Perennial

Perennial V O L U M E O N E , I S S U E ON E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0

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elcome to Perennial Magazine.

We derive our name from a plant that keeps returning. Just like the reoccurring Grid Gardening method that can be used continuously, we plan on having a list of magazines that will also keep occurring, to keep all your gardening needs updated. As you go throughout Perennial you will see pages with grids, this will show how grids are not only applied to gardening but also design.

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Introduction to Grid Gardening Swiss Design & Grid Gardening

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A Swiss Design Connection Renewing the System Focusing on Functionality Utilizing the Grid The Importance of Infographics

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Designing by the Square Foot Determining the Size of Your Garden Choosing the Perfect Location Building a Grid Garden Soil Mix Planting Square By Square

1 G RI D GA RDE N I N G & SWIS S DE S I G N

Introduction to Grid Gardening

Introduction

Connection

Design

Grid Gardening & Swiss Design 6

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n this section we are going to be talking about Grid Gardening. This is a universal form of gardening that anyone can do. From apartments to open land, this form of gardening can go international. By dividing each section of dirt into a growing area you are able to have multiple trays of plants and vegetables.

From the grid alignments to the way this system conser ves water, it is one easy way to open the door to gardening. By connecting this to Swiss International it can easy shown through Grid Gardening. From the strong alignments to demonstrating the versatile international way your plants can grow, Grid Gardening shows their similarities.

With this magazine us at Garden Supply Company plan to spread awareness to Grid Gardening, by helping beginners find a good place to get tools to start their garden.

In the later sections we will talk about strong connections to Swiss design and how to build your own.

2 R E N EW I N G T H E S Y S T E M F OC U S I N G O N F UNC T IONAL I T Y UT I L I Z I NG T H E GR ID T HE I MP ORTA N C E O F I N FOGR APHIC S

A Swiss Design Connection

Introduction

Connection

Design

Renewing the System 10

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ardening, as the world knows, is far from a new practice. Over the centuries it has changed from location to location; from culture to culture. Although the idea of gardening has remained roughly the same, the methods and knowledge behind the how and why are constantly being renewed.

Our gardening-by-the-grid system embodies this renewal. The adherence to the grid system not only organizes, but also optimizes the time, materials, and energy utilized in any garden.

A similar comparison can be made to the designers of the Swiss International St yle.

Two specific designers , Adrian Frutiger and Walter Herdeg, presented a renewal of their own to the designs of their time and even to their own previous designs.

By utilizing the grid to the fullest, they both were able to improve an already successful style of design by using their available space more effectively and intentionally placing every element.

Adrian Frutiger U N I F O R M , O RGA N I Z E D , & S T RU C T U R E D

Adrian Frutiger has created some of the most used t ypefaces of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Although interested in many fields including woodcut and paper silhouettes, Frutiger has been passionate about typography for his entire life. Spending most of his career working for Deberny & Peignot updating t ypefaces and preparing them for photo-typesetting, as well as designing t ypefaces of his own accord, he has created almost 30 t ypefaces in total.

Some of his most famous t ypefaces include Univers, Frutiger (created for the Charles de Gaulle airport), Egyptienne, Serifa and Avenir. Frutiger is one of only a few typographers whose career spans across hot metal, photographic, and digital t ypesetting.

He has also been instrumental in refining his 12

own t ypefaces to include more weights and true italics. Frutiger’s t ypeface Univers is unique in that it was comprehensive in its naming of type sizes. Past sans- serif designs such as Gill Sans had more differences bet ween weights, while loose families such as the Franklin Gothic family often were advertised under different names for each st yle as they were not completely matching.

This t ypeface had a numbering system for each of the weights, allowing entire documents to be set in just Univers. This revolutionized the conventional way of organizing type weights.

The Swiss International St yle of t ypography favored avoiding artistic excess, which is exemplified in the simplicit y of Univers.

Walter Herdeg C O M M U N I C AT I V E , E F F I C I E N T, & I N F O R M AT I V E

Walter Herdeg was very much a graphic designer.

He studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zürich, created many different corporate identities (just as the practice was beginning to become a standard), and even formed his own design company with Walter Amstutz. W hat he is best known for, however, is the creation and publication of Graphis. An international journal of visual communication, Graphis was first published by Herdeg towards the end of the Second World War. The magazine showcases the work and interviews from designers and illustrators from all over the world in an effort to share their work with other audiences. In the beginning it ser ved as one of what were, at the time, only a few vessels which exposed the western world to the design work 14

being done in Europe. Herdeg served as the editor of the magazine for 246 issues (the magazine is still in publication) as well as the Graphic Design Annuals which showed the best and brightest work from the year prior to their publication. Graphis was a seminal force in the shaping of design culture and it continues to educate, expand and foster the world of graphic design today.

