Monday, May 17, 2010

Monday Moments - Can you spare a square?

Ok...anyone who gets the pun in my post title, leave me a comment about it and, well, I'll think you're pretty cool.

This weekend we decided to plant our garden. I know it's not much, but we're working with what we've got! If anyone has an excuse not to have a garden, it me. Ok, so maybe if you live in a large city with a high-rise apartment and no balcony, then you have a better excuse than me. But still, we live in a townhouse with no more than a few feet of patio and a few square feet between shrubs in our flower beds.

The last few years we've done pots with tomatoes, herbs, green beans and some zucchini. This year however, we've added the square foot boxes. This will be my first attempt at square foot gardening. Luckily I have my amazing neighbors and friends, Emily and Iliana, to walk me through it. They've had great success with theirs the last couple of years.

This is my hard working, wonderful husband, getting the boxes ready. We purchased some 2x6's and my husband built them. At the bottom of the boxes is a piece of cardboard. Once the boxes were built and in place, we drenched the cardboard with water then filled each box with a special "square foot gardening" mix of soil. We purchased our soil from Cooks Green House here in Orem. The wonderful employees at Cooks also helped us pick out our plants and gave us some good tips for the particular veggies we are growing.

We are growing zucchini and yellow squash in one box, and cucumbers and red peppers in the other.

We kept our pots this year as well. We have tomatoes in one. And basil, chives, and cilantro in the other.

Little r has already been a big help with the watering process.


I will keep you posted on our progress and harvest. I'm sure I'll be coming up with lots of fun recipe for our crop.

If you're interested in starting your very own square foot or pot garden I'm sure there's a local green house that would be happy to walk you through the process. Don't be afraid to walk in and just start asking questions. It's what they do...and they love it!

There are also some great online resources for square foot gardening. They include...

The Official Square Foot Gardening Website:
http://www.squarefootgardening.com

Step-by-step instructions on building your square foot garden, garden plans, companion plants, plus much more about gardening in general:
http://organicgarden.org.uk/?page_id=1648

Information on designing, building, planting, and growing your garden:
http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/plant-spacing/

Also if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask. I'm no expert and I'm learning as I go, but I'm happy to share what ever knowledge I've gained. I can also pick the brains of my friends for you. They're pretty cool and they know a lot more than me.

Bookmark and Share

9 comments:

DJ said...

I'm new to your blog but I had to comment when I read your title. I love Seinfield and especially that episode. Isn't it funny when ever you enter a bathroom stall you make sure you have tissue so you won't have to beg for some from you neighbor in the next stall?
We also started a garden last year it isn't a square foot but we used the soil mix called for in the book. We had great success and just planted this years crop. Good luck and I hope you have a green thumb when your gardening is done!!!

Lindsey said...

First of all, Elaine and TP. Second, thanks for this post! I've been wanting to learn more about this type of gardening so I appreciate the resources! Good luck with yours!

Natster said...

Yay for Seinfeld! :) I have been reading your blog for a while and I have to say thanks for the great recipes!
Secondly, are you related to the Nordfelts from West Valley? Dennis and Glenda? They are my uncle and aunt. Just thought I'd ask because the last name is so unique. :)

Mindika said...

Natster, yes I am related to Dennis and Glenda. They are my Aunt and Uncle as well. My dad and Dennis are brothers. You must be from the Carlson side? It's such a small world. Of course we both have huge families, so it makes it even smaller. Thanks for making the connection. And thanks for visiting my blog!

chingchong7 said...

um....in your last post you said "gearing up for baby #2" was that an announcement?

Mindika said...

No announcement Cind. Trust me, I'll tell you personally or announce on our family blog before I announce on here. Just gearing up in general. I don't think I'll get another baby that's as good a sleeper as little Reese. :)

* Nancy * said...

Ok no excuse for me...I too live in a townhome! Hmmm, I'll have to get creative on the how and what.

Thanks for the links below. :)

Unknown said...

It's from one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes! Remember Elaine in those black and white shoes? She had her own special style. Loved that show!

Laurel said...

i'm late...but i'm totally cool.

I KNEW I liked you. Love the Seinfeld.

Related Posts with Thumbnails