Free resources to get your garden started

Grow in Healthy Soil

SOIL TESTING: We recommend testing your soil if you are planting in the ground and not in a raised bed you have filled yourself. One resource for testing soil is through UMass Amherst.
WHERE TO GET SOIL: Raised beds offer many advantages, including being able to control your growing conditions. For new beds, we recommend soil blends from Black Earth Compost or Brick Ends Farm.
COMPOST: To give your garden a boost, add a 1-3” layer of compost at the start of every season. Black Earth Compost sells high quality bagged compost for bulk delivery and at local retailers, or you can order through our shop when available.
HOW MUCH SOIL DO YOU NEED? Check out this handy soil or compost calculator.
Build Raised Garden Beds

HOW TO BUILD A RAISED GARDEN BED: Check out our Guide to Building a Raised Bed for how we construct our own raised bed gardens.
WHERE TO BUY LUMBER: We recommend Timberline, Building Center, or Markham Lumber.
HAVE US BUILD A RAISED BED FOR YOU: Our Backyard Garden Program offers a limited number of backyard raised garden bed installations every spring for financially eligible Gloucester households.
PURCHASE A RAISED GARDEN BED: In addition, through our partnership with Black Earth Compost, you can select from several raised bed options delivered right to you. When ordered in consultation with Backyard Growers, our organization will receive 15% of your bed’s purchase price as a donation. You can also support our work while you’re at it through our Get-a-Garden, Give-a-Garden Program and receive $50 off your order when you select this option. Get in touch to learn more about these options.
What to Grow and How to Grow it

HOW TO PLAN YOUR GARDEN: Download our FREE Garden Guide to learn how to grow the most food for your space. Plan your space with one of our garden grids for a 2’x8’ raised bed or a 4’x8’ raised bed.
HOW TO START SEEDS INDOORS: Check out this free resource from Cornell University.
WHERE TO ORDER SEEDS: Stop by our office to explore our free seed library, or order from Fedco, High Mowing Organic Seeds, and Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Can’t find what you need? Here is a very lengthy list of additional seed vendors.
WHERE TO BUY SEEDLINGS: Visit our friends at Cedar Rock Gardens in West Gloucester to purchase beautiful, locally-growing vegetable seedlings.
PLAN FOR NEXT SEASON: Download our End-of-Year Reflection Worksheet to capture your learnings, dreams, and creativity for the next growing season.
WHERE TO LEARN MORE: UMass Extension and Cornell offer excellent resources on plants, urban agriculture, and more!