Hello from Southwest Missouri!

Hello! My name is Tora Anne (@thegardeningmum). I am a wife, homeschooling mother of 2, and business owner with a severe gardening habit. 

Between my grandparent's garden and my parent's traditional garden, I pretty much lived outside. I despised fighting weeds and grass as a child which is why I turned to raised beds. When we built our beds (9 yrs ago) I was unaware of the square foot gardening method so my current area is a mix of large and small triangular, rectangular, and square beds. These beds will retire into flower beds when our high tunnel is constructed next year. There I will have more uniform beds that are no wider then the recommended 4 feet. (My back is super excited!)

I love the SFG method and I love sharing it with those around me. It has allowed me to not only grow for the season but also grow for the off-season. I can, freeze, and dry enough food to provide for our family during the winter and into the following spring/summer.

I am excited to meet those of you who are just as passionate about gardening as I am!

Best wishes,
Tora Anne

Welcome from Ohio, Tora Anne, and boy did you come to the right place! Sounds like you have some exciting stuff planned at your place! We all do a variation on the SFG method established by our dearly departed, Mel Bartholomew.

Can't wait to hear about your journey! Post often, and we love pictures!

Tora Anne, Welcome to the Forum from California! Yes, it sounds like you came to the right place. We are a gabby and friendly group of gardeners, from wee beginners to experienced homesteaders, city to rural.

gmum! Glad you found us! Will your children help you in the garden?

CC

A friendly hello and welcome from one of the New Hampster (New Hampshire) contingent.

CapeCoddess wrote: gmum!  Glad you found us!  Will your children help you in the garden?

CC

Oh yes! They both help in the garden. We also use it as a learning tool for their schooling. (Science, ag, history, art, and even math.) My 6 year old loves it so much that he has asked to have his own garden. It makes my heart happy.

gmum, welcome to this excellent forum.  There are a lot of experienced and helpful folks here.  I am also in SW Missouri in south Springfield.  How is your garden so far this year?  I am still holding off putting the tomatoes and peppers out in their permanent raised beds but the cool weather crops have been plentiful.  Tonight is supposed to be down to 41 degrees  and close to that all week so still putting it off planting the starts.  Glad you found this place and best of luck with you gardening.

PS - Tora, how big of a high tunnel are you going to build?

Hi GMum. Welcome from Atlanta, GA!

It sounds like you're already having a wonderful time with your garden. I'm so glad your children are involved...!

Welcome GMum from the Atlanta area.  If you are passionate about gardening, I know you will enjoy your time here.  Again welcome and I wish you much success in your gardening endeavors!

meatburner wrote:gmum, welcome to this excellent forum.  There are a lot of experienced and helpful folks here.  I am also in SW Missouri in south Springfield.  How is your garden so far this year?  I am still holding off putting the tomatoes and peppers out in their permanent raised beds but the cool weather crops have been plentiful.  Tonight is supposed to be down to 41 degrees  and close to that all week so still putting it off planting the starts.  Glad you found this place and best of luck with you gardening.

PS - Tora, how big of a high tunnel are you going to build?

Hello! I am just north of Springfield in the Fair Grove area.

I have yet to bring my tomatoes and peppers out of the greenhouse. I am not liking the weather forecast for the next few nights! My cold crops are loving the cool temps though.

The high tunnel is a 30' x 48'. We'll begin setting up the frame this year and complete the cover and beds throughout the winter and early spring. We were going to set it up this last fall but I was out for a while due to my back. I am ready to see it up!

You are so close to Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. North of I-60, west side of state 5. Husband and I visited their seed store in 2014. Do you already buy seeds from them? If not, their catalog is wonderful.

We expect progress reports and photos of the high tunnel, and photos of your current garden. We love photos.

sanderson wrote:You are so close to Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.  North of I-60, west side of state 5.  Husband and I visited their seed store in 2014.  Do you already buy seeds from them?  If not, their catalog is wonderful.

We expect progress reports and photos of the high tunnel, and photos of your current garden.  We love photos.

We just spent the weekend at their Spring Planting Festival!!! It was amazing! I have been drooling over their catalog. I am bound and determined to begin adding more of their unusual flowers and veggies.

Oh don't you worry about images! I always have my camera on me. I will drive you crazy! Thank goodness for Instagram!

thegardeningmum wrote:
Oh don't you worry about images! I always have my camera on me. I will drive you crazy! Thank goodness for Instagram!

Yippee!  I love that kind of crazy!

CC

You can use your Instagram?

Scorpio Rising wrote:You can use your Instagram?

I don't believe I can get my images to upload from my phone onto the Forum but I will create a thread in the 'Show Us Yours' section where I will upload from my computer. I will work on pulling my images off of my phone, and maybe even find last years images as well!

thegardeningmum wrote:

Scorpio Rising wrote:You can use your Instagram?

I don't believe I can get my images to upload from my phone onto the Forum but I will create a thread in the 'Show Us Yours' section where I will upload from my computer. I will work on pulling my images off of my phone, and maybe even find last years images as well!

New members cannot upload photos for about a week. That restriction should be lifting soon. Welcome to the SFG Forum.  

Or you can post a link to your Instagram page.

camprn wrote:New members cannot upload photos for about a week. That restriction should be lifting soon. Welcome to the SFG Forum.  

Or you can post a link to your Instagram page.

Camp, did it change?  It used to be the other way around - photos OK, no links for a week - right? 

CC

Welcome gardeningMum, I think you will find the forum a welcome place for you to share and learn, I know I have.

I posted an image of my garden area in the 'Show Us Yours' thread. (link below) There isn't much to look at right now but it is mine and I love it.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t20578-taking-an-existing-garden-area-and-bringing-it-to-life-w-sfg

Tora, your garden is beautiful!  It does look like a little slice of heaven.

thegardeningmum wrote:I posted an image of my garden area in the 'Show Us Yours' thread. (link below) There isn't much to look at right now but it is mine and I love it.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t20578-taking-an-existing-garden-area-and-bringing-it-to-life-w-sfg

a) Howdy from Columbia.

b) That garden setup you have going on is sweeeeeeeet!

A belated  
from Kelejan in British Columbia.

You seem to have so much know-how that I am sure we are going to get some nice tips from you.

Lovely to hear your children have an interest in gardening.  They will be able to keep you in veggies when you are unable to keep them in veggies.

Looking forward to seeing pics of your progress.  Sure is great to see what you already have done.