Herdeg’s magazine revolutionized the community of graphic designers, connecting them across nations. He was Graphis’ publisher and editor.

He analyzed, criticized and lovingly administered to every last detail. Previously, artists and designers were connected through localized shows of their art, along with large competitions as a prime example of International Design.

Introduction

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Focusing on Functionality 16

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nce the grid is in place, the space allotted to each plant and the number of plants per square can further work to optimize the area available to the garden. By allowing our Grid Gardening to take the reigns, the garden is finally free to focus on functionalit y.

Similarly, communication through objective simplicit y was also a guiding principle of Swiss Design. The goal was clarit y, order, and a universally understood visual language.

Swiss designs were clean and free from excess ornamentation. They attempted to remove all that was unnecessary and emphasize only the necessary.

It is a style of design that favors minimalism over presenting information in the best way for the audience, resulting in design that was effective rather than simply aesthetically pleasing.

Functionality is also a key aspect of Grid Gardening, as your garden should work efficiently for you, rather than being ornamental. Condensing the space the garden occupies creates the optimal gardening method as the focus shifts from how the garden looks to how the garden produces. This results in a garden free from distracting elements, ready to grow the most successful crops.

Herbert Matter C L E A R , S I M PL E , & I N N OVAT I V E

Herbert Matter worked with a number of famous designers and artists during his career including Fernand Léger, Le Courbusier, Charles and Ray Eames, Derberny & Peignot, A.M. Cassandre, and Alexey Brodovitch. Matter was a master of using photo-montage, color and t ypography in an expressive manner, transcending the boundaries bet ween art and design. His design work often favored a heav y use of photography. His most recognizable works are the posters he created for the Swiss Tourist Office, but his photography work for Harper’s Bazaar, under the direction of Brodovitch, is equally impressive.

A master in his profession, he began teaching photography and design at Yale in 1952.

He continued to teach and work, notable work from his later career includes the identity design 18

for the New Haven Railroad, until he died in 1984. Matter’s primary use of photography and photo-montage allowed him to use the principle of functionalit y very effectively. His large scale images placed on a solid background are concise and clearly lead the viewer’s eye around the image.

Rather than decorating his designs with illustrations, typography, or excessive amounts of photography, Matter employed the Swiss International Style design idea of avoiding excess.

Swiss International Style emphasized functionality and clarit y over decoration, which is also seen in Grid Gardening. Grid Gardening also employs functionality in the space, water, and time it saves.

Joseph MÜller-Brockmann E F F I C I E N T, I N F O R M AT I V E , & H A R M O N I O U S

As with most graphic designers that can be classified as part of the Swiss International Style, Joseph Müller-Brockmann was inf luenced by the ideas of several different design and art movements including Constructivism, De Stijl, Suprematism and the Bauhaus. He is perhaps the most well-known Swiss designer and his name is probably the most easily recognized when talking about the period. He was born and raised in Switzerland and by the age of 43 he became a teacher at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts.

Perhaps his most decisive work was done for the Zurich Town Hall as poster advertisements for its theater productions. He published several books, including The Graphic Artist and His Problems and Grid Systems in Graphic Design. These books provide an in-depth analysis of his work practices 20

and philosophies, and provide an excellent foundation for young graphic designers wishing to learn more about the profession. He spent most of his life working and teaching, even into the early 1990s when he toured the US and Canada speaking about his work. He died in Zurich in 1996.

Joseph Müller-Brockmann’s work is graphic, employing imagery sparingly. These posters created a mathematical harmony, which reflected the harmony of music. Using the mathematical grids aided in furthering the ideal of functionalit y, as it makes the designs more logical. The Swiss International St yle’s focus on functionalit y is the removal of decoration along with the clearest presentation of information, both visible in Joseph Müller-Brockmann’s work.

Introduction

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Design

Utilizing the Grid 22

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ur system of Grid Gardening is not designed to be a restrictive crutch, but a means of aligning the elements within the garden so that they best work for themselves and for each other.

Emphasis on the grid is a successf ul aspect of Grid Gardening, as it is inf luenced by the Swiss International St yle’s employment of the grid.

