces raised beds filled with Mel's Mix. The new book is much slicker and colorful than the first, and it introduces many new techniques for trellising, etc. Mel has recently re-issued the ANFSG with updated information as ANFSG Second Edition. I don't own a copy yet but others on the forum have suggested it is definitely worthwhile to purchase this new edition even if you own ANFSG. And certainly if you are new to SFG, ANFSG Second Edition is the version you should buy.

CapeCoddess wrote:The Answer book is a totally different animal, too, I believe.
Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone.

True, the Answer Book is a separate book that is meant as a companion to the ANSFG book. It is not the same as the second edition of the ANSFG book.

Hoggar wrote:Ok Money is tight my book has disappeared I can get the second edition for $11.98 or the 2013 edition for $15,00

Is there enough new data in the new book to warrant the more expensive version?

Please be honest and not just following the party line.

Thank you.

I feel that the latest book ( details in my strap line) is a worthwhile investment , for it leaves out things you no longer need to do as a sq ft gardener and it now includes a lot more useful pictures , more visually acceptable charts & a pest control section .

One of the snags of the other books was that quite a lot of people are not strong enough readers to be able to follow all the words or like me they are a wee bit dyslexic . The pictures in the latest book help overcome some of those problems
especially in box building and what plants ought to look like .

I haven't read the first, but having the second, there isn't anything in it that I haven't been able to find easily online by searching square foot garden. Depending on how much time you want to put into research, it may or may not be worth it.

Tris wrote:I haven't read the first, but having the second, there isn't anything in it that I haven't been able to find easily online by searching square foot garden. Depending on how much time you want to put into research, it may or may not be worth it.

Bet you found all sorts of things you dind't need as well Tris

Because Mel's book is hard copy and it is all in one place it's ideal for total beginners and change over ancient seasoned row gardeners like myself .

It's an even better bargain when you have a sieve for a memory board & unstable health like me and many others

plantoid wrote:

Tris wrote:I haven't read the first, but having the second, there isn't anything in it that I haven't been able to find easily online by searching square foot garden. Depending on how much time you want to put into research, it may or may not be worth it.

Bet you found all sorts of things you dind't need as well Tris

Because Mel's book is hard copy and it is all in one place it's ideal for total beginners and change over ancient seasoned row gardeners like myself .

It's an even better bargain when you have a sieve for a memory board & unstable health like me and many others

No, not really. I found a lot of good information on several sites, including this one.
I have Mel's book on my iPad, not hard copy. So fortunately for me it's right along side all of the other information I have found. It is a nice book don't get me wrong, it has got me excited to try gardening, but it has a lot of filler and not much information for a newb, I'm left with a lot of questions.

Ask away there guys & gals here who are far more experienced in most aspects of ANSFG than I .

There are also one or two who are far more academically & physically qualified in the theory of argiculture than most .


We are a friendly bunch ( well most of the time ) and are only too happy to help / give our views & knowledge for your consideration.

plantoid wrote:Ask away there guys & gals here who are far more experienced in most aspects of ANSFG than I .

There are also one or two who are far more academically & physically qualified in the theory of argiculture than most .


We are a friendly bunch ( well most of the time ) and are only too happy to help / give our views & knowledge for your consideration.

I've noticed the friendlyness and I will be picking your brains until you are annoyed of me I'm sure!

I'll be a long time dead ....... so make me happy and pick them whilst you can .

Plantoid you rock!

And thanks everyone else for the info. My new Answer book is in the mail along with many colorful carrot packets!

Thought I would touch back here about my new book.
First off the funny!!!
The day my New book was to arrive I found the old one buried under a pile of Seed Starter Greenhouses, I know I looked there at least twice.

Now about the new book.
I have read about 2 thirds of it and it is not a new edition of the ANSFG it is what is says on the cover, "an Answer book", it is more like an addendum, chock full of questions and answers that can and will take even more work out of Square Foot gardening. It is not as big a must have as ANSFG but well worth having, I have already found several pest control tricks I will be using this season. After having read most of it I do not regret the purchase.

I'm new here. So first of all, hello.

I'm trying to figure out if I should buy the new book. My book I currently have has a copyright of 1981. Thinking it might be one of the earliest ones. Found it sitting on my shelf about 6 years after buying it. I bought it and put it up and then completely forgot about it. Should I buy the new book? It seems so much has changed. Or can I figure this all out by reading the book I have and by reading the forums and the website?

I just happened to come across the website and forums after doing a search. Otherwise I'd have happily just kept reading the book I have, dug 12" in the ground, laid my plank walk ways and went at it.

Thanks!

Hi and I would recommend the All New Square Foot Gardening Book 2nd edition, it just came out. Not to be confused with the 'Answer Book' which was also just released.

On the home page go to the hover tab in the upper left hand corner and read the articles there. Good reads!