One Acre Garden - Getting Started

It is a wonderful thoughtful idea of growing a veg garden and share with anyone that wanted to pick what they wanted. I have known a few people in my life thata did that. In the South a few people grown what they want in a small portion along the hwy and anyone can pick what they want. The first time I saw this I didn\'t know what to think. Then I realized and thought how generous that person was. We need more people like this. It would help alot of people.

Wouldn't it be neat to have a community garden like this that everyone who loves to garden could come to....then we all could utilize our expertise in gardening to create a huge garden we all could harvest...It could be a classroom for those of us who have little experience...I love to garden and I can grow anything...but when asked what I did to create such a beautiful garden ...I cannot tell them...I add a little something here and take away a little something there, prune, pick, stack, crack, pull, push, tie, etc. to create my masterpieces. I love to garden and would love a chance to work side by side with some of Arkansas most talented gardners.

I think your idea is great and alot of people down south and I am sure in other areas do plant vegs. for others to pick for themselves. When I first saw this, I did not know what to think. It is a very generous warm thing to do. Yours for the picking. Alot of people I have known in my life have grown a garden then would drive by and ask people if they would want so and so then give them what they want and encourage them to drop by there home to pick what they wanted. A great way to enjoy someones company, don\'t you agree?

How I envy you that huge garden. My husband, now deceased, and I worked a garden of about the same size and I can truthfully say it is time consuming and at times back breaking work, but Oh, the rewards! We also had eight blueberry bushes. Each bush yielded gallons of berries. I shared them with anyone that said Yes and froze gallons as well. In order to keep them from deteriorating over the course of the year is to double bag in freezer ziplocs and not over pack them. I filled a pint size and put that into a quart size. As I used them, I tossed the small bag that held the berries and recycled the quart size for the next batch of berries. They were always fresh tasting and had no frost accumulation on them. I'm glad to hear you have an asparagus bed. I would eat the shoots fresh, standing right there in the garden; SO good! Do yourself a favor if you haven't planted a patch this year, be sure to put in some leeks next year. That's another thing I miss, living in a subdivision now, although I do have a small herb garden and my deck is overflowing with plants. I think I may try a small raised garden next year, possibly 4'x8' for a few tomatoes, etc. And I can hope my four blueberry bushes will continue to thrive.

I look forward to learning the results of your garden. I planted a much, much smaller scaled garden this year with parts being successful and some not so much; but, I am learning and I soak up everything I can. Thank you for sharing not only your knowledge but your vegetables with those who are in need. 'Good things' tend to come full circle.

My son and I planted a one acre garden this year. We planted tomatoes, corn, peppers, peas, squash, cucumbers, watermelons, canteloupe, green beans, pole beans, butter beans. We are like you, if it produces in volume, we will donate to needy families, or organizations for the homeless. We loved doing this and hope it produces.

Hey I like this project that you are working on. I've been wanting to do some gardening. I have the space but not know how or where to begin. But I thinkg that this will be an exciting project to watch. Thank you for sharing.

I love your sense of humor that shines thru in writing your articles. :)

I am excited to see what you will be doing with this and how you do it! I LOVE watching your show Sunday mornings on NBC! It would be even better if it were one hour!

I had a good laugh when I saw the pile of amendments for your garden. I too was overwhelmed in my own garden with a considerably smaller mountain of mulch, which doesn't seem to be getting any smaller even though I'm carrying bucket after bucket load to my dress my garden. I really like this idea of tracking the production of your garden, and especially love that your garden will feed those who might not otherwise have access to nutritious home-grown veg and herbs. Good luck and I await your updates.

As a kid in centeral VA, each summer we tended a 2 acre garden, thought we would die. Now my parents have a 1 acre garden, I still come to help out, and think I am going to die. But love every minute of it. Lots of veggies, wildflowers and herbs. Good luck and just have fun.

It is fun to check on your progress as we too embark on our own 1 acre garden journey. Last year the largest part of ours was planted with Indian Corn and Ambrosia Sweet corn and what a beautiful stand we had... until the winds came up and knocked down over half of it. We called in friends to help us harvest what could be saved and are still enjoying some that was blanched and frozen. This year will provide for some experimentation as we'll be planting other vegetables in hopes of learning a lot and having plenty to sell at the farmers market with our home grown beef. Keep the updates coming as I am enjoying learning through your articles. Warming weather regards, The Humberd's

I acquired my first knock out roses last spring and was so thrilled with them .Can you explain the best plant food and to howcare for these roses with concern to pests?

