If you use Mel’s Mix in your box on top of your weed fabric, that separates your existing dirt with your plants and they then grow in the 6 inches of perfect soil. As a reminder, sales from our website support all of our educational and humanitarian projects. All of them are on our deck. First, we’re going to assume you’re using Mel’s Mix as prescribed in the All New Square Foot Gardening book which is, by volume, 1/3 peat moss (or coco coir) When you do find Mel’s Mix, the bag will tell you how many cubic feet it has. Have you ever tried to partner with us to sell your product? (Where roots and shade won’t interfere. Hi Mel. But either way, follow my two words of advice and don’t get discouraged or give up. So much fun! But as I mentioned on my blog previously, I got in trouble trying to reason with them and we were told if Mel or anyone from the SFG Foundation calls again, they will take the product right out of the catalog. So I’ve got to leave it up to each of you. Thank you for the information about obtaining Mel’s Mix at Lowes in your area. 4. A MUST! All rights reserved. The passing of a legend, yet his legacy lives on… and keeps on growing. You cannot have it shipped to your local store at this present time. Mainly because a 3.5 cu ft bag of coarse Vermiculite is $49.99. I’ll send you some pictures after I get them all filled, hopefully by tomorrow night I’ll be done with that part. All rights reserved. I’m sorry to hear your story. It was invented by backyard gardener and engineer Mel Bartholomew. So please do not call them to try and get them to change the shipping. 1. I couldn’t find OMRI-certified compost at east coast stores, but can get compost from produce stores and small animal farms for free or close to free. Could you recommend compost sources that would give us the necessary nutrients if avoiding bone meal and blood meal? It […]. Tell me what the advantages are said to be. I’m afraid I can’t suggest anything. I said hmm, what’s that! Then they decide we won’t carry it in every store, but just some stores. Without even calculating their time and travel expenses from going here to there and then the mixing process…they have always concluded that I wish I just bought the Mel’s Mix bags. They will actually do that if enough of us call and ask for it. That would make an interesting movie. Goodbye”. Here’s what others have accomplished. Build your box. Compost is the most important (and probably cheapest) component, which you can blend on your own and have more than 5. Shipping was $60, but since I called, they did give me a discount. It’s astounding that so many big, diverse plants can grow from only 6″ of soil! I can’t imagine why they’re selling it at half price. ), Existing soil is not really important. What a wonderful solution and I can imagine your joy in seeing that UPS truck drive up to your front door. Send me some pictures, so I can share them with others. Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and I have read in forums that dryer climates with high winds don’t work with soils with that much peat moss. Someone once told me, its harder to find coarse vermiculite so it’s worth buying Mel’s Mix all bagged rather than spending time looking for the vermiculite portion alone. You don’t grow in your existing soil, you don’t need it, and you don’t want it. Model # GT 11730 Melissa. I’m sorry to hear your story. A complete natural and organic, ready to use soil. What did the people at the nursery where you bought the Happy Frog mix say about that mix? I tried looking elsewhere online but couldn’t find anything. Now a 100% compost mix will be stronger in nutrients obviously, but does not hold or drain water as well. Thank you. If you call and a man answers, hang up and call again until you get a lady. What I was mostly wondering about is over wintering herbs indoors, but that then led me to wonder about common houseplants as our outdoor gardens are doing so well in your recipe. All other impostors are not authorized and are selling it illegally. I hope he gets in touch with you. When he created the "square foot gardening" method, Mel Bartholomew, a retired engineer and efficiency expert, found the solution to the frustrations of most gardeners. Here’s what we recommend for anyone who wants Mel’s Mix shipped to their front door. 2. BUT WAIT, you can still plant this weekend. So read the ingredients of your Happy Frog mix and if it already has peat moss in it, don’t bother adding that. ft. bag and it’s named Square Foot Gardening Potting Soil Mix. Sounds like we will need to make our own mix which is unfortunate because it would have been a lot easier to use yours. We thought once it’s in Lowes and Home Depot, all the problems would be solved. Copyright © 2011 - Boulevard. MEL BARTHOLOMEW is the originator and inventor of the Square Foot Gardening™ method. This is the original SFG book shown in our catalog as the 2005 Original SFG book. Internet # 203272590 Warm water helps the soil stay warm. I am not that technically minded to know what might be causing your problem. This is our first year using the square foot gardening method. So please do not call them to try and get them to change the shipping. Because as I have pointed out many times, Square Foot Gardening is the only method where you can have your garden on top of a table. My Hubby wants to make a 4’x10′ box just for potatoes. You bring up some very good subjects and I thought I had covered all of those different questions and situations in all of my books. 