Welcome to the Resource Hub

This map shows the location of all registered urban agriculture projects in New Castle County. View the map here to learn about other community gardens to begin building partnerships and share resources. Not sure if your garden is included on the map? You can register your garden, too!

This toolkit was developed by the DEUFFC Community Garden Committee to provide guidance to those looking to start a community garden. Download the toolkit to learn about how to get started, community engagement, soil health, common garden problems, and much more!

New in 2023 - our toolkit is now available in Spanish!

Ahora disponible en español. Descargue la traducción al español del kit de herramientas aquí

Our Community Garden Committee is constantly working on building a series of Youtube playlists focused around various community garden topics. These topics include:

• Garden Inspiration

• Planting Tips/Strategies

• Pest Management

• Watering Strategies

Have a topic you would like to see inlcuded? Let us know by contacting our Community Garden Committee.

Based on recommendations from local community gardeners here is a starting list of some helpful community garden resources.

Does your garden need water? Are you growing in Wilmington? Check out the City of Wilmington Water Policy for Community Gardens. This is a free program for garden to obtain a water service line from the city. Find the application here.

Explore the American Community Garden Association Resource Center or visit their “Common Ground” forum to interact with other community gardens around the country.

For garden coordinators you can download the “Community Garden Coordinator Handbook.” This guide was developed by the Marion-Polk Food Share in Salem, Oregon and has tips for managing a garden an inspiration on how to build community inside and outside of the garden.

For those looking for handouts and information sheets on specific topics, check out Grow Pittsburg’s “Info Hub” for information on every stage of gardening from planning to cooking.

Many community gardens rely on grants or outside funding to keep the garden gates open. Check out our “Funding Opportunities” page and the below resources to help navigate the grant writing process.

Visit Philanthropy Delaware to search for grants at the local, regional, and national level as well as information of proposal writing and local Delaware agencies that assist nonprofits.

We’ve also chosen just a few downloadable resources available from agencies around the country:

• Grant Proposals: Template with Samples (New Mexico State University)

• Grant Writing 101 (Juan Carlos Nordelo, MPA, State of New Jersey)

• How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal (Congressional Research Service)

Listed below are local organizations that have offer programs or assistance to community gardens. If you are unsure where to begin start by contacting DEUFFC’s Community Garden Committee

Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) offers various educational workshops throughout the year and has their own E.D. Robinson Farm located at 12th and Brandywine in Wilmington. Check out their latest resource on Building Resilient Landscapes Through Specialty Crops.

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware State Cooperative Extension both offer education workshops, publications, and various services (soil testing, garden helpline, pest id, etc.) applicable to community gardeners. Many of these are done with help from Delaware Master Gardeners.

New Castle Conservation District (NCCD) offers technical assistance, workshops, public outreach, and funding opportunities for all forms of urban agriculture.

Spread the word about upcoming volunteer events by submitting them to the DEUFFC volunteer calendar. For gardens that are part of a nonprofit, school, faith-based, government, or civic organization, you can register with Volunteer Delaware to help promote volunteer opportunities.

Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank has a “Urban Garden Lease Program” where those eligible can lease a vacant lot from the Land Bank. View the application.

This map shows the location of all registered urban agriculture projects in New Castle County. View the map here to learn about other urban farms to begin building partnerships and share resources. Not sure if your farm is included on the map? You can register your farm, too!

Check our these resource guides from regional and national sources to help with the set up and running of your operation.

• Alternative Water for Urban Agriculture (CONSERVE)

• Best Practices for the Sustainable Urban Farm (SARE)

• Creating Farmer Networks (Pacific Northwest Extension Publication)

• Entry, Exit and Growth of Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (Agricultural Finance Review)

• Guide to Growing Food on Public Property (ChangeLabs)

• Small Farm Biodiversity Toolkit (Prescott College)

• Start a Farm in the City (National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service)

• Tips on Farm Business Structures (USDA)

• Urban Ag Toolkit (USDA)

• Urban Farm Business Plan Handbook (Partnership for Sustainable Communities)

• Urban Farm Development and Design Manual (Urban Farming Institute)

Due to urban agriculture’s unique position in providing positive environmental, social, and economic impacts the American Planning Association maintains a searchable database that contains books, articles, fact sheets, case studies, and plans related to urban agriculture policy. From there you can also view their collections on Food Systems, Urban Livestock, and Brownfield Redevelopment.

For information related to our local food system check out the Exploring Maryland and Delaware Food System webinar playlist from the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension.

Healthy soil is key to a productive and thriving crop year after year and can be a challenge for urban sites. Check out these resources to learn more!

Soil Contamination/Testing

Soil testing is critical in urban agriculture not only to understand nutrient levels for successful crops, but to also determine if the site has any existing soil contaminates that might be harmful. Even those not planting directly in the ground should get the soil tested before starting and then again every few years. The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension has a Soil Testing Program and for a fee they can review samples and provide recommendations based on results.

For a general overview the potential challenges of working in urban soils, view the EPA’s “Reusing Potentially Contaminated Landscapes: Growing Garden in Urban Soils” publication.