In Swiss International St yle, layouts tended to be asymmetrically organized on a mathematically constructed grid. Swiss designers pursued creating an asymmetrical balance bet ween the positive and negative elements in a design.

While asymmetrically organized, the underlying grid would help create a visual unit y throughout.

This unit y was also maintained through a heav y use of repetition in color and shapes and further emphasized through transformation of the shapes.

The square foot grid employed in Grid Gardening ref lects the mindset of these Swiss International designers because it effectively organizes the content of the garden.

Wim Crouwel DE TA I L E D , PR AC T I C A L , & U N I F O R M

Crouwel is a graphic designer and t ypographer born in the Netherlands. In 1963 he founded the studio Total Design, now called Total Identity.

His most well known work has been for the Stedelijk Museum. His typography is extremely well-planned and based on very strict systems of grids. He has also designed expositions and album covers as well as identity systems. He has published two typefaces Fodor and Gridnik, digitized versions of both are available from The Foundry.

He designed his first poster in 1952. After leaving art school he became a painter inf luenced by Expressionism, but as he designed this first poster he discovered the pleasure of organizing visual information aesthetically. The contrast between Crouwel as a lyrical expressionist painter and objectif ying functionalist designer could not 24

be more extreme. As a designer, he worked in the Swiss International Style, adhering strictly to the grids in his t ypography design. Crouwel is especially admired for his systematic approach and his creative handling of the shape of letters.

This led his t ypography to be very well designed and effective, as adhering to a grid provides uniformit y in the design of the typeface. Utilizing the grid allows each letter in the t ypeface to connect with each other in feel, resulting in a cohesive t ypeface. This aspect of Swiss Design also applies to the Grid Garden, as uniform squares laid out in the grid results in a uniform and easy to navigate garden.

Emil Ruder BAL ANCED, ST R EAMLINED, & GEOMET R IC

Emil Ruder was a t ypographer and graphic designer who, born in Switzerland in 1914, helped Armin Hofmann form the Basel School of Design and establish the style of design known as Swiss Design. He taught that, above all, typography’s purpose was to communicate ideas through writing. He placed a heav y importance on sans-serif typefaces and his work is both clear and concise, especially his t ypography.

Like most designers classified as part of the Swiss Design movement he favored asymmetrical compositions, placing a high importance on the counters of characters and the negative space of compositions. A friend and associate of Hofmann, Frutiger and Müller Brockmann, Ruder played a key role in the development of graphic design in the 1940s and 50s. His st yle has been emulated 26

by many designers, and his use of grids in design has inf luenced the development of web design on many levels. Emil Ruder is famous for the use of asymmetric layouts, grid use, and sans-serif typefaces. His holistic approach is still recognized as fundamental for designers around the world.

Ruder is another perfect example of utilizing the grid to create balanced designs. Balance is also visible in Grid Gardening through the placement of plants within a grid. In the garden you must balance the amount of plants within each square, so the roots have space to grow. In the same way, effective designs utilize negative space to give the viewer’s eye a place to rest.

Armin Hofmann S I M PL E , E F F I C I E N T, & U N I F O R M

By the age of 27 Armin Hofmann had already completed an apprenticeship in lithography and had begun teaching typography at the Basel School of Design. His colleagues and students were integral in adding to work and theories that surrounded the Swiss International St yle, which stressed a belief in an absolute and universal style of graphic design. The style of design they created had a goal of communication above all else, practiced new techniques of photo t ypesetting, photo montage and experimental composition and favored sans serif t ypography.

He taught for several years at the Basel School of Design and he was not there long before he replaced Emil Ruder as the head of the school.

The Swiss International St yle, and Hofmann, thought that one of the most efficient forms 28

of communications was the poster and Hofmann spent much of his career designing posters in particularly for the Basel Stadt Theater. Just as Emil Ruder and Joseph Müller-Brockmann did, Hofmann wrote a book outlining his philosophies and practices. His Graphic Design Manual was, and still is, a reference book for all graphic designers.

Hofmann’s work, especially his poster designs, emphasize an economical use of color and type.

His adherence to the grid pushed the economy of the Swiss International St yle. He exemplifies eliminating decoration in design in favor of essential information. Grid Gardening also emphasizes economy, providing an efficient way to garden that does not waste water, space, or plants.

Introduction

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Applying Information Design 30

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nformation design is the practice of presenting information in a way that makes it most accessible and easily understood by users. Information design is targeted to specific audiences and situations to meet defined objectives. In its most sophisticated forms, it helps users understand complex data by organizing and simplif ying information in ways they can quickly grasp.

