I read the new version of Mel’s square foot gardening book cover to cover and rushed out to buy 2×12s and plywood bottoms and put my carpentry and painting skills to the test. I now have 6 4×4 square boxes and 5 2×4 square boxes all with bottoms and painted beautifully. They even served us well the end of last year as a carpentry table for my short-lived woodworking trial. I made some outdoor tables and called it quits. I would really like to make a bench, but I think that hobby may be a little on the expensive side for me right now plus I am scared to death I’m going to cut a body part off in the process!

So now the boxes are leaned up against the deck just waiting patiently for the snow to melt away and for a fresh layer of soil to go in. I have not decided yet if I would like to add “Mel’s mix” which will be very pricey, or just add potting soil which is my husband’s preference. We will probably move again in a matter of 3 to 5 years and don’t think we’d take the boxes with us, but I like to do things by the book as much as possible, so I might try hmm… now that I think of it… I shall do both and have a test of which is better! sound good? I know that has already been tested, but as a matter of principle and for the sake of learning I think that is a good idea.

Did I mention I tend to learn things the hard way.

So all this rambling and I still have yet to plan what exactly is going in this garden and where and when.. and since the last frost will be 11 to 15 weeks away I must get started!!

I went ahead today and attempted to start some broccoli, cauliflower, onions, and parsley in containers. May be too early, may be just right. We’ll see!! I do think I am going to need to expand my square footage because I really want to grow some melons, corn, tons of tomatoes, peppers tons of broccoli, and strawberries to name a few of the space consuming varieties.

I also see that in addition to the seed starting I am doing indoors I will need to be planting outside as soon as March 1 possibly (4 weeks before earliest last frost here)

I am going to get this thing planned before I get too overwhelmed. See ya!