Tiny Farm (new pics added July 16!)

[Katxena]

I've started a tiny farm in my back yard.  I've named it Tiny Farm.

Here's what my backyard looked like before I started.  The lawn is 12x20 feet (about 4x6 meters):


With my husband's help, I built two 3x6 foot (about 1x2 meter) garden beds out of 2x12 lumber.  Then I marked out a grid of 1x1 foot squares on each bed, using nylon cord looped around nails.  Here's a picture of one of the beds.  The other one looks just like it:


I'm using the square foot garden (SFG) method, which you can read more about here.  The grid is key to the SFG method:  you plant each grid intensively, and you only plant what you'll eat.  You time it so that not every thing ripens all at once.  For example, I will be planting 8 radishes a week for the next couple of weeks.  I'm the only radish-eater in my house, and 8 radishes a week is more than enough for me!

I've already planted some beets, radishes, carrots and kohlrabi.  I'll be planting my tomatoes and peppers this weekend.  Here's my planting plan for Spring 2008 (the beds are really about 10 feet apart, one on each side of the yard, against the fence.  They are pictured closer together for viewing convenience):


Click on the plan to see a larger version.

The gray area is the space I'm leaving open for the squash.  I'll plant fast growing stuff (like radishes!) around it until it needs the space.  The tomatoes and squash will be grown in cages.  To keep them from flopping over, the beans will have a tiny fence around them (made with those small white fence segments you buy for cheap at a home store), as will the New Zealand spinach.

What do you think?  This is my first in-ground veggie garden.  I've grown veggies in containers before (a lot of veggies in a lot of containers), and I have a flower bed out front.  But I've never before had an in-ground garden!  I'm super excited.

[AlternaWidget]

Fantastic! I am a big fan of SFG methods, and have used them sporadically here. You have a plan and the means to carry it out, and it should work perfectly for you, though. I look forward to updates from the farm! GOOD LUCK!!

[random_awesome]

very cool idea. i've been wanting to do this myself. i think i just might have to get the supplies this week and build one.

[RockstarMom]

Neat! I never thought to do it that way. So far for this year I only have 2 mini greenhouses on my window box in my kitchen.

[Katxena]

Thanks!  I'm super excited about Tiny Farm!  RockstarMom, starting out with containers is great.  I've gardened that way for years, both inside and outside my house.  It's what gave me the confidence to do this project!  After all, my raised beds are just like big containers, especially with the grids.

[miss sarah jane]

This is awesome!  I've never heard of Square Foot Gardening before (hmmm, is that because in Australia we're metric?) but I've just checked out the website and it sounds like the solution to all the things I don't like about gardening.  Which really all relate to weeding, and to having all this produce at once, rather than being able to gather and harvest as I need it. I think I'm going to give this one a try.  Thanks for posting!! 

[Katxena]

I think I'm going to give this one a try.  Thanks for posting!! 

Oh!  I hope that you do.  I'd love to see pictures!   

[Katxena]

Here's an update on my garden.

First, a tiny French breakfast radish sprout!  These were the first seeds up, and I was so happy to see them!


Next, the Northeast bed.  It's got a lot planted in it, although I am saving some space for seeds that should be arriving this Saturday (5/31).  Right now, it has tomatoes, marigolds (to protect the tomatoes from harmful nematodes), jalapeno pepper, a bell pepper, two kinds of green beans, and New Zealand spinach. 

I'm planning to add more green beans (I'm succession planting these 3-6 plants per week through July 12), kholrabi, podding radishes, celery root, and scallions. 


The Southwest bed.  So far, I've planted tomatoes, lemon squash, beets, kholrabi, radishes, carrots, a purple bell pepper, and swiss chard.



Here's a picture of the tiny lemon squash plant:


And here's my purple bell pepper (if Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Purple Peppers, how many Purple Peppers would Peter Piper Pick?)

[sugarbeth]

This sounds right up my alley - I totally need a plan for making a garden!

[JaneAvril]

This is straight fabulous!!!  Yay for Tiny Farmers!