Choosing what to grow is a personal process, but it doesn't have to be stressful. No one should tell you what you are supposed to grow – assuming you are growing for yourself.

The real question is: 

• What do you like to eat?
• What flowers do you like? 

 Make a list. Don’t forget fresh herbs. 

Once you have your list, you will need to do a little research about the plants. You will need to answer several...

Make no mistake… gardening involves physical work. If you’re not willing to sweat a little, maybe gardening isn’t for you. The physical work is also one of the benefits of gardening, though. It’s exercise with a purpose.

Activity

When working on your plot, you'll need to do the following

1. Sitting and kneeling on the ground and getting up again. It’s not just once  – sometimes you have to get up...

Community gardens sometimes offer a choice of plot sizes. 

If you're a new gardener or even new to community gardens, I recommend you start with a smaller plot. It's a trial - maybe you won't like gardening in a community garden (although I can't imagine why, ha, ha, ha!).

My first community garden plot was a "half plot" measuring 10 feet long by 4 feet wide.

This is 40 square feet. One person can manage 40 square feet...

When I talk to people about gardening, sometimes they'll tell me,

"I have a black thumb!"

They mean that they can't garden, that they have no natural ability to garden. Do you know what I think about that?

What a load of manure!

Gardening is a skill, like so many other skills. Once you couldn't ride a bike... but likely you really wanted to. So, what did you do? You got a bike, you had someone help you get started, and then you practiced,...

Many community gardens are accepting applications for gardeners about this time of year - early February.

If you want to try out a plot - get a move on! Fill out that application and send your deposit or leasing fee in. 

You still have plenty of time to decide exactly what to plant and how to lay out your garden. And I'm going to help you along the way. We'll get through this together!

You have to act quickly. Plots can go quickly,...

Now that you know your zone, you can use it to determine the average date in the spring when you will get a freeze.

?

OK, let me explain that sentence. 

A freeze is when the outdoor temperature hits below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower (0 degrees Celsius).

Of course, that's the magical temperature when water freezes to ice. 

A freeze is the threshold for survival many vegetable and flower plants in cold...

New gardeners are often unsure when to plant. 

I wish I could tell you an absolute answer, but it's not that concrete. 

But don't worry - it's not difficult to figure out, and plants can be very forgiving. In other words, if you plant a week later or earlier than the "ideal" date, you're probably OK. 

<hack>The easiest way is to ask a nearby gardener! Watch your fellow community gardeners and see when the majority of...

You know that old realtor saying...

The three things to remember when determining the price of real estate? 

Location, location, location!

You could use it for gardens, but more accurately (in my opinion):

The three things to remember when choosing the location to plant your garden? 

Sunlight, sunlight, sunlight!

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of direct sunlight for gardening. Most vegetable and flower plants require at...

You’ve decided to start your own garden in a community garden. That’s great!

Before you plunk down your deposit or fee, take a good look at the garden. Either look at it in person, read about it online, or check it out on Google Maps Street View. (The link is to my community garden, as an example.)

You want to be a successful gardener, right?  It's going to take some work and it's going to take commitment. Sure, makes...

If you don't know much about community gardens, I think you will find this post helpful. Sorry it's a bit long. 

I will explain how a community garden typically works.

A community garden is usually run by a board or committee. They have established procedures for how the garden runs, including their administration of the property, how people become members, and how members conduct themselves. Sometimes the board/committee is part of...