Another Newbie

Hello,

I have just signed up for the forum, & am playing around with navigating my way through this. I have not been on the Square Foot Garden website for a while (but have had it in my favorites for a long time) & am really impressed with the site. I thought I would try the forum as well.

I have the "All New" book and the cook book & have been experimenting on the Canadian prairies, however we are retiring to the Kootnay Lake next year & I have much to learn about the switch from Zone 3 to Zone 4. I will have a much larger yard, & will be starting from scratch. I need to make sure that I get it right the first time, so that I am not asking my husband to rebuild and/or move sites multiple times. We also want to use materials that will last the rest of our lifetimes, so that we do not end up with rotten boxes to replace when we are too old & infirm & can't do it anymore. Also, I already have issues with bending over & crawling around on my hands & knees & getting back up, so we were thinking of about a 24-30 inch height with a wide ledge where I could sit & "bum-scoot" around the boxes when my back acts up.

I am looking forward to seeing what other people have done with their square foot gardens in terms of configuration & materials used.

Shortstuff

Welcome aboard Shortstuff,

Sounds like you need to make your 'boxes' with cinderblocks so they are high enough, have room to sit and will last forever. Place them in a sunny area that gets 6-8 hrs of sunshine a day during the spring and summer.

A few on this board have such an arrangement so can help you with layouts, I'm sure.

The 'mix' is in the book as are the planting spaces. A compost bin or barrel would be a very good thing and maybe a worm condo. Don't forget that water is an important component in gardening so don't place it too far from the outside water tap. I keep several buckets of water around my garden boxes so the water is sun-warmed before I water it.

Good luck and enjoy your new location and garden endeavor.

welcome!! You're going to love it, I'm sure. Be SURE to get your mix right. 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 of a BLEND of 5 DIFFERENT types of compost. That seems to be a problem when the mix isn't right, and then there are growing issues. There are lots of people on here with raised beds, do a search, and you will see many of them. Have fun!!