Hi, from Milton (Southern Ontario)

Jaffa55 3/1/2017, 12:05 pm

Hi! I just stumbled across this forum as I was searching for sources of vermiculite. Looks like it's a common problem!

I moved house a couple of months ago, and now have a decent sized yard, finally one large enough for a vegetable garden! So, I'm planning to give this SFG a shot. With some mild weather this week, I'm getting the gardening itch, and just ordered some seeds (kale, brussels sprouts, cucamelon [something different to try], sugar snap peas, and cilantro). Other plants, such as tomatoes, I like to buy from the nurseries in May.

This looks like a good group. I'm happy to join you. Smile

**trolleydriver** 3/1/2017, 12:18 pm

Welcome Jaffa55 from up the road (highways 401 and 416) in Ottawa. Great to have you onboard. If you like, you can join the other Canadians on the Canada Region thread.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t21317-canadian-region-waht-are-you-doing-in-march-2017

I assume you have Mel's "All New Square Foot Gardening" book. Vermiculite can be difficult to find in some areas. I am lucky in that there is an outlet in Ottawa which has several stores across the city where I can buy 4 cu ft of coarse vermiculite for about $30. You may want to check the forum's vermiculite database.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/Vermiculite-Entry-Form-h1.htm

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-pViVQaxJjWFuZuYdUdnALyLUpRpL-3uLf8BBGcxFGA/edit?hl=en#gid=0

Jaffa55 3/1/2017, 1:15 pm

Hmm... I might have to get my sister-in-law to haul some down on her next visit, as she's an Ottawa native.

**trolleydriver** 3/1/2017, 2:03 pm

Jaffa55 wrote:Hmm... I might have to get my sister-in-law to haul some down on her next visit, as she's an Ottawa native.

This is the place ...

http://www.ritchiefeed.com/

I've bought vermiculite from all three of their Ottawa locations. I also purchase bales of straw from them for use as mulch and composting.

**sanderson** 3/1/2017, 3:34 pm

Jaffa, Welcome to the Forum from California. $glad you\'re here$ Finding this Forum was a lifesaver for my first year of SFG. I thought I had following the book (ANSFG) to the tee, then found out what major mistake I made. Embarassed

At this point I am going to ask, do you have trees or bushes anywhere near the proposed garden area?

**Kelejan** 3/1/2017, 3:48 pm

$glad you\'re here$ jaffa55 thinking

from Kelejan in British Columbia :canada:

Come on over to the Canadian Thread when you get time.

Jaffa55 3/1/2017, 4:22 pm

sanderson wrote:Jaffa, Welcome to the Forum from California. $glad you\'re here$ Finding this Forum was a lifesaver for my first year of SFG. I thought I had following the book (ANSFG) to the tee, then found out what major mistake I made. At this point I am going to ask, do you have trees or bushes anywhere near the proposed garden area?

I am working with pretty much a blank slate. I've got a good sized south-facing backyard that gets lots of sun. I'm, I think, the third owner of the house, and in the 12 years, there have been a total of ZERO plants, shrubs or trees planted. Just grass and a shed in the shady corner beside the house.

**sanderson** 3/1/2017, 6:52 pm

I'm excited for you!

CitizenKate 3/1/2017, 8:25 pm

$glad you\'re here$

Glad you joined us, Jaffa! Sounds like you're in a great location for gardening. Look forward to seeing your gardening projects. I ended up ordering my vermiculite. We can buy it locally, but only at certain times of the year, and by then I hope to already have stuff growing in the beds. There's always that if all else fails.

countrynaturals 3/2/2017, 10:16 am

YIKES! I'm late to the party! happy hi

Jaffa and $glad you\'re here$ . We love pictures, starting with your "blank slate" so we can imagine the possibilities. thinking

Jaffa55 3/2/2017, 11:19 am

Here you go... North is up. This is good practice for my first photo upload.

This is my yard as per Google earth. The shed is the white square.

Hi, from Milton (Southern Ontario) Lot10

Hi, from Milton (Southern Ontario) Lot10

ETA: My first decision will be placement. I'd really like to place it on the west side of the yard, as close to the shed as the sunshine will allow. My garden hose is close to that location, so it would be very convenient. I just need to see how the shadows work in the non-winter seasons.

ralitaco 3/2/2017, 11:53 pm

A belated welcome from Coastal NC.
Great idea to post the google earth photo! (I think I will do that in my thread)

**AtlantaMarie** 3/3/2017, 7:48 am

Hi Jaffa55. Welcome from Atlanta, GA.

Looks like you're going to have a nice set-up...

**sanderson** 3/3/2017, 3:04 pm

Jaffa, That sound you hear is me sobbing. sobbing

What a wonderful blank slate!! Sooo much room. I'm going to post a photo of my micro backyard in the No. Cal. thread.

**trolleydriver** 3/3/2017, 3:20 pm

sanderson wrote:Jaffa, That sound you hear is me sobbing. What a wonderful blank slate!! Sooo much room. I'm going to post a photo of my micro backyard in the No. Cal. thread.

+1

I'll post my yard pic in the "Third Year SFG in Canada" thread.

ralitaco 3/3/2017, 8:06 pm

Satellite image posted here:
2017 SFG Adventures in Hampstead NC

Thanks for the idea Jaffa.

**trolleydriver** 3/3/2017, 8:32 pm

ralitaco wrote:Satellite image posted here:
2017 SFG Adventures in Hampstead NC

Thanks for the idea Jaffa.

Yes ... a big thanks Jaffa.

Jaffa55 3/9/2017, 10:32 am

Starting to get excited... I shared the book with my parents, and now they're on board. My dad has old 4x4's that he's working on for some nice corners for the boxes. If I play my cards right, he'll make some extra for me.

I'll be ordering coarse vermiculite from U-Line and I'm working on my compost sources. So far I have:

- mushroom compost (local farm)
- garden compost (my parents' composter)
- horse manure
- compost from local soil supplier (it's 100% compost, and they say it's sifted)
- composted leaves... the underlayer from the forest behind my parents' house (what do you think about that one?)

I'm hoping to have my compost gathered next week and assemble 2 4x4 boxes.

ralitaco 3/9/2017, 10:44 am

We are excited for you too! How great that your parents are on board too!

I am not the compost expert or anywhere close, but I believe you are referring to "leaf mold" which is highly desirable. Just wait for the others to chime in and I'm sure they will.

ralitaco 3/9/2017, 10:46 am

BTW, did you see what you have started:

Birds Eye View

Jaffa55 3/9/2017, 11:21 am

I love that you guys thought it was a good idea. Happy to be able to contribute back just a little bit.

BeetlesPerSqFt 3/9/2017, 12:32 pm

Here's a late hello and welcome from central Pennsylvania happy hi

$glad you\'re here$
Thanks for sharing your aerial view.

kjay1122 3/13/2017, 8:14 pm

Hi from Oshawa. Welcome aboard. Nice space you have there!

I'm glad I found this thread, because I finally found vermiculite at the hardware store that's literally behind my townhouse complex - a small Rona - and I almost forgot. I should go back and grab it before it disappears.

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Hi, from Milton (Southern Ontario)

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	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.