Information design has come to be associated closely with graphic design and the display of information for effectiveness and function versus pure aesthetics. It overlaps significantly with experiential and environmental graphic design, specifically in the presentation of information on signage, visual displays, and exhibitions. In particular where complex information must be conveyed, informational design can enhance readabilit y by creating a visual hierarchy that emphasizes the most critical content.

The field of information design along with pictograms and icons can clearly be seen in the field of gardening through seed packaging design.

These small packets are clear and concise, which is largely due to the design principles in their layouts.

Otl Aicher I N N OVAT I V E , PR AC T I C A L , & I M PAC T F U L

Aicher spent time fighting in the second world war for the German army, against his own beliefs.

The experience affected him greatly and his first contributions as a designer were in an effort to revitalize the public after the devastation of the war. By 1947 Aicher had opened the doors at his own studio, Büro Aicher, and had begun accepting work from a variet y of clients. Together with designer Max Bill he established the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Ulm, Germany and spent many years there as a professor.

Perhaps the most prominent and inf luential work that he created was the identit y system developed for the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The result of several years of work, the graphics were developed on a strict grid system, solely used the t ypeface Univers and were created from a bright palette 32

developed from the colors of the Bavarian countryside. He was a proficient typographer and created the Rotis family of t ypefaces, which include sans-serif, semi-sans, serif and semi-serif iterations. The typefaces were named after the propert y where he lived and worked from 1972 until his death in 1991.

Otl Aicher’s inf luence can also be seen today in examples such as gardening and seed package design. Aicher’s pictograms employ design principles also found in seed packet iconography.

Careful attention to the negative space results in images that are legible even at a small size. It is common to find small instructional pictograms on the back of seed packages. These pictograms are effective in the same way Aicher’s were, because of the simplicit y of their design.

Ladislav Sutnar I N F O R M AT I V E , O RG A N I Z E D , & PR AC T I C A L

Ladislav Sutnar, a Czech designer born in 1897, was one of the first designers to actively practice the field of information design. His work was rooted in rationality and the process of displaying massive amounts of information in a clear and organized manner for easy consumption by the general viewer. He placed a heav y emphasis on t ypography and primarily used a limited color palette. While he often used punctuation symbols to help organize information one of his signature creations was the idea to place parentheses around The area codes in telephone books.

For nearly 20 years he served as the art director for Sweet’s catalog ser vices where he created information graphics and catalog layouts for a wide range of manufactured items.

Before working for Sweet’s he taught at the 34

State School of Graphic Arts in Prague. He was heavily influenced by the ideas of Modernism and his work was so well structured that he had no problems communicating information clearly to an American audience, even though English was not his primary language. His influence is seen today in the subject of information design and wayfinding.

Sutnar’s information design is key when one is considering the subject of gardening, especially in the packaging of seeds. Clear organization of lots of information is needed for effective packaging design. The information on the seed packets must include clear visuals and copy which is also how Sutnar created effective design for the consumer.

3 T I ER S OF LIV I NG LOCAT I ON BUI LDI NG YOUR BOX SOI L MI X PL A N T I NG SQUARE

BY SQUA RE

Designing by the Square Foot

Introduction

Connection

Design

Choosing the Perfect Location 38

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hen deciding where to build your Grid Garden, there are five major things to look for on your available propert y. All five of these considerations will combine together to help you choose the perfect location for your garden.

First, you need to place your garden close to your house for convenience: if it is further away and inconvenient to access, the less likely the garden will be kept up. Secondly, the location must get six to eight hours of sun daily, however this can vary based on the requirements of the chosen plants. Third, it is advised to stay clear of trees and shrubs where roots and shade may interfere.

Fourth, you should avoid areas where rain may puddle, as this can drown the roots of the plant. Finally, you do not need to heavily consider the quality of the existing soil, as you will be replacing it with a new soil mix.

The best location is where you can see your garden more often from more directions. Things like sunlight and avoiding trees and shrubs are merely precautions to help make your garden more successful. So walk around your available space and think about the best place to locate and enjoy your own Grid Garden.

Introduction

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Determining the Size of Your Garden 40

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he size of your Grid Garden is an imperative aspect of planning your garden. Grid Gardens begin with 12 inch square boxes, which then can be multiplied based on the available space.

This maximizes your space, using only 20% of the space commonly needed for row gardening.

