new member

Just dropping a line to say hi to every body. I'm 38 , married to a woman with three children and three dogs. I'm a licensed contractor by trade and a gardener by choice. I live in south Georgia a little south of the Ocmoulgee River. I received a SFG book from my late grandmother some years ago ( I think its the original book) after she tried to teach me a little about gardening before she pasted. my interest in gardening has come a little to late but I'm sure she would be happy to know the seed she planted did not fall on hard ground but good and has sprouted and is doing well. Not in mel's mix but good dirt just the same I'm interested in teaching SFG but moving slow to be sure not to rush such a good thing and make a mess of it. Would like to hear from some that has and is still teaching SFG to just get some insight.Also interested in aiding and helping elderly and disable. I'm also into birds and wild life as I build and make bird feeders and houses as a hobby.

Rickey:

Welcome to the SFG forum and family. The first thing is to get and read a copy of Mel's book, "ALL NEW Square Foot Gardening". The book is available in many bookstores, many Lowe's and other outlets. You can also order the book through this website. There are many improvements and refinements in the new book.

There are two ways to become certified to teach Square Foot Gardening. One is though the correspondence coarse sold through this web site and the other is to attend a 3-day symposium taught by Mel.

Again, welcome and I hope you will post often.

God Bless, Ward.

I have a copy of it and have read it that is where I got this web site. I also ordered a school program book the online program and the cash book as well. I also plan to go to one of the programs as soon as I can, after reading and studying the material a little bit.Just to meet Mel would be a honor and do a little hands on learning is one of the best ways to learn, other than trial and error if your hard headed . I hope after thirty eight years I have learned something. I Started a compost pile about a week and a half ago, covered it with plastic and cut slits so it could breathe and been turning it every two days That Is one amazing process. My boys are impressed and built three boxes with recycled land fabric tacked to the bottom just a waitin on compost to get right and yes Mel I also have grids ready, because ("It aint SFGing without them") .

Ricky, welcome! I can tell you are one of us already - so much energy and enthusiasm! I'll look forward to hearing how things progress!

And how cool is it that your boys are learning science from garbage!

Welcome! Regarding teaching, I became a certified teacher of SFG a couple of months ago at the Brevard, NC symposium. I would highly recommend going to the classes if you can. The input from the individuals in the class was invaluable. I know every class will be different because they are hosted by different people, but in ours we even divided the class up into 2 panels and had 1 side anti-SFG asking questions of the pro-SFG side. We also had a jeopardy game, put together outside a 4x4 box on the ground including the mix, grid and frame and a 2x4 raised box (on legs), also with the mix and grid. We also planted seeds in both boxes. Mel even got ideas from the class. You can't get those types of things from a correspondence course. Of course it costs more, but if you can afford it I'd recommend it.

I've only had once class so far (using PowerPoint) but an having another on May 15 outside at our local community garden, so without PowerPoint. Have other plans but that's as far as I've gotten so far.

Have fun with your new venture!
Bec

Well, I first want to tell everybody thanks for welcoming to the SFGing family and being helpful. Now here goes, yesterday I meet with the principal of the school where my boys attend (West side Elementary) to discuss the possibilities of me teaching or instructing a class on SFGing and what grade would it suit best with the lack of time of me running my other businesses. Our conversation was dead in the water it seemed at first, BUT THEN i mentioned that it would be a organic garden, then she ask how or where we would till the ground for the garden and I explained to her that there would be no need to even have a tractor on the place. that it would be teaching math, science, the three R's,its safe and responsibilities. Everything that a fifth grade student would need to learn about. Not to mention but after I did there would be no mess and no chemicals involved That seemed to be the nail that shut the coffin. So here is how it will go down, three classes.Three days a week, one and a half hour classes with only one teacher to have to explain it to, or a one day class as she is willing to work with my schedule. THIS AWESOME OR WHAT!!! I'm also going big with it as the book says and gone to local food and restaurants chains to gather their excess vegetable,fruit and teabag waste. So far I have come up with two restaurants and one local grocery store. You would be surprised as to the number of grocery stores that can not help because of state policies,laws and regulations. "Lets talk green but lets not do green" BLA,BLA,BLA Well no matter I feel that our labors will bare the fruit to understanding.

One quick qestion will the tea bag bags compost well or do you need to cut it open and dump out?