Printed Materials
As a program of Forsyth County’s Cooperative Extension
Service, Forsyth Community Gardening has access to a number of publications
on a wide variety of horticultural and community organizing topics. In addition
to being posted in their electronic form on this page, many of these materials are
also available in hard copy form at the
Forsyth County Agricultural Building. Don’t see the topic you were looking
for? Contact Megan Gregory with any questions or
for more information. Explore our resources on the topics listed below:
How to Start a Community Garden: Organizing, Fundraising, and Administration
Organizing a Garden
Fundraising
Administering Plot (Allotment) Gardens
Legal and Safety Considerations
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Community Garden Policy Reference Guide
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Dig, Eat, and Be Healthy
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Establishing Protections for Community Gardens
- Example Land Use Agreement
- Example Release of All Claims
- Food Safety Basics: A 2-page factsheet summarizing food safety practices in the garden,
including considerations for site selection, irrigation water, soil amendments, composting, handwashing, and excluding animals from the garden.
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Food Safety for School and Community Gardens
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Ground Rules: A Legal Toolkit for Community Gardens
- Toxic Plant List for
Childcare Centers
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Safety Guidelines for Youth Working in Gardens
-
Soil Safety Resource Guide for Urban Food Growers
- The Role of Local Government
in Community Gardens
-
Zoning Codes
Building Healthy Soil
General Soil Management
- Soil Test Interpretation & Soil Management: A
guide from Forsyth Community Gardening on reading your NCDA&CS soil test report,
and on good soil management and fertilization practices.
- Soil Test Interpretation Worksheet:
Use this worksheet with your NCDA soil test report. The worksheet will help you
interpret your soil pH, nutrient, and organic matter results and choose appropriate
amendments.
- Building Soils for Better Crops: Sustainable Soil Management: A
complete guide to soils and ecological soil management. Available for free as a
PDF or online text version, or for purchase in hard copy.
- Converting
Fertilizer Recommendations: Instructions on converting a synthetic fertilizer
recommendation (such as those give on NCDA&CS reports) to an organic one. This publication
will help you select organic amendments to match your nutrient needs, and calculate
how much to apply.
- Managing Soils: Comprehensive overview of soil management from
Penn State’s ‘Start Farming’ series. Includes strategies for increasing organic
matter and managing nutrients based on soil tests.
- Soil Acidity & Liming: Basic Information for Farmers & Gardeners
- Soil Sampling for Home
Lawns and Gardens
- Understanding the Soil
Test Report: Full Version
- Understanding the Soil
Test Report: Lawn and Garden Specifics
Cover Crops
- Cover Crop Basics for Vegetable Gardeners:
Two-page handout with an overview of cover crops, potential benefits, how
to plant them, and promising options for gardeners in USDA Zone 7
- Cover Crop Planting
and Management: Two-page handout with tips for establishing cover crops successfully,
and cutting down over-wintering cover crops in the Spring to prepare plots for planting
vegetables.
- Building Healthy Soil in Vegetable Gardens:
Cover Crops Have Got it Covered: A collection of four online articles with
in-depth information about using cover crops in vegetable gardens. The series covers:
definition and benefits of cover cropping; types of cover crops; selecting cover
crops for specific rotations, management goals, and environmental conditions; and
planting and managing cover crops.
- Using Cover
Crops in the Garden
Composting
- Backyard Composting: Publication
from VA Cooperative Extension on what to compost (and not compost) and how to build, maintain, and cure
a backyard or community garden compost pile.
- Backyard Composting of Yard, Garden, and Food Discards: Publication from NC State on what to compost (and not compost), the composting process, troubleshooting backyard compost piles, and using compost.
- Composting Portal from NC Cooperative Extension: Extensive list of links to information on home and backyard composting, as well as large-scale composting.
- Composting Chapter of the Extension Gardener Handbook
- Guide to Community Composting
- Solid Waste Composting Guidelines for Urban Farms & Community Gardens in NC: Guidance from the NC Department of Environmental Quality.
