Plan the garden layout
Plan a Ground-Breaking Day celebration! 
​Invite the community to help build the garden. Make it a fun event with food, refreshments, and music!
Experiment with different varieties!
​Consider growing costly vegetables that you might not usually buy. 
Plant foods that grow well in Maricopa County
It is important to consider the climate and soil when determining your crop
Plant according to the season
Use our Vegetable Planting Calendar as a resource
  • Host monthly workdays
  • Attend a garden class
  • Request gardening and nutrition lessons

Education

  • Attend our gardening trainings and workshops
  • Request gardening and nutrition curricula for your school

Community

  • Partner with us to hold gardening workshops for your community
  • Offer monthly events to keep your community involved i.e. cooking demos 

Communication

  • Use promotional material and social media to keep your community informed about garden events.

Make Your Garden Successful!

The People

Get the community involved in every step of the way, a thriving garden needs constant support from the people that use it!

The Stuff

Grants, in-kind donations of materials, and other resources help your community maintain the garden.

The Organization

Careful planning, decision-making, and leadership is important to making your garden successful!

​Get Your Community Involved

  • Identify the people who will be involved in the garden
  • Involve them in the planning process to build their commitment to the project
  • Encourage them to contribute their strengths

​Make the Most of Your Garden!

  • Use it to educate students and families about nutrition and encourage them to eat more fruits and vegetables
  • Incorporate gardening into topics like science, math, problem solving, and team-work
  • Provide school lunch ingredients from sanitarian-approved gardens
  • Provide donations for food banks or families in need
  • Provide classroom education - tie gardening to health, nutrition and wellness
  • Get the community involved - create a gathering place and point of pride!
  • Use the produce you grow for taste testings

Contact Us

Phone: (602) 827-8200
Email: UAMaricopaNutrition@cals.arizona.edu
4341 East Broadway Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85040

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​The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.  Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting (602-827-8223). Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-SNAP. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact 1-800-352-8401. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.