How I did it: My friend Pam and I used her back yard for our garden. First we did a lot of internet researching for the best gardening methods and the type of food we wanted to produce.  We decided on Square Foot Gardening, and lucked out when we met a woman online who was kind enough to send us free heirloom seeds (some of which have produced vegetables that we've been eating this summer).

In March Pam and I started buying books on SFG, planting zones and vegetable diseases so that we would have all the information we needed to do everything on schedule. We decided on six 4x4 beds, despite advice that we should start small (2 to 4 beds). 
In April we shopped for materials at Home Depot and local nurseries. We bought items for building the beds, creating the soil mixture and protecting the garden from predators.  We bought peat pellets and sowed some seeds indoors.  In May we bought more seeds and some starter plants, and built the wood bed frames, laying them out in the garden to make sure we 'd find a layout and area we liked.  After the last frost date we filled them with our soil mixture. This was exhausting work, but when we sowed and planted, we were thrilled.

From then on we've documented the germination and growth of our plants. It seems that every week something exciting is happening, whether it's new bugs or new vegetables. Just walking along the plant beds is relaxing and spiritually satisfying.

Now that it is mid-summer, we have been harvesting at least a couple of times a week to make salads, cook zucchini and summer squash, and make green bean dishes and pesto.  Most of our crops have been successful.  We grew:

Potatoes
Corn
Spinach
Tomatoes
Celery
Carrots
Herbs
Zucchini
Summer squash
Watermelon
Bell pepper
Cantaloupe
Strawberries
Green Beans
Shell Peas
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Beets
Fava beans


http://www.rawodyssey.com/Raw_Odyssey/Farm_Blog/Farm_Blog.html

Lessons & tips: 1) Make sure you understand when and where shadows cross your garden area so that you can plant accordingly
2) Be sure to fertilize when needed
3) Water your plants regularly.
4) From the start, create adequate protection from rabbits, deer, birds and other creatures.
5) Make sure your fencing or netting does not inhibit the growth of plants or prevent bees from reaching your flowers
6) Try to use only organic methods- it's healthier for you and for the environment.
7) Don't think poor soil or concrete prevents you from gardening! Raised beds solve that problem.
8) Offer a portion of your back yard to someone who doesn't have a place to garden. You can share in the harvest.

Resources: www.squarefootgardening.com
www.hyperlocavore.com

Aug 17, 2009, 01:24PM PDT | 1 comment | 1 cheer