Good for its time ...
Square Foot Gardening is a good book, as written for its time and is still a worthy buy as background information for the newer version of the same book. I found only three things that I did not particularly like about the original SFG ...
(1) Mel couldn't quite divorce himself from the intensive task of soil preparation, meaning turning over the original soil found within his 4x4 square foot area to a suggested one foot in depth. This is often totally unnecessary if not impossible in some areas of the country that has extremely poor or rocky soil that defies digging or tillering. While his book does go on to later show raised beds and to mention container gardening, I felt the deep digging to be out of line with the remainder of the book, the whole idea of which was supposedly to reduce the amount of labor to a minimum.
(2) SFG makes an excellent primer for people who like to garden three seasons, but when you do the calculations of what to plant when, you end up with very sparse crops in the spring and fall, which are primarily "salad gardens" and the summer crop the more traditional garden produce of onions, tomatoes, pole beans, corn, cucumbers, peppers and muskmelons - all of which save the onions, are what Mel calls "vertical crops." This "vertical crop" method is really no more than a 1'x4' row garden at the head of each 4x4 SFG section. The amounts being raised are insufficient for those that might be considering this method of gardening for the purpose of canning and preserving what they grow. On the other hand, the SFG makes an excellent "kitchen garden" where produce can be planted and harvested in such a manner that one would have fresh vegetables on the table every day throughout the growing season.
(3) Those into self sufficient ways of living, that do need to grow and preserve foods are better off growing traditional row gardens, as they can plant and harvest crops at one time for processing. I was also dismayed that the word "potato" was no where to be found in SFG, as it is a staple, long recognized for its use as a survival food that can be easily grown in containers, harvested and kept stored in a simple root cellar year around.
So the main consideration for others thinking about buying this book, would be "what do I want to accomplish by utilizing the SFG method?" If its a three season "salad or kitchen garden" this is for you. If you are into home production and storage, to feed your family over a four season period, and on a continuous and recurring basis, then it is insufficient for that purpose.
Get the NEWER book
I first read this book in the library and said this is a MUST have and so I ordered one for myself. However, at the same time I ordered his newer book and he has changed a few things that make this book almost obsolete. I am glad I have both because this older book still has good information at the back that I enjoy reading BUT for the most part the NEWER book is the only one needed.
This whole concept is a fantastic one for those with a backyard garden. It has been a great start of my vegetable growing season. Best one I have had yet and I will never go back to the old way.
Square Foot Gardening
We are using this gardening method and were very happy to get the book to help us with the details. The book is in good condition and the service was prompt. Thank you!
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