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Community Garden Guides

Updated  10/06/2009

Credits: Becky LeMieux, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas, WI
Photo Credit:  ecky LeMieux, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas Wisconsin

The production of vegetables and fruit is an important source of fresh food and nutrition to small communities and individuals. These guides are designed to help communities and individuals improve their production techniques to succeed in these efforts. While the guides were written specifically for the Great Lakes area of the US, they are indeed applicable across the entire northern United States, southern Canada, and anyplace where a longer growing season is desired.

These guides were produced through a partnership effort between NRCS and the Red Cliff and Bad River Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa in northwestern Wisconsin. Additional guides will be produced in the future.

Starting and Establishing Plants

The following documents are available in Adobe Acrobat format

Community Garden Guide Season Extension - Seed Starting. (PDF; 362 KB) Dave Burgdorf and Tom Cogger. 2005. East Lansing, MI. February, 2005. 9p. Rev. Oct 2009 (ID# 5924)
The first stage of successful gardening begins with the proper starting of vegetable bedding plants.


Extending the Growing Season

Community Garden Guide Season Extension - Field Tunnels. (PDF; 212 KB) Dave Burgdorf, Tom Cogger. East Lansing, MI. February, 2005. 4p. Rev. Mar 2009 (ID# 5920)
Field Tunnels are small, temporary structures assembled in the field that create a micro-climate favorable for plant growth when properly used and managed. 

Community Garden Guide Season Extension -Hoophouses. (PDF; 168 KB) Dave Burgdorf and Tom Cogger. East Lansing, MI. February, 2005. 5p. Rev. Mar 2009 (ID# 5923)
Hoophouses are small, semi-portable structures that can be used as a small greenhouse structure for starting seedlings and for growing heat-loving vegetables.

Community Garden Guide Season Extension - High Tunnel. (PDF; 213 KB) Dave Burgdorf and Tom Cogger. East Lansing, MI. February, 2005. 6p. Rev. Mar 2009 (ID# 5922)
A High Tunnel is a greenhouse-like structure which modifies the climate to create more favorable growing conditions for vegetable plants.

Community Garden Guide Season Extension - Floating Row Cover. (PDF; 148 KB) Dave Burgdorf and Tom Cogger. 2005. East Lansing, MI. February, 2005. 4p. Rev. Mar 2009 (ID# 5921)
Floating Row Covers are lightweight blankets made from spunbonded polyester or polypropylene. There are two basic types of Floating Row Covers.

The Plant Materials Program has an extensive listing of technical publications and resources. Topics include seeding and planting,  establishment, plants for pollinators, wildlife habitat, wildfire protection and restoration, native landscaping, urban conservation, rain gardens, and many more. These resources are available on the following Plant Materials Program pages.


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