Square Foot Gardening

I've been debating about how to garden in my new locale for some time (ie: since I moved in last August, in fact). Today R and I decided to embark on what is called Square Foot Gardening. Basically, you divide a raised bed garden plot into 1 sq ft parcels and plant a different veggie in each one.

Mel Bartholomew, Author and Originator of the SFG, from his website

Why a square foot garden (SFG)?

1. It's temporary. You build a little container, fill it with dirt, grow your veggies, and when you're done you just pull it all out. This is a great option for renters who don't want to (or aren't allowed to) invest the time and money into tilling up a patch of yard for a garden.
2. It's high yield. You can cram more goodies into a SFG than in a traditionally laid out garden. Efficiency is the name of the game here, and the SFG is a master.
3. It can be done on a balcony. So long as you get sufficient sun exposure for the type of plant you want to grow, you can build a unit that has a wooden bottom and put it on your porch. This is the ultimate renter's option. Why not just pots? They are small and dehydrate easily. A larger SFG unit will hold water better and be a more efficient use of soil. (No, I don't have a balcony, I'm just saying...)

You can build your own SFG, but I managed to find one on CraigsList for only $50! It's even a 2-tiered one. So, tomorrow I am off to get my 4'x8' SFG, and I can't wait! I'll post photos as I assemble everything, and impart my (limited) veggie gardening knowledge as we go through the season. I've learned most of it through my green thumb of a mother and this book: The Veggie Gardener's Answer Book. It has answered every question I've ever had about vegetable gardening. I can't live without it!