You may want to search your local library and used book stores for the "original" (old edition) Square Foot Gardening book. A much thicker book with, I believe, a white cover. Mel goes into all sorts of detail about working with, amending, fertilizing, etc. your native soil. If it's good soil there's not many reasons not to use it, although I sure haven't missed all those weeds. If the soil doesn't look good then the new method, with the raised boxes and "Mel's Mix" will be much better and easier (I used and loved Mel's original book for many years, but when it disappeared in the moving around surrounding my divorce, I ended up getting the new edition and building a new style SFG at my new home, and then at my parents' house. It was MUCH easier. It sounds like you are well started with a good supply of compost. If you are going to work "in the ground" I would recommend not just adding compost and other amendments (vermiculite was the best thing I ever did for/to my original in-ground SFG) and mashing them in there, but actually removing some (when I say "some" here think closer to "half" than any smaller number) of the volume of soil and replace it with compost, vermiculite, etc. don't try to "mash it in." The goal is to create a light, friable, soil that is easy to work in and for plants to grow in, not stuff a more dense mixture into the same amount of space. That brings me to the second important thing, which is to plan some kind of walkways, of boards, concrete pavers, etc if you want any paths into your beds. As long as there is room to move on both sides of the bed this shouldn't be a problem with a 4 foot width, but if it is going to be right against a wall or fence you will need to plan some way to get to your back squares without walking on the soil. That's the other big thing to the SFG method, never walk on the soil. That way you can work on it regularly, with light tools (trowels, a spade at very most) mixing in fresh compost every time you pull old plants out, and never have use heavy equipment on the soil again. Typically the tall plants go along the northern edge of the garden, so that they don't shade the shorter plants.

Hello to all quilting friends, old and new! All is fine with me. I have been trying to get PhDs caught up and am working on purses and other crafts for sales that my sister and I will be doing in the coming months. I look forward to seeing what everyone is up to and new ideas for quilting and crafting. I also look forward to participating in swaps, block lottos and other fun things!

Thank you! marti, I fell 4 yrs ago and have had 6 surgeries including Cervical spine (and maybe one or two more in my future), and lots of other 'ailments' that come from being 'sick'. I am on the up side now, have limited abilities, cannot do what I used to do, was in my late 50's full of energy, working, had my own kitchen remodel business and doing projects, my blog and learning photography. Then fell (upside down on my head) then somehow 4 yrs went by, I sort of 'wake up' and I am not able to work outside the home and I am in my 60's and retired! Like a bad dream filled with 6 surgeries to fix parts to work again, and lots of therapy. BUT I am going to make the BEST of it! I am alive and can do things for my self and can function better now. So, it is not all bad, just trying to find my niche in the world again! I am originally from Nova Scotia, Massachusetts then to Florida, Virginia and then now back to Florida. I am an East coast gal. Love the palm trees here and the climate is mild.

I haven't been painting either. Been running the roads. ha Spent Fri shopping for DH's b-day. They had a bbq for all the people who were in the Arby's holdup I told you about and my DH volunteered to do the cooking so everyone could visit. I spent Sat working in the yard and making potato salad and prepping meat for the bbq Sat night. Sunday b-day party. Then yesterday my DB was off so we had lunch with him and ran errands with him. We stopped in a TS and I found a big sign that goes with my red,white and blue. I'll have to take a picture later to show you. I was sooo excited to find it. I've got to get my house cleaned today so I can go do some shopping for DH tomorrow. He's leaving to go to Chicago on Fri for work. The fence people are coming Thurs or Fri to put in the panels and finish up so I'll have to be home those days. I may be able to get some painting done then. I am trying to get a few things made up to give to my DB & SIL as a housewarming gift. Ever made a barbed wire wreath before? It ain't easy. ha They decorate western theme. Waiting for some horseshoes from a friend to finish that up. Trying to find some boots at the TS to plant for their front porch. Do you know if and when I find them if I should drill holes in bottom of the boot for drainage? Anyway, busy as always. The next weekend we'll be going on a little mini vacation so I'll be getting ready for that. I thought summer would be more relaxing, but obviously not. ha It's good that you are at least getting to spend some quality time with GD. Did you do any fun shopping or was it have to shopping? ha I saw some of your fun TS finds over on Holidays the other day, but don't remember if I got to post or not. ha Well, I guess it's time to don my maid uniform and get busy cleaning this pigsty. I don't know how it manages to get so messy when we haven't been home very much. ha The gremlins must have been having a party while we were out. :) I'll be back to post that sign pic later. ~Anj