Getting Squared Away

Now that the frames are built and the soil is in, the next step in our gardening adventure is the layout and marking of the grid for our square foot garden.  For more detailed info on square foot gardening, visit the Square Foot Gardening website.  I read the latest version of Mel Bartholomew's book, Square Foot Gardening and it made sense in my brain.  I crave order and symmetry in the midst of my chaos so this form of gardening eases that craving so that I can more easily live my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants life that seems to have overtaken me as we added more Wonder Kids to the League of Justice.

With SFG (square foot gardening), a grid of 1'x1' is mapped and laid out over the raised beds.  Since my beds are 6'x6', I will have 36 squares per bed.

My tools: hemp twine, hammer, scissors, 3/4" nails.  (Not shown: big honking Sharpie and tape measure)

To map out my grid, I use my handy-dandy 25' tape measure (ok, it's Sweet Hubby's since Boy Wonder #2 has taken mine to parts unknown)to find the 1' intervals.

Using my trusty big honking Sharpie, I mark the intervals so I can come back with my nails to hammer them in for holding my grid frame.

After I've gotten all the nails hammered in, I wind the twine over and around the nails to make my grid.  The bed in the foreground shows the twine after my first run.  I only make 2 runs, each on the opposite direction, to make my grid.  This saves me having to keep stopping and knotting off the twine.  Having 2 continuous runs also makes my back hurt less.  In the background, you can see the other 2 beds with their grids in place.

I did most of the nailing and twining myself since I needed some quiet time after the craziness of the day. Hammering is a great way to relieve stress.  Sweet Hubby played bubbles with the Wonder Kids while I played in the beds.  Near the end, Girl Wonder #1 showed up to help.  She's getting pretty good with the hammer.