Managing Soil Contaminants
- NC Community Gardens - Soil Contaminants and Pesticides: This website, a project of the
Community Engagement Core of the Duke University Superfund Research Center, provides information and resources for community gardeners in North Carolina on the sources
and health impacts of soil contaminants and pesticides, simple ways to reduce your exposure, and how to get your soil tested for contaminants.
- Healthy
Gardening Practices: Resources from the Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities project
on best practices for reducing exposure to soil contaminants, types of soil contaminants
and how to interpret test results for contaminants in soils and vegetables.
- Heavy Metals in NC Soil
- Soil Contaminants
in Community Gardens
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Soil Safety Resource Guide for Urban Food Growers
Garden Plantings: Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs
Fruits
Vegetables
Flowers and Herbs
Managing Pests: Insects, Weeds, and Diseases
Supporting Beneficial Insects
Paper wasp, a predator of many insect pests, on yarrow. Photo: M. Gregory, Forsyth
CES.
Many insect pests have ‘natural enemies’ – beneficial predators and parasitoids
that keep pests under control. Other beneficial insects help pollinate crops like
tomatoes and cucumbers. The following resources will help you identify beneficial
insects, and create habitat in your garden to ensure they can thrive year-round.
- Attracting
Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants
- Beneficial Insects Guide
- Manage Insects on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies
- Pollinator Conservation Guide
- Top 25 Perennial Pollinator Plants for NC Piedmont
General Insect Pest Management References
- Insect Management Overview:
Two-page summary of key insect management strategies: providing habitat for beneficial
insects, good cultural practices to prevent pest buildup, and recommendations for
specific pests.
- Floating Row Cover
- Insect Management in the Home Vegetable Garden
- Insect Management in Organic Farming Systems
- Insecticides
for Organic Backyard Vegetable Production
- NC State Gardening
Portal: Insects
- Organic Pest Management: Resources from the Growing Small Farms
program, including photos of pest and beneficial insects and a compilation of Web
resources on organic pest management
- Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management: An
excellent reference book with research-based recommendations by crop, photos of
pests and diseases, materials fact sheets, and information on habitats for beneficial
insects.
Specific Vegetable Pest Profiles
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Cabbage Worms
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Colorado Potato Beetle
- Flea Beetles
- Flea Beetles – Management in Organic Farming Systems
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Japanese Beetles
- Harlequin
Bugs
- Squash
Bugs
- Squash Bugs - Management in Organic Farming Systems
- Squash Vine Borer – Biology and Management in Organic Farming Systems
Weed Management
Summer weeds don’t stand a chance beneath this dense cover crop of millet and cowpea!
Photo: M. Gregory, Forsyth CES.
- Managing Weeds in Community
Gardens: Overview of practices for preventing and managing weeds, plus a photo
guide to common annual and perennial weeds in NC community gardens.
- 12 Steps Toward Ecological Weed Management in Organic Vegetables:
A comprehensive introduction to designing an organic weed management strategy, with
links to detailed articles on each technique. These more detailed articles may be
particularly useful for gardeners:
- Design the Cropping System to Minimize Niches for Weed Growth
- Keep the Weeds Guessing with Crop Rotations
- Put the Weeds out of Work: Grow Cover Crops! Also, see our resources
on cover crops under Building Healthy Soil for suggestions on using cover crops
in a gardening setting.
- Keeping New Weedy Invaders Out of the Field
- Knock Weeds Out at Critical Times
- Bring Existing Weeds Under Control Before Planting Weed-Sensitive
Crops
Diseases
Container and Raised Bed Gardening
Youth and School Gardens
General Resources on School & Children’s Gardens
- School & Children's Gardens: Steps to Success: Two-page handout
on creating or revitalizing gardens at schools and child development centers. Includes
information and links to resources on forming a planning committee, organizing volunteers,
choosing the garden site, developing the site, and integrating the garden in the
school curriculum.