According to surveys of homeowners, the average conventional single-row garden measures 20 feet wide by 35 feet long, which equals 700 square feet. A Grid Garden will grow the same amount of produce in one-fifth of that space, approximately 140 square feet.

By applying the design principles mentioned previously of functionality and utilizing the grid, Grid Gardens create more product in less space.

This results in more flexible gardens that anyone can plant, no matter where they live.

The following example gardens provide four different garden ideas based on the space you have available. Find the size that most closely resembles your home and start planning.

Seoul, South Korea (At right)

The Aicher Garden S I M PLE , DE TA I LED , A ND I M PAC T FU L

Inspired by designer Otl Aicher, the Aicher Garden is versatile and compatible with any size of available space. This garden is one square foot wide by one square foot long, easily able to fit onto an apartment balcony. With an Aicher Garden, you can grow your own herbs to season your meals or add into fresh salads. A f lower garden is also a possibilit y with an Aicher Garden, bringing color into your home.

One of the key benefits of an Aicher Garden is its portabilit y. When creating the wooden box for the garden, attach a full wooden bottom to the box and it becomes portable.

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This creates many possibilities for placement within as well as without your apartment, and also accounts for the weather, if you live in a cooler or wetter climate, the Aicher Garden can be brought indoors to preser ve the crop.

For an Aicher Garden, we recommend one of the following plants for your gardening space. For a herb garden: one chives plant, one f lat-leaf parsley plant, one large-leaf basil plant, and one fernleaf dill plant. For a salad garden: t wo arugala plants, t wo Bibb lettuce plants, and one sugar snap pea plant. You could also plant one tomato, one cucumber, or one watermelon plant to supplement your daily diet.

Ierapetra, Greece (At right)

The Ruder Garden E FF ICIE N T, S T R EAM L I N ED , A ND PRAC T I C A L

Inspired by Walter Herdeg, the Herdeg Garden takes advantage of the wide scope of space available to produce the largest crop. This garden is four square feet wide by four square feet long and is perfect for those with large sprawling yard. The Herdeg Garden is for those who want to grow almost all of their own vegetables for daily consumption.

Just as Walter Herdeg had a wide range of information to include in his international journals, the Herdeg Garden covers a wide range of plant options. This garden can be multiplied if enough space is available, to further provide all of the vegetables desired.

One Herdeg Garden can produce, 44

for the average adult, enough vegetables for a salad every day of the growing season. Multiply this by two, and you can grow enough produce for daily supper vegetables as well, with enough leftover for preser ving and canning.

If you decide to plant a Herdeg Garden, we recommend planting a variet y of plants, so each square is used to its fullest potential. There are also many options to theme your Herdeg Garden, such as a salad garden (which includes greens and herbs), a tomato garden, a salsa garden (with peppers, herbs, and tomatoes), or even a canning garden including commonly preserved vegetables for use throughout the year.

Marseilles, France (At right)

The Crouwel Garden OR GAN I Z ED , BAL AN CE D , AND U N I F I ED

Inspired by Wim Crouwel, the Crouwel Garden focuses on implementing the grid in the garden. This garden is two feet long by two feet wide, perfect for those with a limited amount of yard space. If you want to supplement your regular diet with your own home-grown vegetables, the Crouwel Garden is perfect for you.

The most effective aspect of the Crouwel Garden is the emphasis of the grid. Just as Wim Crouwel abided by the grid in his t ypography design, the focus of the Crouwel Garden is utilizing the grid in planting. As the garden is two square feet wide by two square feet long, the prime space for 46

this garden is a backyard with plent y of sunlight, near the house for optimal access. The Crouwel Garden expands your planting options, as the space has been doubled from the Ruder Garden.

A Crouwel Garden can produce enough vegetables for half of the daily vegetables of an average adult.

For a Ruder Garden, we recommend planting a variet y of vegetables and flowers to get the fullest crop. A square of herbs, a square of salad greens, a square of f lowers for cutting, and a square of vegetables results in a wide variet y. Or you can focus by choosing vegetables in each square that yield more produce for ever yday consumption.

North Carolina, United States (At right)

The Herdeg Garden S T RUC TUR ED , I M PAC T FUL , A N D ORGA N I Z E D

Inspired by Walter Herdeg, the Herdeg Garden takes advantage of the wide scope of space available to produce the largest crop. This garden is four square feet wide by four square feet long and is perfect for those with large sprawling yard. The Herdeg Garden is for those who want to grow almost all of their own vegetables for daily consumption.