Soil Health

SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) published the Building Soils for Better Crops: Sustainable Soil Management in 2021 and Chapter 22 focuses on “Soils for Urban Farms, Gardens, and Green Spaces.”

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has a “Urban Soil Team” which was created to address topics relevant to soil in the urban environment. Check out their Urban Soils Fact Sheet and Urban Soil Primer.

Growing your product is one things, getting it to consumers is another. The below resources provide guidance and ideas with different market strategies and link to educational and financial resources.

If you’re looking for a general overview, try starting with Marketing Strategies for Farmer and Ranchers produce by SARE in 2006. Some of the info is a bit outdated, but it provides a good overview of the most common options.

PennState Extension’s Agricultural Marketing page contains articles, online courses, and videos relevant to ag marketing. This database is searchable by application, industry and topic. They also have some material available in Spanish.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) gives you a nationwide look at programs that help improve the marketing of agricultural products. Be sure to look at their Specialty Crop Block Grant and Local Food Promotion programs.

For those urban growers interested in taking their farm to the next level, check out the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. This website is dedicated to providing information on all forms of value-added agriculture and food systems at large.

Listed below are local organizations that have services related to urban/community agriculture. If you are unsure where to begin start by contacting DEUFFC directly and we’ll help you get started.

DE Farm and Food Policy Council was started in 2018 and creates opportunities to communicate and collaborate around feeding Delaware communities and provide recommendations to the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA).

New Castle County has a Youth Workforce Development Program designed to engage low-income New Castle County residents, ages 14-21, with work-based learning that helps to launch their careers. Learn more about becoming a worksite partner here.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) has a catalog of programs and services designed to help farmers and their operations.

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance for soil health, irrigation and water conservation, weeds and pests, and high tunnels. Learn more about Delaware NRCS.

New Castle Conservation District (NCCD) offers technical assistance, workshops, public outreach, and funding opportunities for all forms of urban agriculture.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has growing library of resources designed specifically for urban growers, including funding opportunities, through the USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production founded through the 2018 Farm Bill. View their “Urban Agriculture Programs at a Glance” booklet to learn more.

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware State Cooperative Extension both offer education workshops, publications, and various services (soil testing, pest management, ag business classes, etc.) applicable to urban farmers. UD also has a Beginning Farmer Program.

This map shows the location of all registered urban agriculture projects in New Castle County. View this map to find other gardens to begin building partnerships and share resources. Not sure if your garden is registered? You can register your garden there, too!

Hydroponic systems, growing plants without soil, are a great alternative for school that don’t have access to growing space outdoors. Check out the Discovering Through Hydroponics guide from the National Farm to School Network and KidGardening.org and Classroom AgVentures Hydroponics for Kids produced by the LSU AgCenter.

Based on recommendations from area gardeners here is a starting list of some helpful school garden resources.

The Whole Kids Foundation walks you through the steps of starting a school garden from stating your case to sharing your story. The National Gardening Association- Kids Gardening.org includes resources for curriculum, funding, garden activity ideas. Lastly be sure to check out the National Farm to School Network Resource Database, where you can search for resources based on topic, format, and setting.

We are constantly working on building a series of Youtube playlists focused around various school garden topics. These topics include:

• Garden Inspiration

• Planting Tips/Strategies

• Pest Management

• Watering Strategies

Have a topic you would like to see included? Let us know by emailing deuffc@gmail.com.

Many community gardens rely on grants or outside funding to keep the garden gates open. Check out our “Funding Opportunities” page and the below resources to help navigate the grant writing process.

Visit Kids Gardening to search for grants at specific to school garden programs.

We’ve also chosen just a few downloadable resources available from agencies around the country:

• Grant Proposals: Template with Samples (New Mexico State University)

• Grant Writing 101 (Juan Carlos Nordelo, MPA, State of New Jersey)

• How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal (Congressional Research Service)

Listed below are local organizations that have services and resources related to school gardens.

Delaware Master Gardeners provide advice and assistance through the “School Gardens Committee,” and offer in-school garden education courses through their Junior Gardener Program.

Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids (HFHK) works with 37 schools around the state. Their “Education Cultivation” program help schools start gardens and incorporate them into the curriculum that align with Next Generation Science Standards.

For information based on the specific growing conditions found in Delaware, check out the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Grow Your Own Food webpage. Here you’ll find a a robust library of publications focused on growing specific fruits and vegetable, suggested vegetables lists, food safety tips, and planning tools. You can also learn more about Backyard Composting.

We are constantly working on building a series of Youtube playlists focused around various school garden topics. These topics include

• Garden Inspiration

• Pollinator/Native Plantings

• Pest Management

• Watering Strategies

Have a topic you would like to see included? Let us know by emailing deuffc@gmail.com.

Listed below are local organizations that have resources and services targeted towards home gardeners.

Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) offers various educational workshops throughout the year. Check out their latest resource on Building Resilient Landscapes Through Specialty Crops.

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware State Cooperative Extension both offer education workshops, publications, and various services (soil testing, garden helpline, healthy eating demos, etc.) applicable to home gardeners. Many of these are done with help from Delaware Master Gardeners.