Blog - Urban Farming Education

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How to Compost in the Southwest: Why Plants Love Compost

Everyday Gardening

Arizona is a place of heat and sunshine, which some plant species love, but the dry conditions and hot daytime temperatures make it tough for desert gardeners. Southwest soils are often too sandy for many plants, and the lack of reliable rainfall limits plant selection for avid gardeners.

Fun and Easy Ways to Propagate Your Favorite Plants

Desert Gardening

How often have you taken the dog for a walk and admired the gorgeous succulent or perennial in a neighbor's garden? You have probably found yourself wishing you could have one just like it. Did you know that all it will take for you to enjoy a new and beautiful specimen in your garden is to askyour neighbor for a cutting?

The Importance of Gardening at a Young Age

Growing Kids

A lot of people think gardening is something they will do when they retire and finally have time to while away in the garden. However, especially if there are young children in the family, you shouldn’t wait until your twilight years before you get out the gardening tools. Research says there are plenty of reasons you should be developing a child’s green thumb at an early age.

Guest Blogger: Richard Mellen on Raised-Bed Gardening in the Southwest

Desert Gardening

My raised-bed garden in the southwest journey has taken me on quite a learning path. In the beginning, I was interested in growing things but never got the hang of it. Trying to produce items in small pots on your western exposure patio during a blazing Phoenix summer is enough to get anyone discouraged.

Gardening on a Budget with Limited Resources

Desert Gardening

Which mortal amongst us hasn't at times wished for more time, money, or space? These three limitations may also make you hesitant to start or be more ambitious with gardening. Seeing a seed germinate, smelling a flower, or tasting a garden produced tomato reinforce that old songthat "the best things in life are free."

Square Foot Gardening in Arizona Desert

Desert Gardening

Growing a blooming and productive garden in a place like Arizona can be a challenge. Inyour quest to grow vegetables, you might also have limited space for your garden. The method of square foot gardening (SFG) may help create your dream garden and increase your production of organic food.

Best Vegetable and Fruit Plants for Arizona

Desert Gardening

You have probably wondered, "What should I plant next?" Clearly, "for everything there is a season," but other factors affecting crops you grow include climate, soil composition, and general geography. Some plants will thrive in areas during specific times that will fail at others. Arizona has a wide range of climates, easily identified at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone website.

St. Mary's Food Bank of Phoenix

Community

Most Arizonans are surprised to discover that the first food bank in the world started right here in Phoenix. In 1967, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance was founded in Phoenix, Arizona, by John van Hengel, who is credited today with being the Father of Modern Food Banking.

Starting Your First Garden in Arizona

Desert Gardening

Beginning a garden can be a rewarding experience for you and your loved ones. You may have fresh produce to harvest in a surprisingly small amount of time.

Grow a Garden in Arizona's Low Desert Climate

Desert Gardening

Growing a viable garden in Arizona is a unique challenge. Arizona is an extremely diverse state. It’s home to all four of the different types of North American desert biomes (Source 1). Many parts of Arizona will reach extreme levels of heat with very low humidity.