Newbie from Georgia

Hi all!
I live in a pretty woody neighborhood, big old trees, so there is not much sun to grow things. Well, our city park added a community garden last year (I didn't know) and while looking at their website I found this years' registration. I took the very last spot available!
I had no idea what I was going to do with it, so I started googling around. Someone in another forum had my very same question and she had like 10 replies saying "SFG". I was very intrigued because it seemed easy to understand, and I am a VERY stuctured person, so having things in a grid is heaven !
Found the book at the library and I was hooked. Over the next 2 weeks I bought my own copy, took out pretty much all the soil of the plot and added Mel's mix. You would think that because I live in a big city (Atlanta) the ingredients would be easy to find, but it took many trips around.
The cleaning of the plot was backbreaking. So many weeds! And clay! Remember "Gone with the wind" and Scarlet? Yeah. But I figured it was a one time thing and if the soil was bad, nothing was going to grow.
Another week to plan the garden. It is a 4x8 box, so I had many decisions to make. I had to learn bout companion plants, pollination, sun location.
I planted the first seeds 2 weeks ago. They are coming up! And there is ONE red strawberry too.
I can't wait for the rest to grow. I hope the heat and humidity don't kill all my hard work! Well, I can always try again with a fall garden.

GreenBlueberry

So nice to have you here.

What a lot of work to convert a community garden plot to SFG, but this is definately the way to go. Hope you get the same plot next year!

Yeah! for those new seedlings. You may find that creating some shade will help your veggies do better in the heat. Hopefully your local extension office will be able to provide you with help for your particular area.

Have fun! Keep us updated on your progress and please share pictures.

Again, Welcome.

Great job on clearing the plot and amassing so much information in such a short period of time!

Glad to have ya here and even more glad you decided to give SFG a whirl. Stop on by the Middle South region when you get a chance. If you have any questions or problems feel free to ask them. Also, if you are will, feel free to share some of that information you have amassed.

There is a topic over there called April in the Middle South Garden. If you get a chance, please post some details about your garden and some pictures if you have them!

Take care and happy gardening!

You know, I didn't even THINK about if I was allowed to keep my plot for next year or not (told you I was a newbie), but thank goodness, I found out I can. I would have been heartborken if not (all the time! the expense!), but happy that someone else would benefit. I also found out I can get in a waiting list to get another one in the same park. But I will wait until I see results and make sure my black thumb disease has been cured.

Hi, you're not in Woodstock by any chance, are you? I am -- just introduced myself above. I just found the community garden that started here last year and I am too late for a plot! But I decided just as well, my one little 4x4 box is probably enough for me to start off with this year. How large is your plot?

Welcome and congrats on the plot/s in the CG. I'll bet some of the people there will convert to SFG when they see your results.

We just love helping, and we love it even more when people share pictures when they can. You are in the right place here!!!

GreenBlueberry wrote:You know, I didn't even THINK about if I was allowed to keep my plot for next year or not (told you I was a newbie), but thank goodness, I found out I can. I would have been heartborken if not (all the time! the expense!), but happy that someone else would benefit. I also found out I can get in a waiting list to get another one in the same park. But I will wait until I see results and make sure my black thumb disease has been cured.

So you found you can keep the same plot. Next year is going to be a breeze!(unless of course, you get another plot, that is another type of disease we get around here, and it is very contagious)

That Black Thumb is going to change to a Glowing Green any day now.

Uprooted wrote:Hi, you're not in Woodstock by any chance, are you? I am -- just introduced myself above. I just found the community garden that started here last year and I am too late for a plot! But I decided just as well, my one little 4x4 box is probably enough for me to start off with this year. How large is your plot?

No, I'm in Roswell. My plot is at East Roswell Park, and I know they have some too at Leita Thompson Park on Highway 92 but there is a waiting list and I think you have to be a resident. My in-laws live in Woodstock so I'm there often. Like tomorrow for Easter dinner.
The plots are 4x8. Make sure you post pics of your box, I want to see how sneaky you are because I have the same "problems" (woods and HOA).

shannon1 wrote:Welcome and congrats on the plot/s in the CG. I'll bet some of the people there will convert to SFG when they see your results.

Oh, yes! I was working on mine, and this lady who is there for her 2nd year made a comment about how organized it look, and I had the book with me so I showed her and right away she went to buy hers. We both came back the next day and she started converting her plot too. And last week I noticed a grid on a 3rd plot but I haven't met that owner yet.

looks like there are a few local atlanta folks here..i'm live in Kennesaw..actually a few minutes for downtown woodstock. My garden luckily survived all these crazy hail/rain storms we've had. Looking forward to see you pics. Good luck!