Start a Garden for Hope

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Hope's food program is able to feed thousands of people each year.

One of the things that sets us apart is our selection of fresh produce. Providing fresh produce helps our pantry feel like a real grocery store and also provides more nutritious options. We even have a farm stand next door that feels just like a farmer's market.

You can help provide this nutritious food by donating space in your garden or starting a whole new one!

This project is longer term, needs a garden space, and with adult supervision is great for kids over age 4.

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How To Start a Garden for Hope

1. Recruit Help & Support

Gardening is more fun to do together! Consider sharing the load with your neighbors or small group.
If you’re new to gardening, there are also lots of community members and groups who provide gardening mentorship, like Garden Party, Growing Hope, and The Startin’ Garden.

2. Find a Garden Space

  • Choose a spot with full sun and shelter from wind

  • Decide how big you want it to be - consider starting small while you learn - a 10x10 patch or a couple of 4x8 boxes will produce a lot of food

3. Prepare the soil

  • To prepare a space, lay down 2-3 layers of cardboard & wet it down with a hose. You can either put 3-4inches compost and soil on top of the cardboard and plant directly into the compost, or you can lay the cardboard in the fall to kill the weeds & grass, then remove the cardboard in the spring and plant directly into the ground.

  • Vegetables need crumbly, well-draining soil to grow well. Mix in some good compost or mulch and break up the big clumps. (Ypsilanti residents can get free compost)

  • Consider getting a pH testing kit to help you know what to grow and what your soil needs

  • You can learn a lot about preparing soil online - gardeners.com and bhg.com have helpful guides, or learn about No-Dig Gardening.

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4. Decide what to grow

If you cannot afford to purchase seeds or seedlings, the Ypsilanti public library has a Seed Library!
You can also use SNAP/EBT to purchase seeds!
Here are some vegetables that tend to grow well in Michigan and that we are always looking for at Hope:

  • Salad greens 

  • Herbs such as basil, dill, mint, and thyme

  • Leafy greens, esp. collards, chard, and kale

  • Tomatoes, esp. heirloom and cherry

  • Cucumbers

  • Beans and peas

  • Strawberries

5. Sow seeds and maintain your garden

  • Sow according to instructions on seed packets.

  • Consider planting seedlings instead of seeds, especially as you learn. You may find it easier.

  • Stay on top of weeds and watch for pests

  • Most veggies need an average of 1" of water per week - more in hot weather. Give a good deep soak rather than light sprinkles.

6. Harvest your veggies and bring them to Hope!

Be patient and enjoy the process. Gardens take time and effort but are so much fun!

Questions? Find a printable version here.

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