Spring is Here! Think Green.
Spring is here! Now is a great time to think green. Your backyard is a great place to grow a variety of fresh and delicious fruits and veggies this spring, summer and fall. Check out the resources below to make the most of the 2013 growing season.
What is your potential?
Have you ever wondered how much food you could grow in your yard if you took the time to garden? Through the Community Food Production Mapping Tool, you have the ability to not only click on your property to find out an estimation of its food production potential, but you will also be linked to resources that will educate and empower you to grow more food.
Salt Lake City can also provide an annual calendar of solar radiation for your property. Sample solar book (PDF). Residents are encouraged to use the grid lines to plan their garden beds for optimal sun exposure. Simply email slcgreen@slcgov.com to request your book.
Understand your soil
The heart of your garden is the soil. Whether you garden succeeds or fails, is directly related to your soil, the micro-organisms that live in it, and the organic matter they feed off of. Join Wasatch Community Gardens for their ‘Know your soil’ workshop in April, or get some tips from Organic Gardening.
Grow your own seedlings
Many gardeners have never tried to grow their own starts from seed. Here are some tips from Organic Gardening to simplify the process.
Fruit trees
Our friends at the USU Extension in Salt Lake County have two upcoming classes that will help you learn how to make the most out of your fruit trees:
- Grow healthy fruit trees – March 30
- Fruit tree pruning – March 30
Do you have excess fruit every year that inevitably ends up in the compost? Sign up for the Salt Lake City Fruit Share Program and volunteers will help you harvest your fruit. You will keep 1/3 of the harvest, the volunteers will take 1/3 and the final third will be donated.
Gardening Workshops
Whether you are a beginning gardener just getting started, a seasoned grower looking to learn some new organic techniques, or practically a professional looking for something new to grow, Wasatch Community Gardens has a class for you.
Some upcoming April classes include:
- Rainwater Harvesting – rainwater used for gardening is now legal in Salt Lake County.
- Backyard Chickens 201 – maintaining a healthy flock.
- Drip irrigation – be waterwise.
- Container gardening – grow in small spaces.
Learn more
Salt Lake City Green has a wide variety of resources on sustainable food in Salt Lake City available at www.SLCGreen.com.
slcGreen Blog 