Just as Walter Herdeg had a wide range of information to include in his international journals, the Herdeg Garden covers a wide range of plant options. This garden can be multiplied if enough space is available, to further provide all of the vegetables desired.

One Herdeg Garden can produce, 48

for the average adult, enough vegetables for a salad every day of the growing season. Multiply this by two, and you can grow enough produce for daily supper vegetables as well, with enough leftover for preser ving and canning.

If you decide to plant a Herdeg Garden, we recommend planting a variet y of plants, so each square is used to its fullest potential. There are also many options to theme your Herdeg Garden, such as a salad garden (which includes greens and herbs), a tomato garden, a salsa garden (with peppers, herbs, and tomatoes), or even a canning garden including commonly preserved vegetables for use throughout the year.

Introduction

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Building a Grid Garden 50

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he basic concept behind Grid Gardening is a raised bed filled with soil in which the plants grow. The Grid Garden needs to be divided into 12-inch square sections with rope or a wooden dowel. This separates the garden into sections for plants to be divided into. In each square foot section, different amounts of plants can be grown.

One of the most critical aspects of Grid Gardening is the qualit y of the soil. First, it is recommended to use a soil blend. The soil blend mix contains one-third peat moss, one-third vermiculite, and one-third compost. The Grid Gardening box should be made from untreated 2 foot by 4 foot wood boards. The more common treated wood is toxic, harmful to both plants and humans. It is essential to choose materials that are safe and free of chemicals. If the wood is not an option, it is acceptable to use brick, but of course, that will require more preparation. To divide the box into one-foot sections, it will be necessary to use rope, wooden dowels, or get creative and use mini blind slats. Once these materials are gathered, you are ready to begin building your Grid Garden.

Building the Box Frame

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he dimension of the Grid Garden box depends on the space you have, but the following instructions are for 4 square feet wide by 4 square feet long beds. The wood boards can be purchased in 2 by 6-foot lengths, so they will need to be cut into 4-foot sections.

Next, the boards need to be cut to 4-foot exactly.

The take four of the boards and place them in a box formation. We recommend using 6-inch wood screws to secure the corners of the box.

Once the wood is prepared, drill three holes on the short end of the board where the ends will connect. The holes should be a quarter inch from the edge to prevent the wood from splitting when drilling in the screws. Drilling the holes is essential for lining up the screws to the wood and effectively connecting the box together.

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Setting Up Your Box

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t is important to line up the holes on the ends of the board before connecting them together.

You can best do this by making a pencil mark on the end of each board where the holes are located.

At the end of each board use the holes to drill the screws into the boards. Every board should have three screws on the short end. Make sure the holes are evenly spaced and not too close to the end, as that would cause the wood to split.

This adds a layer of protection underneath the soil to prevent weeds and grass from growing up through the garden box. If the garden box frame is placed on a patio or concrete it will still need the fabric weed cloth or similar material to cover the bottom. The fabric material should be stapled to the bottom of the inside of the garden box to help contain the soil. This will allow for the water to drain without the soil leaving the garden box.

When you are finished building the garden box frames it is time to place them in the area where you intend to plant your garden. You should ensure the boxes are in there final location as once the box is filled with soil, it will be difficult to move. After you have placed the box in its desired location, your garden boxes will to place fabric weed cloth or cardboard on the bottom of the box.

The next step is to place a soil mix into the Grid Garden box. The soil should reach the top of the box, leaving room to water. The minimum height of the soil is six inches, as this allows the plant roots to have space to grow. You should then water the soil to prepare to plant.

Gardener’s Supply Company Weed Barrier Pro, 4 ft. x 50 ft.

Fabric Weed Mat for Superior Weed Control $39.95

Mixing the Soil

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he soil is a very important component of growing your garden as it provides several of the nutrients necessary for plant growth.

Creating a soil mix results in a light soil that allows for natural airf low in the plant’s roots.

This light soil also allows for water to soak in faster, which prevents runoff. The plants grow more quickly in a mixed type of soil because of the rich nutrients found in each of the soil ingredients.

The soil mixture includes one-third peat moss, one-third vermiculite, and one-third blended compost. This blend contains all the important nutrients that the plants need for optimal growth.

It is best to mix the soil outside of the garden before putting it into the box, as this ensures that each of the ingredients is equally mixed.

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To effectively mix the soil, you should first lay out a tarp and dump the compost blend on top.

