School and Community Gardens
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Collapse ▲School and community gardens are growing in Wake County! To support this growth, a variety of tools and programs are available to help support new and existing gardens.
Informational Resources
- Ready Garden Grow Handbook– Ready-Garden-Grow covers the basics of vegetable gardening. The goal of this research-based handbook to help a beginner gardener successfully grow vegetables.
- Extension Gardener Handbook– This 21-chapter handbook covers research-based gardening information that helps readers be successful gardeners and good stewards of the environment.
- Seasonal Planting Calendar for Central North Carolina– Want to know what and when to plant? Look no further than NC’s seasonal planting calendar.
Support Services by Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers of Wake County
Extension Master Gardener℠ (EMG) volunteers work with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension to provide non-commercial gardeners in their communities with unbiased, research-based information on gardening. To become an EMG volunteer, you must complete a certification program, participate in continuing education, and actively engage in volunteering in the community.
Extension Master Gardener℠ Hotline
Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer horticulture questions from school gardens, community gardens, and homeowners. You can call the hotline at (919)250-1084, M-F, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m. or email mgardener@wakegov.com.
School and Community Garden Consultations
Extension Master Gardener volunteers will visit local school and community gardens to provide site evaluations, problem determination, education and/or gardening advice. A breakdown of services that Extension Master Gardener volunteers can and cannot provide is available here: Master Gardener School and Community Garden Support Services. Call the hotline to arrange an EMG consultation.
Composting Classes
Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to teach composting and vermicomposting at community gardens, garden clubs, schools, libraries, and community groups. There is information about composting and vermicomposting at Composting.
Connect with us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on educational opportunities with Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Wake County!
School Gardening Resources
Wake County Public Schools Edible Gardening Initiative– The Edible Gardening initiative was established to support the growing desire for school gardens within WCPSS. Megan Lewis of Willow Springs Elementary School is the WCPSS Edible School Garden Coordinator. Important school garden resources:
- WCPSS’s Edible School Gardens website: Information on getting started, garden lesson plans, and more
- WCPSS Facilities Modification Request Form: Required to be submitted and approved before any changes or modifications to exterior spaces (ex. new garden, irrigation system installation, etc.)
- Be sure to add your garden’s information to WCPSS’s Edible School Garden Registry to stay up-to-date on school garden activities and opportunities in Wake County!
Additional school garden resources:
- Growing Safer Gardens: Guide from N.C. Cooperative Extension detailing how to reduce food safety risks in school and community gardens.
- Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom: Book of the Month program, curriculum, grants, and workshops.
- North Carolina 4-H Garden-based Curriculum: List of curriculum available through your local 4-H agent. Curricula can be used in in-school and after-school settings.
- Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Wake County hotline and consultations (see above).
Community Gardening Resources
- Map of Community Gardens, Food Pantries, Farmer’s Markets and Snap Retailers in Wake County Click here for Map
- Collard Greens and Common Ground: A North Carolina Community Food Gardening Handbook: This comprehensive guide covers every step of the community gardening process from finding and organizing volunteers to garden design and management. Whether you are new to community gardening or a seasoned veteran, this publication will help make your community garden a success.
- North Carolina Community Garden Partners: A network of gardeners and supports who share resources, information, and experience with new gardens and with each other. Be sure to add or update your garden’s information in their NC Garden Directory!
- Forsyth Community Gardening: N.C. Cooperative Extension of Forsyth County has a wealth of resources and documents available to support community gardens, including the following example documents: Garden Organization and Rules, Plot Holder’s Agreement, Garden Steward Instructions, and Harvest Tracking Sheet.
- Extension Master Gardener volunteers of Wake County hotline and consultations (see above).
Publicaciones y Recursos en Español
- Guía de Horticultura para Principiantes: guía básico para el cultivo de hortalizas en Carolina del Norte, por la Extensión Cooperativa de la Universidad Estatal de Carolina del Norte.
- El Calendario del Huerto en NC: guía para planear rotaciones de hortalizas en NC
- Comenzando: Guía para crear jardines escolares como salón de clases al aire libre
- Guía Para Desarrollo de un Huerto/Jardín Comunitario: guía para ayudar a los grupos u organizaciones comunitarias e iniciar y mantener un huerto o jardín comunitario, por la Extensión Cooperativa de la Universidad de California
- Cultivando Comunidad en los Huertos Comunitario: Consejos para Involucrar a sus Vecinos: estrategias para crear apoyo de la comunidad para su huerto
Gracias a Megan Gregory de Forsyth Community Gardening por compilar estos recursos. Visita Forsyth Community Gardening para mas recursos en Español.
Events
Ready-Garden-Grow- This series of two 2-hour classes is designed to teach beginner gardeners the basics for starting a vegetable garden. The first class will cover how to plan, prepare, plant, harvest, and care for a vegetable garden in an urban environment (raised beds/containers). The second class will cover cool-season vegetable gardening, disease and pest management, and composting. The class is taught by NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers and will be offered at various locations in the county.
- Classes are normally offered January-March and July-September. 2023 class information will be available soon.
Workshops and Networking
- NC Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom workshops
- Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Growing Garden Classrooms series
- Seed to Supper at Alliance Medical Ministry with support from Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
- Extension Master Gardener Volunteer of Wake County 2023 or 2024 training Master Gardener Training
- The Well Fed Garden Events
- Piedmont Picnic Project Classes
- JC Raulston Arboretum educational series
Grant Opportunities
Starting a garden doesn’t have to break the bank! Before applying for grant, check out some tips for Gardening on a Budget.
- NC Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom grant
- N.C. Cooperative Extension’s list of funding opportunities
Connect with your municipality to learn more about how they support school and community gardens!
Page Authored by: Kati Scruggs, School and Community Garden AmeriCorps VISTA