Gardening 101 Class
What We Teach
Self-Reliance
Through
Sustainable
Agriculture
 Gardening
 Raising Livestock
 Food Preservation
 Aquaponics
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Why Garden?
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Cost Efficient: Did you know that it cost the
same amount of money to purchase a
package of seeds as it does to buy one
vegetable in the store?
Healthier: You Know What You’ve Added
Creates Family Time
Teaches Your Children & Grandchildren To
Become Self-Sufficient
Plan For The Future
Gardening
 Raised
Bed
 Square Foot
 Container
 Traditional
What Garden Is Right For You
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What Are Your Family Needs?
How Much Space Do You Have?
How Much Time Do You Have?
How Many People Will You Be Feeding?
What Kind Of Soil Do You Have?
How Much Sunlight Do You Get? (6-8hrs)
Do You Rent Or Own?
Raised Bed
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Higher Yields
Less Weeding &
Watering
Few Tools Needed
Solves Poor Soil Issues
Accessible For All
Can Be Relocated
Build Anywhere
Endless Sizes & Styles
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Mounded Dirt
Soil Bags Covered
With Mulch
Framed With
Untreated Boards (Do
Not Use Railroad Ties
or Pressure Treated)
Concrete Blocks
Decorative Blocks
Starting A Raised Bed
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Poly Raised Bed Ring WalMart $20 (8x48in.)
Poly Raised Bed 4X4
Home Depot $40
Poly Raised Bed 3.5X7
Sam’s Club $40
Wooden 4X4 $15
Wooden 4X8 $30
Kids Pool $10-$20
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Wooden Raised Bed
4X4: 1-2x(6-12)x16
2-2x(6-12)x8
4X8: 3-2x(6-12)x8
Screws or Nails
Hammer or Drill
Have Wood Cut At Store (3
Free Cuts)
Add Trellis for Vines
Use PVC Pipe Frame For
Winter Cover
Newspaper-Weed Barrier
Square Foot
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Higher Yields
Great For Small Yards
Less Weeding & Watering
Newspaper for Weed
Barrier
Can Be Combined With
Raised Beds
Permanent Grid Attached
On Top To Mark Off 1 ft X
1 ft Squares
Square Foot Method
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Mark Out 1x1 Squares
Grow 1, 4, 9, or 16
Plants Per Square Foot
According To Plant
Spacing
12in: 1 Plant /Sq. Ft.
6in: 4 Plants /Sq. Ft.
4in: 9 Plants /Sq. Ft.
3in: 16 Plans /Sq. Ft.
Container
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Great for Patios,
Porches, & Steps
Great for Apartment,
Rental or Restrictions
Tipsy Pots
Hanging Bags
Starting A Container Garden
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Topsy Turvy $10-$100
Upsy Downsy $8
Custom $0 (Poly Bag,
PVC-T, Hay String)
Tipsy Pots $5 & Up (45 Clay Pots, Metal
Rod)
Traditional
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Great for Large Spaces
More Tools Needed
Higher Initial Investment
Soil Amendments
More Weeding & H2O
Soil
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Soil Test $7 Extension Agency
Moisture, Light, pH Meter $10
Ideal pH for Garden 6.0
Soil pH too Acidic:
Add
Hydrated Lime
Soil pH too Alkaline:
Add
Powdered Sulfur
Purchase Potting Soil $710/2cu.ft (Fertilizes: 2-3 mo.)
Bulk Garden Soil $20/sq.yd.
Mix Your Own: 1/3 Compost,
1/3 Peat Moss, 1/3 Vermiculite
Earth Worms
Compost
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Bins $40,Tumblers $$$
Leaves
Lawn Clippings
Dead Plants
Earth Worms
Kitchen Scraps
Compost Builder $12
Do Not Add Meat, Oil
What To Plant
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SPRING GARDEN:
Beans (Pole & Snap)
Peas
Corn
Tomatoes
Potatoes
Peppers
Squash
Okra
Melons
Eggplant
Cucumbers
Onions
Pumpkins
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FALL GARDEN:
Beans
English Peas
Broccoli, Cauliflower
Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Spinach
Lettuce
Winter Squash
Carrots
Beets, Radishes
Turnips, Parsnips
Radishes
Collards & Mustard Greens
Tomatoes
Peppers
Starting Seeds
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Start Indoors 6-8 wks
Before Last Frost
Transplant Mid-End
March (Spring Garden)
Egg Cartons, Jiffy Trays,
Take Out Box, Juice
Cartons
Good Soil & Fertilizer
Direct Sow Some: Greens
Plant: 2 Week Intervals to
Extend Harvest Time
Organic & Natural Pest Control
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Bug Zapper: No Moths = No Caterpillars
Neem Oil: Fungus, Mites, Insects ($12/16oz)
Dipel Dust: Caterpillars ($4/4lb Bag)
Soapy Water: Mites
Sugar Water: Attracts Beneficial Bugs
Beneficial Bugs: Lady Bugs, Wasps, Nematodes
Marigolds, Garlic, Pepper, Cinnamon
PyGanic (Organic Pyrethrin) $$$
Fertilizing
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Add Fertilizer When Planting
Re-Fertilize Every 2-3 Weeks By Top-Dressing
Liquid All-Purpose
Granulated 6-6-6 or 10-10-10
Organic Granulated or Liquid
Manure: Chickens, Goats, Rabbits, Horses, Cows,
Bat Guano
Seaweed, Kelp Meal
Alfalfa Meal
Harvesting
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Plant Every 2 Weeks
So Everything Doesn’t
Mature At Once
Check Plants Everyday
Freeze, Can or Dry
Excess
Donate to Food Banks
and Soup Kitchens
Gardening Resources
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Mother Earth News: Online Offer $10/yr
Marion County Extension Agency
EDIS UF/IFAS Extension
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
The Vegetable Gardeners Bible by Edward Smith
3 Step Vegetable Gardening by Steve Mercer
Johnny’s Seed, Baker Creek Heirlooms
Arbico Organics, OMRI
Keep In Touch
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Call Rachelle Roper 352-572-7843
Email: feedtheneedgarden@hotmail.com
Join Us On MySpace & Facebook
www.feedtheneedgarden.com
Sign Up For Future Classes
Donate Your Time or Skills & Volunteer!
Share What You Learn With Others!!!