Re: Garden plot size

**&* G* <g*@one.net>**

I addition to Judy's list, another strategy I'd recommend is doing a
permaculture design for the overall site:
http://www.permacultureactivist.net
and including design to maximize water harvesting and minimize wildfire
damage.  Mixed plant hedgerows would probably be very beneficial, too.

As for plot size, the smallest plots for adults tend to be in the 4x6/5x7
foot range.  A number of gardens have 10x10.  Quite a few with good space
offer plots in the 20x25 to 25x35 range.  In the UK, the standard plot size
for the last 100 years or so is 30 feet by 100 feet.  There are some places
where beginners will take a half plot.  And some of the more experienced
gardeners have 2 to 4 plots. (Brief pause while green skin color returns to
normal shade...)  In the UK and Germany, many plots have a small shed or
green house, and often catch water off the roof into barrels for their
plots..  Many have permanent orchard plantings as well.

For children's plots, I've seen 3x3, 4x4, and 4x8 feet.

One thing to consider to maximize the use of the space is that a four foot
wide bed with a 1 foot path tends to allow people to plant intensively.  So
if the beds are in 5 foot increments plus 1 foot, this can be easily done.
If the beds are surrounded on four sides by paths, you don't need the extra
foot.

Lengths of wood and fencing panels tend to come in multiples of 4 feet, so
if you are building raised beds, you may want to make them 4 feet wide, and
8, 12, 16, or 24 feet long to make the best use of the wood.  Though 25 feet
gives you a nice round number of 100 square feet for your beds.

I think the site most similar in size to yours is in Wisconsin.  However the
climate and growing conditions are very different from your area.

So there are a lot of things you can consider in your planning depending on
which goals you want to focus on most..  And once you have read through the
info and links on the ACGA site, and done some local focus groups, you may
want to bounce combinations of ideas off the list as there are likely to be
people with experience in most things you are considering.

Sharon
gordonse@one.net

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