Resources
If you have a resource you would like to recommend, please contact me and I will add it to the list!
Referenced in the Blog:
Types of Garden Beds
Vegetable Height & Root Depth Chart
Vegetable Sunlight Requirement Chart
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Worldwide Hardiness Zones
Frost Dates by Zip Code
Planting Calendar by Zip Code
Early Spring Vegetables
Vegetables to Grow in Fall
Easier & Harder Vegetables to Grow
Vegetables to Grow from Scraps
Seed Life Chart
Composting Cheat Sheet
In-Depth Guide to Composting
Vermicomposting Guide
Compost Calculator
Crop Rotation Guide
Cover Crop Options
Square Foot Gardening Cheat Sheet
Preventing Muscle Strain while Gardening
Starting a No-Dig Garden
DIY Floating Row Cover
Agricultural Extension Office Search
Seed Saving Guide by Vegetable
Fermentation Seed Saving
Educational Resources (for more in-depth information):
Gardening Basics - This page has a great summary of beginner gardening information and terms, all in one place.
Kidsgardening.org - Free gardening activities and lesson plans for kids of all ages.
Oregon State University Vegetable Gardening Free Online Course
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine Foraging Wild Food Resources
North American Pollinator Resources
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Database - Search for your state to find native plants local to your area. Verify with your state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Audubon Native Plants Search - This native plant search allows you to see which bird species depend on native plants in your area (note: you do not need to enter your email in order to do the zip code search).
Other Resources
Dave's Garden - Crowd-sourced reviews from actual gardeners. Useful for selecting varieties to grow in your area.
Some Heirloom Seed Businesses:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company
Mary’s Heirloom Seeds (Good sales)
Kitazawa Seed Company (Asian vegetable seeds)
Trade Winds Fruit (Rare fruit varieties)
Siskiyou Seeds (Pacific Northwest seeds)
Totally Tomatoes
Seeds for Generations
Free Heirloom Seeds (4 free packets per family per year)
Milwaukee-Area Resources:
Urban Ecology Center – The Urban Ecology Center works to reduce socioeconomic disparities by expanding access to nature and gardening for everyone in Milwaukee. They have need-based scholarships available for membership fees. Members can borrow gardening tools for up to 3 days and rent a community garden plot for a fee.
MATC Seed Library - MATC’s seed library, located on the Mequon campus, is free and open to the public. Contact the librarian to sign up for their informational email list!
Victory Garden Initiative – A non-profit organization that installs raised garden beds for Milwaukee residents each year in May during their Victory Garden Blitz. I believe that the fee for raised bed installation is waived or reduced if your household income is low.
UW-Milwaukee Food and Garden Club – Maintains raised beds on the UWM Downer campus which students and staff can rent.
Groundwork Milwaukee - An organization which establishes and helps to support a network of community gardens in Milwaukee, most of which are located on vacant lots owned by the city. Check out their community garden map!
City of Milwaukee Community Garden FAQs
UW Extension Milwaukee County - Provides a wealth of gardening resources and information specific to the Milwaukee area, such as their Southeastern WI Planting Calendar and a Q&A line staffed by master gardeners. Also offers soil and plant disease testing services and garden plot rentals for a fee.
Fresh Roots WI - Local business which offers raised bed installation, soil testing, and other garden services.
Kansas City-Area Resources:
Kansas City Community Gardens – This organization works to make gardening affordable and accessible in Kansas City. Membership fees are based on income level. Members can rent gardening plots, attend free workshops, and call with any gardening questions they have. KCCG sells affordable heirloom seeds and publishes a very useful KC planting calendar.
Kansas City Seed Library - Kansas City Public Library patrons can check out free seeds at the Ruiz Branch. The branch also offers free gardening classes.
University of Missouri Extension - A list of extension offices in the Kansas City area and their contact information. Gardeners can call or email with questions.
Referenced in the Blog:
Types of Garden Beds
Vegetable Height & Root Depth Chart
Vegetable Sunlight Requirement Chart
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Worldwide Hardiness Zones
Frost Dates by Zip Code
Planting Calendar by Zip Code
Early Spring Vegetables
Vegetables to Grow in Fall
Easier & Harder Vegetables to Grow
Vegetables to Grow from Scraps
Seed Life Chart
Composting Cheat Sheet
In-Depth Guide to Composting
Vermicomposting Guide
Compost Calculator
Crop Rotation Guide
Cover Crop Options
Square Foot Gardening Cheat Sheet
Preventing Muscle Strain while Gardening
Starting a No-Dig Garden
DIY Floating Row Cover
Agricultural Extension Office Search
Seed Saving Guide by Vegetable
Fermentation Seed Saving
Educational Resources (for more in-depth information):
Gardening Basics - This page has a great summary of beginner gardening information and terms, all in one place.
Kidsgardening.org - Free gardening activities and lesson plans for kids of all ages.
Oregon State University Vegetable Gardening Free Online Course
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine Foraging Wild Food Resources
North American Pollinator Resources
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Database - Search for your state to find native plants local to your area. Verify with your state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Audubon Native Plants Search - This native plant search allows you to see which bird species depend on native plants in your area (note: you do not need to enter your email in order to do the zip code search).
Other Resources
Dave's Garden - Crowd-sourced reviews from actual gardeners. Useful for selecting varieties to grow in your area.
Some Heirloom Seed Businesses:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company
Mary’s Heirloom Seeds (Good sales)
Kitazawa Seed Company (Asian vegetable seeds)
Trade Winds Fruit (Rare fruit varieties)
Siskiyou Seeds (Pacific Northwest seeds)
Totally Tomatoes
Seeds for Generations
Free Heirloom Seeds (4 free packets per family per year)
Milwaukee-Area Resources:
Urban Ecology Center – The Urban Ecology Center works to reduce socioeconomic disparities by expanding access to nature and gardening for everyone in Milwaukee. They have need-based scholarships available for membership fees. Members can borrow gardening tools for up to 3 days and rent a community garden plot for a fee.
MATC Seed Library - MATC’s seed library, located on the Mequon campus, is free and open to the public. Contact the librarian to sign up for their informational email list!
Victory Garden Initiative – A non-profit organization that installs raised garden beds for Milwaukee residents each year in May during their Victory Garden Blitz. I believe that the fee for raised bed installation is waived or reduced if your household income is low.
UW-Milwaukee Food and Garden Club – Maintains raised beds on the UWM Downer campus which students and staff can rent.
Groundwork Milwaukee - An organization which establishes and helps to support a network of community gardens in Milwaukee, most of which are located on vacant lots owned by the city. Check out their community garden map!
City of Milwaukee Community Garden FAQs
UW Extension Milwaukee County - Provides a wealth of gardening resources and information specific to the Milwaukee area, such as their Southeastern WI Planting Calendar and a Q&A line staffed by master gardeners. Also offers soil and plant disease testing services and garden plot rentals for a fee.
Fresh Roots WI - Local business which offers raised bed installation, soil testing, and other garden services.
Kansas City-Area Resources:
Kansas City Community Gardens – This organization works to make gardening affordable and accessible in Kansas City. Membership fees are based on income level. Members can rent gardening plots, attend free workshops, and call with any gardening questions they have. KCCG sells affordable heirloom seeds and publishes a very useful KC planting calendar.
Kansas City Seed Library - Kansas City Public Library patrons can check out free seeds at the Ruiz Branch. The branch also offers free gardening classes.
University of Missouri Extension - A list of extension offices in the Kansas City area and their contact information. Gardeners can call or email with questions.
