Food Safety
A Handbook for Beginning and Veteran Garden Organizers: How to Reduce Food Safety Risks (from NC State Extension). Key sections for existing gardens include handwashing and sanitation and tools.
Resources and information for beginning gardeners
Vegetable Gardening 101 resources are available from NC State Extension on the Community Gardening webpage -- including planting calendars. Share short how-to videos from the Homegrown: In the Garden video series from NC State Cooperative Extension. These 3-5 minute videos include how-to:
- Start a Container Garden
- Grow Carrots, and Spring Greens
- Test your Garden Soil
- Manage Pests and Disease in the Garden
- Start a Backyard Compost or Vermicompost (worm compost)
Watch and share past episodes of In the Garden with Bryce Lane -- this show used to air on PBS UNC-TV. Topics in Season 9 include community gardens, sustainable agriculture, and vegetable gardening. The “SOW – A Planting Companion” app is designed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and North Carolina A&T State University Extension. This free app is both a planting calendar, and a garden record book. Simply choose your location and start planting. Click on the photo of a crop to see more information including estimated days to harvest, estimated yield per plant, spacing between plants, planting depth below ground level, suggested varieties, and special notes as needed.
Free Seeds for Community & School Gardens
There are cool and warm season vegetable seeds available for community and school gardens, as long as supplies last. Contact Community & School Garden Agent Crystal Mercer to arrange pick-up or delivery details.
Vegetable Transplants & Seeds (to buy)
You can buy vegetable transplants and seeds at many local nurseries, garden centers, and hardware stores. Please call ahead or check the website before visiting -- some have changed their hours, are limiting the number of customers, or are asking all orders to be placed online or over the phone.
Contributions by Jazmine Robins
