Square Foot Gardening Foundation

by KATIE BROOKS

Despite significant progress over the past several decades, world hunger is still high the list of Earth’s most critical problems. Resource constraints, civil unrest, and natural disasters are only a few of the barriers to feeding the hungry in third-world countries. Even in the relatively wealthy United States, many still go hungry, and even more lack the nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables. In considering this issue, Mel Bartholomew, the originator of Square Foot Gardening, knew he had a way to help.

Mel invented his Square Foot Gardening technique in 1976 and published his first book on this technique in 1981. It became one of the best-selling gardening book of all time and led to a television program that made Square Foot Gardening a household name. But Mel didn’t stop there. In 1996, he founded the Square Foot Gardening Foundation. Its mission: to help end world hunger by “teaching a man to fish”—or rather, to garden.

What makes the Square Foot Gardening method so effective? One answer is its simplicity. The process involves little more than building a 4' x 4' box, filling it with landscaping fabric and an easy-to-make soil mixture, and planting within a grid pattern. Even children can do much of the work.

Even more importantly, Square Foot Gardening saves gardeners time, effort, tools, space, and water. The technique is estimated to use only 50% of the money, 80% of the space, 10% of the water, and 2% of the work required for single-row gardening. No heavy tools or significant digging are necessary. To top it all off, the technique yields virtually no weeds! This saves both water and time for gardeners and increases the chances of healthy crops.

All of these aspects of Square Foot Gardening make it possible for families and communities to grow their food in very small spaces and with very limited resources. The method can even be adapted to Square Meter Gardening, and the boxes can be built to accommodate those who are confined to wheelchairs or unable to bend over. National and international humanitarian groups have adopted Square Foot Gardening and proved that the method can work anywhere in the world.

Those who would like to get involved in the Square Foot Gardening Foundation’s mission have numerous options. Advocates can start by trying Square Foot Gardening for themselves and inviting members of the community to see the results. They can appeal to community leaders to provide or increase the amount of space available for garden plots. Volunteers can even become certified instructors of the Square Foot Gardening technique and teach workshops at various locations.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, donate, or find other ways to contribute to the self-sufficiency and healthy lifestyles of people across the globe, visit Square Foot Gardening’s website.