Origin of Square Foot Gardening
1976
The Birth of Square Foot Gardening
After retiring, Mel joined his local community garden and quickly saw how wasteful and labor-intensive traditional row gardening was. Mel invented Square Foot Gardening, focusing on efficient planting, proper spacing, weed control, and a better growing medium known as Mel’s Mix.
1981
A Bestselling book
Mel’s first book, Square Foot Gardening, was published in 1981 and became the largest selling gardening book.
1982
Square Foot Gardening Goes on TV
Square Foot Gardening began airing on PBS and Discovery Channel,
television series in which Square Foot Gardening became a household name.
1983-1989
Always Improving
Mel spent the 80s constantly refining the Square Foot Gardening Method. He tested pest enclosures, sunshades, critter cages and new innovations, many of which were featured in his 1985 book, CASH from Square Foot Gardening.
1996
Creating the SFG Foundation
Mel Bartholomew established the Square Foot Gardening Foundation to help solve world hunger by teaching people how to grow nutritious produce with limited resources.
2012-2018
Books
Several new Square Foot Gardening books are released, expanding the Method with updated editions, high-value crop guidance and resources for teaching kids to Square Foot Garden.
2016
Continuing Mel’s Legacy
Steve and Laura Bartholomew honored Mel’s legacy, advancing Square Foot Gardening into the digital world, while expanding educational opportunities especially with children by integrating STEAM principles which perfectly align with the SFG Method.
2025
New Books
All-New Square Foot Gardening, 4th Edition is released, along with The Square Foot Gardening Planner, a 3-year journal for recording the planning, planting and care of your Square Foot Garden.
2026
New Course
The Advanced Square Foot Gardening course is launched, exploring the science behind the SFG Method.
