OK, It didn't get started yesterday. Here's the plan.

Yesterday was the day we were going to construct our new garden. Didn't happen. {sigh} This week has been one of the busiest weeks I have had in a loooooooong time. We had dentist app, eye doctor app, ballet, activity days, Easter, and getting ready for our Seattle trip. {last part in a singsong voice} Needless to say, I've been busy.

So, we have all of the wood, soil components, and trellis structure stuff. It all just needs to be constructed. Why would I need wood for my garden you might be wondering?? Trellis? For a vegetable garden you might say? Eh ehm. I will tell you why, we are starting a Square Foot Garden this year! {crickets}

Maybe I should explain this so totally awesome way of growing stuff. Well, to save time I'm just going to cut and paste stuff from the Square Foot Gardening sight. They can explain it to you better than I can.

1st: Pick the location

• Pick an area that gets 6-8 hours of sunshine daily.
• Stay clear of trees and shrubs where roots and shade may interfere.
• Have it close to the house for convenience.
• Existing soil is not really important, since you won't be using it.
• Area should not puddle after a heavy rain.

2nd: Follow The Ten Basics

1. LAYOUT - Arrange your garden in squares, not rows. Lay it out in 4'x4' planting areas.
2. BOXES - Build boxes to hold a new soil mix above ground.
3. AISLES - Space boxes 3' apart to form walking aisles.
4. SOIL - Fill boxes with Mel's special soil mix: 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite.
5. GRID - Make a permanent square foot grid for the top of each box. A MUST!
6. CARE - NEVER WALK ON YOUR GROWING SOIL. Tend your garden from the aisles.
7. SELECT - Plant a different flower, vegetable, or herb crop in each square foot, using 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants per square foot.
8. PLANT - Conserve seeds. Plant only a pinch (2 or 3 seeds) per hole. Place transplants in a slight saucer-shaped depression.
9. WATER - Water by hand from a bucket of sun-warmed water.
10. HARVEST - When you finish harvesting a square foot, add compost and replant it with a new and different crop.

3rd: Could it be easier than this?

Build A Box

Fill With Mel's Mix

Add A Grid

And start planting!

So cool right? If you have plants that tend to take over the whole garden like watermelon, pumpkins, zucchini, or cucumbers, no need to worry because they get trained to go right up a trellis. Leaving plenty of room for the rest of your plants. I just can't wait to start. It will have to wait till next week though. We can't even plant here yet. We need to wait till about memorial day. I think I'll experiment and start earlier. If you want to know more about this super cool gardening system you can check out his website at Squarefootgardening.com or just click on the link and it will take you there. Maybe we could start a little garden blog club. Just a thought. :)