Howdy! From the Ozarks!

Howdy from the big (not) city (spot in the road) of Botkinburg, AR. Let's see... I have been gardening for over 50 years, usually successfully but I must admit some defeats    We ran into square foot gardening many many years ago and used mounded raised beds and a loose sq ft method in SW MO for many years. We now live in north central AR and found out that our soil is sorely depleted. That combined with back backs and fibro has led us to do most of our gardening in raised beds made from old tires (after doing much research and finding out that they indeed do not leach lots of poisons like so many believe   ) and such. We are a multi-generational family of 5 adults and 3 children, so we plan a really big garden, this year spanning our 1/4 acre of ground in front and behind our house. We do lots of vertical gardening on our fences and other trellises and will be doing potato towers of regular and sweet potatoes, this year. I also do a lot of other gardening and will be planting a small orchard, using the fruits as decorative bushes and shade trees. We plan to add rabbits, chickens and ducks and maybe a goat to our little farmette, too. Oh, and besides gardening, we are writers, crafters and big readers! My husband and I are just starting a blog which is on Facebook... Doodles, Noodles & Snoodles, now but will be published abroad the beginning of March  God bless and have a great day, everyone!

 Doodlebug! Do you have the All New Square Foot Gardening book, 2nd Edition? If not, get it as soon as you can - Mel has taken all the work out of amending your soil by starting out with a soil-less mix of compost, vermiculite, and compost. Definitely saves your back! With all those critters, you will be able to make lots of your own well-rounded compost to feed your garden! Post pics of your garden when you can - finished or unfinished, as we love work-in-progress pics as well.

GG

Goosegirl wrote: Doodlebug!  Do you have the All New Square Foot Gardening book, 2nd Edition?  If not, get it as soon as you can - Mel has taken all the work out of amending your soil by starting out with a soil-less mix of compost, vermiculite, and compost.  Definitely saves your back!  With all those critters, you will be able to make lots of your own well-rounded compost to feed your garden!  Post pics of your garden when you can - finished or unfinished, as we love work-in-progress pics as well.

GG

Ditto from me!

And welcome to the Forum.

Goosegirl wrote: Doodlebug!  Do you have the All New Square Foot Gardening book, 2nd Edition?  If not, get it as soon as you can - Mel has taken all the work out of amending your soil by starting out with a soil-less mix of compost, vermiculite, and compost peat.  Definitely saves your back!  With all those critters, you will be able to make lots of your own well-rounded compost to feed your garden!  Post pics of your garden when you can - finished or unfinished, as we love work-in-progress pics as well.

GG

Correction  above - it was nearing bedtime!

GG

Fellow Arkansas native, here!   Welcome! 

Welcome to the forum, glad you found us!  I love your big plans, it is my goal in life to have a small "Orchard" in my backyard just to prove everyone wrong.  I might have to move to make this happen though.  Keep us posted on your progress!!