March 1, 2011 The First Anniversary of the new SFG Forum

[Furbalsmom]

March 1, 2011, is the First Anniversary of our new Square Foot Gardening Forum.

Theresa's Story:

I first met Mel Bartholomew in 2007 when he was the speaker at the Midwestern Herb and Garden Show, one of the largest garden events in our region. At that time Mel was putting together information from Square Foot Gardeners from around the world and at his request I sent him photos and information on my son Josh's Square Foot Garden. The photos and Josh's story were placed on the original web site, and that information is still available on the new site under "what is Square Foot Gardening" by clicking on the "Original" Showcase of Gardens. Because of the photos and information that was published Josh would receive many e-mails from other SFGers asking questions and wanting to share their information about their gardens.

At that time I had been the owner/manager of a MSN garden forum for over 10 years and I wrote Mel and told him of the many e-mails Josh would receive and suggested we start a SFG forum where SFGers could get together from around the world and help each other, share our experiences and show off our gardens. Mel loved the idea and accepted my offer to help. Alan was tasked to develop the forum and we have him to thank as he made the forum happen. Many others have put in many hours of volunteer time to make this forum what it is today, a place where Square Foot Gardeners help other Square Foot Gardeners and spread the word to all the world.


In honor of this anniversary, I think it is most appropriate to acknowledge a few of the members who have made major contributions to the forum by being among the Top in Their Category.

Top Users			Most Active Topic Starters
Megan			Boffer
Boffer			Middlemamma
Camprn			Chopper
Chopper			Megan
Ander217			WardinWake
Middlemamma			Ander217
Lavender Debs			mckr3441
LaFee			Dixie
Retired Member 1			Camprn
Timwardell			chocolatepop

Along those same lines, we have our MOST viewed and MOST active topics. If you would like to view the topic, Please click on the link.

Most Viewed Topics		Most Active Topics
Collard and Broccoli questions		Tomato Produce Greenhouse SFG
My Garden Pictures		Just planning, thinking, waiting
Do you keep note or journal about your garden		The Toy Box
The Toy Box		Canning
Tomato Produce Greenhouse SFG		Modesto, Central Valley, CA
What is a region for (with map)?		You might be a SFG'er if you
First SFG Actually first any kind of garden		Wiggler Hilton
Vinyl Grid		Care to share what you have learned in the last few months
Strawberry Box		What's in a name?
Just finished building my four 4'X8'X20" raised beds

May 9, 2010 at 5:36 PM, we had 121 users, the most users, ever, on line.

NEW POSTS			NEW MEMBERS
Mar-10	5989		Mar-10	1025
Apr-10	5800		Apr-10	487
May-10	6301		May-10	368
Jun-10	4968		Jun-10	182
Jul-10	3731		Jul-10	137
Aug-10	2854		Aug-10	97
Sep-10	2713		Sep-10	68
Oct-10	2344		Oct-10	46
Nov-10	1892		Nov-10	44
Dec-10	1765		Dec-10	55
Jan-11	1908		Jan-11	93
Feb-11	4849		Feb-11	385
Total	45114		Total	2987

I hope you will take this moment to reflect on what the SFG Forum has meant to you. We appreciate the many valued members of this forum who have made it what it has now become, a place to ask questions, a place to explore your own knowledge of gardening the Square Foot Gardening way, and a place to just have a lot of fun.

[middlemamma]

Whohooo! Amazing how time flies!

Celebration!

[LentilSoup]

Wow! I had no idea the forum was so young!

Thank you Volunteers and Contributors!

With this site, and the people who help out, I have high hopes for my garden!

[ander217]

Thanks to all who make this such a great forum, especially those who keep it running "behind the scenes". A special thanks to Boffer and Jennie for their admin duties, Theresa for her great idea, and Alan for all his hard work.

I love this place!!!

[quiltbea]

I think I'd be missing something in my life if I couldn't check in to this forum on a daily basis.
I love it.
Thanks to all who contributed to its birth.
Yippee!