To mix the substrate more evenly, mix each soil bag with the next bag one at a time. Once the soil is all mixed together, it can be poured into the Grid Garden box and spread out. The box is now ready for planting.

Gardener’s Supply Company Premium Potting Soil with Super Root Booster for Self-Watering Containers $10.95

Introduction

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Design

Planting Square By Square 58

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ome of the most important things to consider when planting a Grid Garden is planning, planting, and maintaining. The Grid Garden allows for better use of space and this is essential when space is limited or access is restricted.

The Grid Garden is cost-effective and easy to maintain. Getting started can be laborious with the construction of the garden box and all the materials involved, but once it is in place the gardening is easy. The benefits of the Grid Garden box are many as it uses less resources than conventional gardening techniques.

Plant Size and Spacing

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inding the right plant to fit in the spaces in each square foot is essential to having a successful Grid Garden. Every t ype of plant has a specific amount of space needed to grow successfully. This can be more easily seen in the infographic to the right.

We have broken down the amounts of plants per square foot into four tiers, seen from top to bottom on the following page; in which any plant can be categorized. The circles represent individual plants and the infographic also approximates the amount of space needed in between each plant, though the seed packet for each plant should also be reviewed.

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Tier One includes plants that need lots of space, such as peppers, okra, eggplants, and cauliflower.

Tier Two includes plants like lettuce, potatoes, strawberries, and marigolds.

Tier Three includes plants such as bush beans, spinach, carrots, and beets.

Tier Four includes plants that can fit closely together such as chives, radishes, and onions.

Locating Your Climate Zone

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iscovering what plants can grow in what season in your area is essential to becoming a successful gardener. In the United States, northern and southern states have different growing seasons for plants, and some plants do better in different climates. Depending on where you live, research on the plants that do well in your area before picking what plants you prefer.

Another essential factor to consider other than the climate is seasonal planting. Some plants fare better at different times of the year. Knowing this will help you increase the productivit y of your garden. In the summer plant har vests are their highest due to warm temperatures and lots of sun.

Fall brings new challenges to growing food as the cooling temperatures make it harder for the plants to grow. Many plants don’t grow well when

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temperatures are lower, so the types of plants grown should change in order to have a successful crop. During the winter, most annual plants will die, while perennials will return in the spring. However, there are some plants that are suitable for colder temperatures especially below zero, such as potatoes and garlic.

The spring is the best time to start growing sprouts, but the seed packaging should always be checked to find the optimal planting and growing times for your chosen plant.

ZONE 1

70.0°F - 65.1°F

ZONE 2

65.0°F - 60.1°F

ZONE 3

60.0°F - 55.1°F

ZONE 4

55.0°F - 50.1°F

ZONE 5

50.0°F - 45.0°F

Growing Plants

T

he first step in growing plants is planting the seeds indoors using a modular t ray.

Seed starting allows for the seed to develop in a controlled environment that will enable the plants to have a better ser vice in the garden. Make sure that the plants are watered and in a warm climate to jump-start the sprouts.

Once they have reached two weeks into the growth stage, it is safe to t ransfer them to the Grid Garden. Before placing the small plants directly into the garden, make sure the grid sections are labeled to prevent confusion as to what plants are growing in what areas. The plants’ roots should be cut at the bottom and loosened up before being placed in their sections. This will allow the plant to grow their roots in the new surrounding soil and ensure that they will grow faster.

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The best time to do the transfer from the modular trays to the garden is after noon, as this prevents the plant from having added stress when changing containers. The last step in replanting the plants is watering. Water allows the roots to grow and replace any moisture lost when transferring the plants to the Grid Garden.

Gardener’s Supply Company 15-Cell Tray for Deep Root Seedstarting System $7.95

Gardener’s Supply Company Garden Scissors for Bonsai and Bud Trimming $34.95

Women’s Joules Mid Height Welly Boots Embrace rain, mud, and murky puddles with these hard-working wellies.

A rubber exterior is integrated into an aggressive sole to keep you steadfast on slick surfaces. Neoprene lining brings comfort and warmth, and a sweet plum strips on the back seam adds panache. $72.95

Gardener’s Lifetime Trowel Our Gardener’s Lifetime Trowel is hand-forged in Holland from the finest highcarbon Swedish boron steel.

To give it extra strength and durability, a 4” metal tang extends into the handle, which is securely fastened with a welded socket. $39.95

Copper Watering Can This handsome watering can is perfectly sized for watering indoor plants.