18-20 bags for each garden, but I now have no fear of planting and loose soil…and no weeds and do not plan to use fertilizer. Otherwise, I guess you’ll need to mix your own for now. But our flower pot is square and much bigger, but about the same depth (6 inches) and it is filled with the perfect soil. So disappointed! In the past, Home Depot has changed the shipping from $55 maximum, then to $150 maximum, then to no longer available. Put that product number in the search and you can order your 64 bags from Home Depot and believe or not the shipping will only be $55.00 (which is .86 per bag – isn’t that amazing). You’re absolutely right that the unit cost is more for the 32 quart bag. Get Square Foot Gardening Soil on Amazon with Free Shipping* Mel’s Mix is available on Amazon in 2 cu. (In other words, good drainage. I was so excited to find Mel’s Mix online but when I called HD’s customer service I was told they could only ship to my home. We really have nothing to do with the situation. Apparently, different manufacturers in different parts of the garden industry use different names for … Many people have written to tell us it was actually cheaper to buy the all mixed bags rather than finding all the different ingredients separately. Super rewarding. ), Be sure it is not near trees and shrubs. Hi Mel, I went to order a bunch of your mix online from Home Depot (it’s not carried here locally) and was charged $10 per bag for shipping. Please find another distributer. Can’t do the arithmetic. I hope you are able to do that for us and I’ll be looking forward to your results. 1/3 vermiculite At first, the shipping seemed kind of high, but depending on how many bags you want, it would never get over $55 for even 50 bags, or 100. If you use Mel’s Mix in your box on top of your weed fabric, that separates your existing dirt with your plants and they then grow in the 6 inches of perfect soil. Rosemary, I wish I could send that message to all the people of the world and I bet you that half of them would say “gosh that works for me”. Do not mention my name or the SFG Foundation’s name, just say you are a customer that wants to order so many bags of this product number, 11760, and what is the best shipping deal you can give me If it’s too much, say “Tell your boss that’s way too much and I have to cancel my order. In fact, I think that’s a pretty big deal. If this is not possible for a store manager to order directly for thier own stores use, we will have to get Lowes Corporation involved and maybe that path will work. Also I am curious why the mix is so much more. The 4×4 box will take 8 cubic feet of Mel’s Mix. In stock, no ordering online. Don’t call your local store, there is nothing they can do for you. Either way, lets get you some pallets of Mel’s Mix. These are 1.5 cubic ft. bags so for a 4’x4′ box, you would need 8 cubic ft., or 6 bags, with a little leftover. Is it a complete mix or is just composed of different types of compost? The 2 square feet, I’m not sure what you mean. any suggestions on how NOT to get gouged by shipping? Did they remove the $55 cap? But please bear with us an keep supporting us. Despite all our objections, they are still doing to do whatever they want. Plant only a pinch (2 or 3 seeds) per hole. Concerning the rock dust, I would not bother but many do recommend it as an additive. Your situation applies to so many people in the world and when you don’t feel good, why even get up you think. I certainly agree with your feelings and we tried so hard to get Home Depot to either stock it in every store or at least ship it to your local store, so there would be no shipping charge. The video from 2010 shows 3 cu ft for $10.97 at Lowes. Will keep your question on file and if we ever get there, I’ll let you know ahead of time. If you call and a man answers, hang up and call again until you get a lady. Add Mel’s Mix. I sure wish we could get Home Depot to settle on a reasonable shipping rate. To follow up I contacted Home Depot per Mel’s suggestion and spoke with a customer service agent who agreed to grant me the $55 dollar flat fee for shipping. I have a friend in California who ordered 175 bags and got them for $55 shipping. Lay down your grid and start planting. Can you sell that much? 1. Googled…bought your e-book and consumed it in 2 days and started ordering plants and seeds. Thank you again for you letter and I hope we can get you some speedy replies. Unfortunately, we have had a loss in the family due to Mad Cow related disease which makes us more sensitive to ingredients that could cause it. Closest store was in New Mexico, over 400 miles away. I am finding that your mix from Home Depot is cheaper than making it ourselves from the local nursery for 96 cu ft. So in summary, whatever you spent for Mel’s Mix, for all of your boxes, divide that by 10, and that’s what it costs every year and with no work, no digging, no kidding. You’ve built the frame for a raised garden bed; now you need to fill it with … As far as the watering and contents of peat moss – peat moss has a tendency to stay dry and needs a good soaking to first get it wet. Ordering coarse vermiculite from http://www.greenhousemegastore.com at 24.00 for 4.0cf. They cannot order it- the counter guy was great- he called Home Depot- they said I would have to pay the shipping. I’m not sure what your question is, but you certainly pointed out 2 excellent samples of what it takes to get started. How many bags at 1.5 cubic foot each do you need to buy to equal the 8 cubic foot space? Call 1-800-430-3376. Mel: see my response in prior comment made a few minutes ago. In fact there’s a drawing in the original book on page 253. Model # NW 11760 I’ll hold off on more 4x4s til next year. After several days, if it doesn’t change back to $55, then I have to assume they are going to keep it at $150. OK is that a promise? I wish we could pass your experience on to everyone else. Thanks again for your letter and let me know how things work out with your garden. 