Small Space Gardening: Feed a Family Garden

New this year, the Local Food Project crew laid out and planted a small scale garden designed to feed a family of four. The 700 square foot Feed a Family Garden—with a mix of short and long beds, a variety of popular crops, and a fun zig-zag pathway—demonstrates how a family might create a small veggie-growing plot in their own backyard. We used a broadfork to loosen the soil—an easy and inexpensive (not to mention quiet!) alternative to using a tiller that family members of all ages could help with. We’re also monitoring the effects of our nearby oak tree on the Feed a Family Garden (shade, water, roots, etc.). View photos.

The bounty of this new little garden has produced a lot of food! We’ve harvested more than 7 pounds of Swiss Chard, 12 pounds of zucchini, 3 pounds of cucumbers, 30 pounds of tomatoes, and a 7-pound watermelon. Visit Sixteen Foot Ladder again to see updates on the yields!