Layout of the garden

perimeter: (14ft x 22ft x 6.5ft x 4.5ft x 22.5ft)

Area: 172.125ft²

We took into consideration the different areas of the garden and their varying light and water quantities when deciding to plant what where. We also took into consideration the shape and area of the plot and this determined where we planted the different plants. This depended mostly on the space each plant needed and where they should be planted in comparison to other plants. For example, the three sisters (beans, corn, and squash) were given their own section.

The water spigot is right next to the bottom left corner where we planted the cilantro. There was a large cement block extending off of the water source that was six inches beneath the ground, and extended a couple of feet into our bed. We decided since this area did not allow for deep root growth, that we would plant cilantro because it would do fine with its shallow wandering roots.

We had some shadier spots in our garden. In these areas we planted more sensate vegetables and the vegetables that do not require quite as much light to be successful. These included the spinach, radishes and carrots.

The bottom line of the garden bed is along a cement walkway, and we did not want this getting covered, so we planted the non-wandering veggies here. The top diagonal line is alongside the lawn. It made sense to plant big leafy, wanderers here, such as squash, melons, and cucumbers. This way they would be free to extend their broad leaves out onto the lawn, cascading over the boarders of the garden bed, and not be in anyone’s way.

We had also heard and read about the Three Sisters relationship between corn, beans, and squash practiced by the indigenous people of the Americas for centuries and centuries.

This method between these three plants works in that the corn grows tall and provides a structure for the beans’ vines to grow up. The roots of the bean plants help to fix nitrogen into to soil to feed the corn and squash plants. The squash grows close to the ground and with its broad leaves, it shades out and does not allow other competing weeds to grow. These plants together make an awesome threesome, and eaten together are very healthy, and complement each others’ vitamin and protein contents.

The planter in which we planted the herbs was in a shady area, and that worked well because many herbs are sensitive to too much sun.

We added steppingstones as pathways throughout the plot in order to make weeding and harvesting the vegetables easier to accomplish. This was especially important in our bio-intense garden where many different plants are all packed together.

Area calculations:

In order to find the area, we split the garden up into two right triangles and found the area of the two triangles, then added them together to find the total area.

Triangle one (small triangle):

A = ½ (l)(h)

Length= 4.5ft

Height= 6.5ft

A = ½ (4.5ft) (6.5ft)

A = 14.625 ft²

Triangle two (large triangle):

A= ½ (l)(h)

16ft + 6.5ft = 22.5ft (length)

14ft = height

A= ½ (22.5ft) (14ft)

A= 157.5ft²

Then, we added them together to find the area of the entire garden.

14.625ft² + 157.5ft² = 172.125ft²

Total area = 172.125ft²