Q. My employer, a large health system, is committed to building a healthy community as well as going green. We are interested in putting an organic kitchen garden in a visible location and donating to local food bank. Can you recommend any good information regarding how to plan and do this successfully and resources needed, short of relying on the avid gardeners on staff to figure it all out from scratch?
-Hammonton, New Jersey
A. Thanks for contacting Ask A Garden Question about creating an organic kitchen garden on your company’s site. I have a couple of recommendations for you:
1. The American Community Gardening Association has a website dedicated to helping people start community gardens at http://www.communitygarden.org. The site includes everything you’ll need to consider in undertaking this project from forming a planning committee to choosing the site; troubleshooting to resources.
2. The master gardener volunteers in the County Extension office in your area might also be willing to help you get started and provide resources specific to your area.
This sounds like a wonderful project–and I wish you the best of luck!
Jodi Torpey, Colorado Master Gardener
Denver, Colorado