- Cornell Garden-Based
Learning: Lessons, program tools, citizen science opportunities, gardening guidance,
and networking opportunities for educators. The Program Tools include excellent resources
on planning and organizing a school or children’s garden, fundraising and promotion,
and evaluation. Use the
Before Going Further Checklist to ensure you’re building a team capable of sustaining the garden project.
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Getting Started with Garden-Based Learning
- Growing Minds:
School Gardens: How-to guides and links to weekly activity sheets attuned to
the gardening season
- Natural Learning Initiative:
Excellent resources from NC State on outdoor learning environments, including: the
Childcare
Center Production Gardens publication series, the The Green Desk (collection of activities and resources
by category), and
information sheets on design and programming for children’s outdoor learning
environment.
- Safety Guidelines for Youth Working in Gardens
Garden Based Curricula
-
Cornell Garden-Based Learning: Lessons page: Activities and curricula for grades
2-8
- Environmental Education in the Community Garden: A project of
the American Community Gardening Association with lessons on soil nutrients, soil,
nutrients, beneficial insects, pollinators, composting, crop rotation, and other
aspects of environmentally-friendly gardening.
- Garden
Mosaics: A garden-based education program that combines intergenerational mentoring,
community action, and understanding different cultures. The manual contains Science
Pages and inquiry-based learning activities for children and youth. Science pages
are available in English and Spanish.
- Growing
Minds: Lesson Plans: Garden-based lesson plans organized by grade level, from
preschool through grade 12.
- National Farm to
School Network Resource Database: Extensive database of garden-based lessons
grouped by setting (preschool, K-12, after-school, etc.) and topic.
- School Garden Resources:
Garden-based lesson plans from the University of Georgia for grades K-8. Lessons are aligned with earth science, life science, and physical science standards.
Youth Program Resources
- The Food
Project Toolbox: Free manuals, activities, and curricula used in The Food Project’s
ground-breaking youth programs, including their Summer and Academic Year Youth Programs,
Rural and Urban Agriculture programs, and Farmer’s Markets.
- Growing Young
Leaders: Youth Program Guide: Manual from East New York Farms! in Brooklyn,
NY, on how to create an urban agriculture internship for high school youth that
builds leadership, life skills, and farming and food systems knowledge.
Harvesting, Preparing, and Preserving Vegetables
- Harvesting Vegetables: Detailed tips on harvesting vegetables at peak eating quality.
- Harvesting and Storing Vegetables: Tips on when to harvest vegetables, how to store them, and how long they can be stored before using.
- Veggie Fact Sheets and Recipes: Information on harvesting, storing, and preparing many different vegetables, including simple recipes.
- National Center for Home Food Preservation: Quick links to practical, research-based information about how to preserve food safely using canning, freezing, drying, and other methods.
- Freezing Vegetables: Factsheet on how to blanch and freeze vegetables, including a table of recommended preparation and blanching times for different vegetables.
Why Commuity Gardens?
Scholarly Articles: Benefits of Community Gardening
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Access, Availability and Motivation to Eat Fruit and Vegetables
- Benefits,
Purposes and Motivations Associated with Community Gardening
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Community Development Through Gardening
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Community Garden Implications for Health Promotion and Community Development
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Growing Vegetables and Values: Benefits of Neighborhood-Based Community Gardens
for Youth Development and Nutrition
- Impact of Community Gardening
in Neighborhoods
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Strengthening Neighborhoods and Health Through Community Gardens
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The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values
- The Influence
of Community Garden Participation on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
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What Good is Community Greening?
The Local Food System
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A Community Guide to Developing Local Food Systems
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Come to the Table: Community Gardens
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Community Gardens in the City of Raleigh
- Farm to Fork:
A Guide to Building NC’s Local Food Economy
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Food Sovereignty for All
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Gardening - A National Call to Action
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This Land is Our Land
Publicaciones en Español
- Cultivando Comunidad en los Huertos Comunitarios: Consejos para Involucrar a sus Vecinos
Resumen de dos páginas con estrategias para involucrar a los miembros del huerto, crear estructuras organizativas
que promuevan el liderazgo compartido, y otros consejos para conseguir apoyo de la comunidad para su huerto.
