Agropraxis Farm

On a listserv I follow a new member asked for advice on what books would we suggest for a beginning gardener. A prompt response suggested the Square Foot Gardening, which is the same advice I always give. A few more posts suggested other acceptable works. Then the thread turned into a verbal comparison of preferred methods between experienced gardeners. It brought to mind the comment from William Woys Weaver in a talk I attended. He said that American gardeners lack a defined garden layout and style and felt we would eventually evolve to an identifiable form. The comparison of methods is part of this evolution. The only unfortunate thing about the thread on the listserv is that a new gardener was looking for help and may have ended up with too much complicated advice.

For small garden spaces the Square Foot model gives sound, organic methods to grow food. I have a copy from 1984 when I started and had questions to explore. Over the years I read and incorporated ideas from other works by Jeavons, Nearing, Coleman, and Solomon. As I did a style evolved that expressed my interests and utilized my skills efficiently. In practice and through talking with others an  understanding of organic food raising now informs my efforts. My learning continues and the amount I know is enough to get by but comes with the recognition of how much I can still learn.

When someone asks for direction and information I find it useful to help with direction and encouragement. Where others may leap forward and give answers, I think this comes at the sacrifice of an individuals’ understanding and accomplishment of learning for themselves. I hope the new gardener isn’t discouraged and begins with Square Foot…. Too many experts and we may never find reason to develop an American Style.

Farmer Pete