If you are going to build raised beds, I would choose the one closest to water and your home. Don't know why your yard is a swamp but if you use Mels Mix you should not have a drainage problem.

Joannedisfan - i'll give you my opinions. I would go with your first choice. Many veggies can't get enough of the sun - for example, cowpeas, okra, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, etc. Others would like to receive less sun, and this can be achieved by shading them with taller plants around them, or even a tarp of some kind. Having too much sun exposure is a problem that most people would love to have. It can always be dealt with. It's when you don't get enough direct sunlight, that it becomes a problem that you have to live with.You just have to make sure the plants receive enough water. I ran into that problem this year with my new box - and although 95% of my garden is thriving, judging from the physical appearance of some of the plants - I should have increased watering once July got here. If I were concerned with the area being saturated with water most of the time, I would lay the box on top of a bed of gravel, say....4" to 6" tall. That way, the ground could still be like a swamp, but wouldn't affect your garden in any way.

EG

Yes, I agree with EG. I would LOVE to have too much sun, I'd probably have twice as many boxes, lol. Someone else just posted an awesome looking box with a middle section that is a bit shaded. Maybe you could rig something along those lines.

Thank you all for the advice. After looking at the areas in more detail I've decieded to go with the South WEst Side on the slope. I forgot that the North side is shadded by my neighbors weeping willow tree. And my husband wants to try and grow all our vetables for the year. So I'm looking at 9 4x4 boxes for the 3 of us. And the north side just isn't big enough for all that. I'm a bit worried that we are bitting off more than we can handle, but hubby says its worth it the way vegtale costs at the store are rising.

just remember, you can handle it!! man i'd absolutely LOVE to have 9 of them baby's!! LOL YOU ARE WOMAN!!!! you can HANDLE ANYHING!!! ummmm...that's what i tell myself, LOL it works sometimes, then when i'm done i thank GOD that' its over and i'm sooooo tired and geeze i did handle it!! LOL ~Medo

ROFL. I'm sure you can do it, but I would warn you that most of the square foot gardeners ended up wanting more boxes. I started out with four and ended up with six, but I wish I had nine. Once you do the initial work of putting the thing together, you will be astounded at how easy cheesy this is. At least I have been.

Grace,
Carolyn P.

That'll be 144 square feet of garden, more than enough for 3 people. I've got 136, which feeds 5. If your thoughts are to freeze or can vegetables for the winter, you will be able to put plenty in storage. I really don't want any more boxes.....But, if I were building 9 4x4 boxes - you can bet that I would have 36ft of trellis. I have 32 ft, but with just 1 more - I would be able to plant a couple of winter squash.

EG