The slender, curved spout creates a gentle stream for precision pouring, making it easy to tend small pots, terrariums, and dish gardens. $29.95

Lightweight Watering Hose Tired of dragging heavy hoses? The 25’ hose weighs just 2.6 lbs! The hoses remain f lexible, easy to maneuver, and kink-resistant, even in chilly weather. And they are free from the toxins found in many hoses. $19.95

Four-Foot Raised Beds Each bed includes four industrial-strength aluminum corners; 7-1/4” Hx1” rot-resistant cedar lumber that has been precut to the proper lengths, hardware and instructions.

Easy assembly just slip the boards into the corners and screw them in place $105.95

Organic Squash Seeds This collection contains the seeds you need for our High Yield Pre-Planned Garden.

You can find this garden plan and others at our free, on line Kitchen Garden Planner tool. $4.95 (per tray)

Jullianna Eckardt Table of Contents, Index, and Citations Main Header Design Grid Gardening & Swiss Design Gardener’s Ad Page and Ad Cards Back Cover

Taylor Harrison Subheader Design

Renewing The System Focusing on Functionalit y Utilizing the Grid

Jacob Smith Building a Grid Garden

Planting Square by Square Full-Bleed Ads

Abigail Timms Front Cover

Applying Information Design Choosing the Perfect Location Determining the Size of Your Garden

Citations

“4 Pack of Edible Flower Seeds.” Petite Ingredient, https://www.petiteingredient.com.au/products/edibleflowerseeds4pack. cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0664/2387/files/0a446c691e26c1de7ad6c0087a252b45.jpg?9778913023344659202 herbertmatter.org/welcome/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Tulip-Chair-Ad-for-Knol-599x768.jpg Hartwig, Ron. “Honoring the Legacy of Ladislav Sutnar.” The Getty Iris, 25 July 2018, http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/honoring-the-legacy-of-ladislav-sutnar/.

“HERDEG, Walter (1908-1995) - St.MORITZ.” Invaluable.com, https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/herdeg-walter-1908-1995-stmoritz91-c-2a94450bfa.

Information on Seed Packages, http://www.backyardnature.net/simple/seedpack.htm.

“Josef Müller-Brockmann: Design: Phaidon Store.” Phaidon, https://www.phaidon.com/store/design/josef-muller-brockmann-9780714843490/.

“Plantagram: Williams Sonoma.” Plantagram | Williams Sonoma, https://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/agrarian-garden/agrarian-garden-plant-a-gram/.

“Rare & Beautiful: Ladislav Sutnar: Visual Design in Action.” Designers & Books, http://www.designersandbooks.com/blog/rare-beautiful-ladislav-sutnar-visual-design-in-action.

Schiller, Nan. “How to Read Seed Packets for Planting Success.” Gardener’s Path, 27 July 2019, https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/beginners/backs-seed-packets-display-valuable-information-gardener/.

“Search Otl Aicher on Designspiration.” Designspiration RSS, https://www.designspiration.com/search/saves/?q=otl aicher&qa=typed&term_meta[]=aicher|typed|word|1.

Sutnar, Ladislav. “Ladislav Sutnar. Promotion Kit for Build the Town Building Block Set. c. 1943: MoMA.” The Museum of Modern Art, Unsplash. “Beautiful Free Images & Pictures.” Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/. www.designishistory.com/images/frutiger/univers.jpg www.designishistory.com/images/hofmann/hofmann01.jpg www.graphicine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wim_crouwel_vormgevers.jpg www.moma.org/collection/works/129075?artist_id=5740&locale=en&page=1&sov_referrer=artist.

Gardener’s Supply Company

In need of some tools? To get you started, you can check out Gardener’s Supply Company on their on line site.

From shovels to square beds you won’t have to worry about not getting the supplies you need to have your green thumb.

With our first time user sale you will start off by saving money and having a trusted on line gardening company.

Just sign up with your email at gardeners.com and start your own garden.

Gardener s Supply Com pan y

Gardener s Supply Com pan y

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID GARDENER’S SUPPLY COMPANY

*************************************AUTO**2-DIGIT 030 BSP123456789 TIMOTHY P SPEAKER SWISS DESIGNERS RAINEY FINE ARTS CENTER 123 MAIN STREET STE 300 ANDERSON, SC 44116-1234

SP20/May 2020 Gardener’s Supply Company

From our garden to yours we hope that you are able to grow many varieties of plants.

With our method of Grid Gardening, you will be able to keep growing!

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