Lumber: Building supply companies frequently have warped boards which they cannot sell, and may give you or sell at a significant discount.
Wood chips: Many local tree service companies will deliver a dump truck load of roughly chipped wood mulch for free to your community garden. Look at the trucks that are doing work near your garden site, or look for tree service companies online or in a list of local businesses.
Soil and compost:
| City of Greensboro White Street Landfill 2503 White Street, Greensboro, NC 27405 336-373-7658 Compost is available from April through October and mulch is available year round. | Costs to purchase compost or mulch:
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| Ingleside Composting Facility 3001 Ingleside Dr., High Point, NC 27265 (336) 883-8514 Our material is all natural. No chemicals, dyes, or pesticides are added. | Material Cost: ($10.00 Minimum)
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Tools: Make a list of gently used tools that you need, and ask others in your community to donate tools they are no longer using to the community garden. Groups to ask could include a neighborhood school, your faith community, neighborhood association, etc.
Soil Testing: You can pick up free soil test boxes and forms at N.C. Cooperative Extension of Guilford County. From April – November, the test is free and you only have to pay the cost to ship it to the test lab in Raleigh (address on form). From Thanksgiving – March, the test is $4 plus shipping. Visit the soil testing website from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to learn more.
Plants and Seeds: Garden stores are a source for some supplies and discounts.Free seeds are available to community and school gardens in Guilford County at the annual Seeds to Share event in February. Contact the Community & School Garden Agent with questions or to donate seeds.
Funding Opportunities:- Grants for School & Youth Gardens
- Grants for Community Gardens
- Community Garden Funding Opportunities, a list from NC State Extension