6. Would we add less than the 1/3 mentioned in the book since it already has some perlite in it? Try again the next day and hope it works then. Thanks! If you box is smaller or different than that, just write me back and I’ll help you with that size. He then called the manufacturer. I was all ready to order but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. We have no control over what they are doing and I’m sorry it has changed and been a concern to everyone, but we have to live with whatever they post that day as the shipping cost. I did buy more pre-made Mel’s Mix so I can plant more baby salad greens mix in whatever small containers I can scrounge up. 5. Or you can make your own, one would be dried grass clippings. Mel Bartholomew’s mix for the the best soil for raised bed vegetable gardening is simple: 1 part compost – Make your own, or If you live in Arizona the compost from Arizona Worm Farm is great. Here’s a link to my latest book All New Square Foot Gardening, 2nd Edition. BUT if you do this, there is a better chance of getting a much better shipping deal. 3. That would be enough to fill your box and have just a little leftover. You have found the real, true reason as to why to get up and get on with your life. Boy, I sure wish we could find another distributor. ft. The simplest, easiest solution to starting your garden is buy Mel’s Mix already bagged at your local nursery. I’m wondering if you’ve gotten an answer from the Gro-Well company. But once that order gets over 6 boxes, every single bag thereafter is FREE SHIPPING. I don’t know if it’s possible for you to order, lets say 10 pallets, just for your store, sell a good part of them right away and then have the rest for other folks…if this was possible for you, I would be glad to advertise to our audience that if they want Mel’s Mix, they can go right to your store, with your contact information. You cannot have it shipped to your local store at this present time. Do you know what the best feature is in All New Square Foot Gardening?. Here’s what I would like you to do for me. Try not to get the leaves wet. Mel, is Home Depot the only place that Mel’s Mix can bought online? Yes it is the same product…sometimes in different size, color and descriptive bags. It doesn't always have to be the same. Actually it all happened last night and today. Just easier starting out than mixing, albeit more expensive. I’m always curious about those things. They will not ship the product to their store or carry it in their store. We have been told the more customers that make comments and complaints will be much better results. I was really hoping that my local nursery would have it but sadly they don’t. Thank you. Of course, when you said a lot of soil, I was thinking you might have 10 4’x4′ boxes in some sort of combination, such as a couple of 4’x12′ boxes and even a few 3’x3’s for children. Installed a 4-station sprinkler system…and I am rolling! You could order a whole pallet of 50 bags for $55 dollars. That just doesn’t seem right but shipping is so expensive these days. You cannot have it shipped to your local store at this present time. They have each planned out their gardens and can’t wait to get started planting. The shipping after 6 bags is free, so if you have the minimum of 5 4’x’4 boxes, you will pay shipping only on the first box and all the soil for the other 4 boxes will be shipped free to your door. I have pics of it but you can see it at Lowes.com. That’s probably where the arithmetic gets tricky. Thanks! There must be many SFG’s in New York City – nice! Because when they try to order online, you can’t negotiate with a computer. Let me know how many bags you’re getting and how big your garden is. Shipping was over $600, which he would reduce as a “courtesy” to $450! To be clear: the author (Mel Bartholomew) does not have a proprietary soil and you can buy the components without putting a dollar in his pocket but he is very passionate about the effort and testing he has done that there is only one combination of things that will work best in these gardens. Goodbye”. I understand, after enquiring with Home Depot that they can order any number of boxes and still only pay $55. 2. I hope all the others will be able to read this and take note and want to do the same thing. The only fly in the ointment, as the saying goes, is if you want to order it online and pick it up at the store, THAT they are not prepared to do yet. A couple of notes: You can always add more later. Item #383743 I guess I will just have to try to assemble the different components on my own. In my next column, I will discuss how to start planting. I have 12″ of planting space! Plant a different flower, vegetable, or herb crop in each square foot; using 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants per square foot. Show those neighbors something new. As time goes on, and the word spreads, we will be able to get Mel’s Mix in more stores so it won’t be so hard to find. Mel Bartholomew March 15, 2013 at 4:38 pm - You make a good point about calling it a potting soil mix. You can buy mulch from the nursery by the bag – they’ll have several different types. I know I sound like a broken record… everyone up here has said the same thing. The customer service rep said the shipping program is new and hopefully will be available to all store by the end of the year. The answer… to have a Square Foot Garden, to nurture, harvest, and enjoy. 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