[TheVeggieO's]

Already this forum has been invaluable...and I've only been posting less than a week! What a great place to share, to find information, to bounce off ideas, to get ideas! Whew, ya'll are amazing and I thank you so much!
Nancy

[BackyardBirdGardner]

Agreed 100%. I would also say this is one of the "nicest" forums on the net. I take part in a couple on a regular basis that include photography and poker, among a local forum for news and sports. I must admit the normal craziness and outlandish posts just don't happen here. Not to say they won't as your numbers increase, but I am shocked at how people here seem to check their egos at the door and enter the SFG forum leading with their hearts.

Glad to be a part of it. And, I hope to see many successful years for this group....and their gardens.

[dixie]

I probably would have never tried SFG if I hadn't found the forum. Everyone is so generous in sharing information, get encouragement when things aren't going as well as we expected. I was on another garden forum for a while, but there were so many negative & derogatory remarks in the replies I dropped out long ago. This place is like family & I love it.

Thanks to all of you who give of yourselves and make it possible.

[FarmerValerie]

I'm still new to the forum, but the benefits I have received from the knowledge and seed exchange are so invaluable!!! Thanks!!!

[AndreaHall]

I <3 the forums, and all you nice, helpful forum people!

Thanks for all your hard work!

[Lavender Debs]

I joined the "old" forum in late February. Just enough time to make a couple of posts. Then for three days I wondered what I had said to offend admin before I realized that there was a new forum (well advertised on the old) that I should register for instead of trying to log-in. March 3 will be one year for me. Someday I will learn to read the directions.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged and contributed to The Toy Box. My first SFG was a success with all the love spread my way! Hope to give the same back at ya!

[SlapHappy]

I've learned so much in the short time it has been since I found this great forum. Thank you to everyone involved.

[BackyardBirdGardner]

Gotta add one more small comment.......The dancing veggies (and Ninja Turtle) and playing Celebration was just a genius idea. Really made my day!

[FarmerValerie]

Ditto that, loved the dancing veggies!!!

[middlemamma]

Gotta add one more small comment.......The dancing veggies (and Ninja Turtle) and playing Celebration was just a genius idea. Really made my day!

Everyone can give Boffer, our Admin Emeritus, a round of applause for the graphics here on the forum he helps me with all of that because I have no clue about those types of things. He probably works just as hard for the forum now as he did before he stepped down. I would never have lasted this long as admin without him helping me.

Let's hear it for Boffer!

More comments on what the forum means to me to come...

Jennie

[quiltbea]

Yay, Yay, Yay, Boffer!
I know he's come to my aid when I had problems trying to post the Seed Exchange and he was right there when I posted my first photos and they needed a tweak to get them right.
I don't know what I'd do without Boffer.

Yay Boffer! He's my ray of sunshine.

Thanks a bunch,
quiltbea

[Goosegirl]

Glad I got in for the 1st anniversary!

TC

[boffer]

Thank you Furbalsmom for assembling and organizing the information to start this thread. It's amazing how talkative SFG gardeners are!

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to share your gardening knowledge and experience. Without your posts, the forum would be without substance.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to share your humor and wit. Without your posts, the forum would be...a lot less fun.

Thank you to everyone with a colored name for the extra time you give to the forum, sometimes at the expense of your own participation.

Thank you middlemamma for making the tough decisions, your careful guiding influences, and the time you sacrifice from your family. You do the hard work; I do the fun stuff.

[tessmick]

I also had no idea this forum was so young. I was on here quite a bit last spring, when getting the garden up & running, but then got too busy, probably in the garden! But it is a great place to hang because the people here are so nice & helpful. A great big THANK YOU to all who made it so!

[SuzieQ]

Hello, I love the dancing vegies!!!
Thanks to you all for you hard work on the forum. I have been square foot gardening for a few years now and the forum has helped me out so much. I am so looking forward to planting time again. Keep up the good work!

[Dunkinjean]

Congratulations on the 1 yr anniversary of the SFG Forum!!

I would like to say a big thank you

I joined last spring and it has been a wonderful adventure and learning experience. Everyone is so helpful.

May the forum continue forever and ever.....

Dunkinjean

[Selandra]

WTG SFG!!!!

[Furbalsmom]

bumpity bump bump

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