- Guía de Horticultura para Principiantes: Guía básico al cultivo de hortalizas en Carolina del Norte,
incluso la selección del sitio, planificación, preparación de la tierra, siembra, mantenimiento del huerto, control de plagas y enfermedades, y cómo cosechar.
- Guía para Desarrollo de un Huerto/Jardín
Comunitario: Este recurso le guía, paso a paso, a organizar su huerto/jardín
comunitario. Hay información sobre cómo reunir sus vecinos, obtener un terreno adecuado
y permiso para usarlo, establecer el reglamento del huerto, y diseñar e instalar
el huerto.
- El Compostaje es bueno para
su jardín y el medio ambiente: Aprenda qué materias usar en su compostaje, cómo
manejar su montón de compost y cómo utilizar el producto final.
- El Calendario del Huerto en NC: Vegetales y Cultivos de Cobertura para Todas las Estaciones
Este folleto de dos páginas es una guía para planear rotaciones de hortalizas. Contiene los intervalos
en que se debe sembrar hortalizas de Primavera, Verano, y Otoño, y los cultivos de cobertura del
verano y los que permanecen durante el invierno. Finalmente, incluye un ejemplo de un plan de rotación de cultivos.
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Cultivar Hortalizas del Otoño con Extensión de la Temporada: Este folleto de dos páginas contiene información sobre cultivos recomendados
para sembrar en otoño, fechas de siembra, e instrucciones sobre cómo construir un túnel bajo sencillo para proteger los cultivos de las heladas.
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Cultivos de Cobertura: Información Básica para los Horticultores: Folleto de
dos páginas; contiene información básica sobre los cultivos de cobertura, sus beneficios,
y opciones buenas para los horticultores en USDA Zona 7
- Esquina de Horticultura:
Varios recursos en español sobre la horticultura de la Universidad de Illinois,
incluso.
- Vea su Jardín Crecer:
una guía al cultivo de hortalizas.
- Cosechando Vegetales: una
guía al cultivo de hortalizas.
- Jardines con Plantas Perennes:
una guía para establecer un jardín con plantas perennes, los cuales pueden atraer
y albergar insectos benéficos (tales como polinizadores y depredadores) que ayudan
a sus hortalizas también.
- Guías a los insectos plagas:
y las enfermendades de plantas
- Garden-Based Education Resources
in Spanish: (Recursos para la Educación en el Huerto/Jardín en Español): Una
colección de LifeLab con recursos para educadores trabajando con los huertos escolares
y huertos para niños y jóvenes, incluso:
-
Comenzando: Una guía para empezar un huerto/jardín escolar como salón de clases
en el aire libre.
- Manual para el Desarrollo
de un Programa de Jardinería Escolar: una Una guía de 5 páginas.
-
Garden Mosaics “Páginas de Ciencia": Este currículo tiene “Páginas de Ciencia”
relacionadas al cultivo de hortalizas, incluso el compostaje, el agua y riego en
su huerto, control de plagas, las malezas o malas hierbas, y los suelos y su cuido.
- A Garden of Words/Un
Jardín de Palabras: Un diccionario bilingüe de jardinería para escuelas primarias
y programas de jardinería extraescolares.
- Hojas Informatives de Verduras:
Información sobre varias vegetales y cómo cosechar, embodegar, y prepararlas para comer. Haz clic en ‘Hojas Informativas de Verduras’ para información en español.
- La Seguridad Alimentaria en
su Huerto Familiar: Aprenda a cultivar frutas y verduras seguras-libres de bacterias
u otros gérmenes que se les puede enfermar.
- Variedades de Hortalizas Resistentes a las Enfermedades.