I'm glad you're so honest about your projects-I laughed out loud (scared my "cat!) when I saw your "soil amendment" photo....as always, I'm sure the project will be a wonderful success story we'll all enjoy reading about and/or seeing on PBS! Your projects are always interesting and helpful, keep up the good work-you are a joy to watch and learn from, and a real gentleman, too!

I hate to be like everyone else but I love watching your endeavers. I live in Idaho and I live on 1 3/4 acre plot in the country. My husband and I watch you on PBS. We have loved learning from you. I especially loved watching the Garden Home Retreat come to life. I hope you have lots of fun with your one acre garden.

Hi Allen, Thought you'd be interested to know that my mother-in-law for many years grew and maintained a one-acre vegetable garden by herself! Not only that, she picked, shelled, cooked and canned every vegetable that garden produced. She fed her large family and much of the neighborhood thoughout the year! If she can do it, so can you! Enjoy your bountiful harvest! Mary

Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge about gardening. I love it!

Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge about gardening. I love it!

You can do it if anyone can. I couldn't stop laughing. I can so relate, albeit on a smaller scale.

Im very excited about our First Lady planting a kitchen garden on the grounds of the White House with children. With thousands of children who are overweight and with poor nutrition this idea could encourage them to eat more fresh vegetables and improve their health, if parents or neighbors got together and found a little plot of ground and planted a garden with their children how fantastic this would be for their children. This seems like a wonderful model for families everywhere.

You should read Mel Bartholomew's book Square Foot Gardening. His updated version then you wouldn't have so many veggies all at once. His method of gardening is so simple and hardly any work. Try it on your acre.

I have developed asthma and allergies bummer but still want to garden but can't do it like I would want it to be done. Biggest question is how to keep deer from eating my harvest. thank you and I enjoy everything you send on line and watching you on the tube.

Looks like a great spot. Is it near L.Rock? I would LOVE to get out to the Chrysler dealership in April to get one of your signed books. Good luck on your garden. If you ever want any old-fashioned flower starts, let me know. Donna Faulkner County, AR

Try a sunflower house (Sharon lovejoy) or three sistrers section (corn, pole beans andsquash or pumpkin). What about a gourd tree (a dead shrubby tree like post) covered with small gourds. Good luck and keep us posted

Allen, The ice storm of 2009 up here in NW Arkansas (Fayetteville) took 13 trees from our yard. We now have a very sunny backyard and are planning to extend the vegetable/herb/ornamental gardening we have been doing in the front yard for the last 5 years out into the 90'x40' area (just < .1 acre) that has been opened up. We are going to use the John Jeavons "Grow Biointensive" method as put forth in his book, 'How to grow more vegetables than you ever thought possible on less land than you can imagine'. It is a sustainable farming method that focuses on building the soil, and with appropriate inputs produces hugh quantities of nurtient dense produce. I've been using this method to one degree or another for several decades, at this point my husband and I are going to get more serious about it. We are going to start where we are and with deliberation, work up to the ideals of the method rather than aim for the whole shebang at once. I recognized your prodigious piles of amendments and the sense of overwhelm that comes with them. I have appreciated the many topics that you address on your website and look forward to following your experience with the One Acre Garden. Your question: What are you going to do with all those vegetables? is a timely and appropriate one for me. Most of us have not been raised with the practices of dealing with the harvest and I personally experience a bit of a disconnect when it comes to preserving the food that we have grown. We happily give away some of it, and I know that canning, freezing, and drying are methods I want to explore more, but I really get overwhelmed when I have a couple of pecks of tomatoes and peppers to deal with. I would appreciate the occasional bit of advise from you on dealing with the harvest. I sometimes get over Little Rock way...do you give tours of your gardens? I would love to visit them in person. Best of luck with your grand undertaking. Barbara Boland

What will you do to keep the deer out of your garden?

I once got fresh produce from charity as times were hard. I was so greatful. Times are really hard right now and there are alot of people that need your help. You are a wonderful person to do that. Wish there were more people like you. I have learned alot from your show and e-mails. Thank you very much.

From the photos, it looks as if the new garden is either surrounded by woods or, more likely, has a wooded area on at least one boundary. I'm very curious how you are going to protect the garden from hungry critters, especially deer. My garden beds have been devastated in the past couple summers by deer. Serious fencing is cost prohibitive for me. I use sprays (even the ones advertised on this site) but the deer just keep on coming. I need something that I can afford which will also make the deer want to eat something other than my hostas and veggies. THANKS!

Great! I've just started my first vegetable garden and it will be terrific to get all the knowledge and advice from this program!