Grow It At Home

You don't need a big backyard, or a green thumb to grow your own food!
Whether you have a backyard, patio, balcony, community garden plot, or just a few containers, there are ways to grow fresh food right here in Lucas County.

Why Grow?

Growing your own food can be rewarding, practical, and good for our community. Growing fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at home allows you to enjoy food at its peak freshness. Growing your own food can be an economical way to supplement what you buy at the store. In addition, gardening helps us understand where our food comes from, and creates opportunities to connect with neighbors, family, and the natural world. Finally, home and community gardens are a small, but meaningful piece of a strong local food system. 

Start Where You Are

You don't need a perfect garden, or even a traditional garden, to get started. Find an approach that works for your space, experience and interests. 

From Seed to Harvest

Growing your own food is a process. From choosing what to grow, to enjoying your harvest, these four steps can help you get started.

Garden planning with seeds and gardening materials
Hands planting a vegetable seedling in soil
Vegetable plants growing in a garden
Fresh vegetables being harvested from a garden

PLAN

Choose what you want to grow, where you'll grow it, and when to get started. Consider factors like space, sunlight, and time you have available.

PLANT

Prepare your growing space and get your seeds or seedlings in the soil. Starting with just a few plants can be a great way to learn, and try a new technique.

GROW

Giving your plants what they need to thrive can help your garden grow. Water, sunlight, healthy soil, and regular care are key to a healthy garden.

HARVEST

Savor the "fruits" or vegetables of your labor. Harvest your crops as they become ready, share what you grow, and enjoy your garden.

​Grow With Sustainability in Mind

​Gardening is an opportunity to work with nature and make the most of the resources around us. 

​Healthy Soil


​Healthy plants start with healthy soil. Learn about your soil and find out how testing can help you understand its nutrients, pH, and potential contaminants.

For more information, check out Toledo GROWs' Soil Testing Guide. and Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences: Soil Testing for Horticultural Needs. 

​Use Water Wisely


Water is an important resource for every garden. Learn ways to conserve water, use it efficiently, and keep your plants healthy.

Watering Your Garden
Learn how much water your vegetable garden needs and how to water effectively. 

How Much Water Do My Vegetables Need?
OSU Extension's Northwest Ohio Community Gardening Manual includes a chart with estimated weekly water needs for individual vegetables. See page 45.

Collecting Rainwater
​Rain barrels can capture rainwater for use in your garden while helping reduce stormwater runoff.

Reduce Waste

​Composting food scraps and yard waste can turn materials that might otherwise become waste into valuable resources for your garden.

Compost at Home
Learn how composting can turn food scraps and yard waste into a useful soil amendment for your garden.

 Don't Have Space to Compost?
 You don't need to compost at home to keep food scraps out of the landfill. Toledo offers three locations where community members can drop off food scraps for composting.

Grow Together

​Community gardens can transform underused spaces into productive green spaces while providing food, growing community, and bringing neighbors together.

Get Involved
​Connect with Toledo GROWs to find ways to volunteer, support community gardens, and grow alongside your neighbors.

Start or Strengthen a Garden
Find practical gardening tips from Toledo GROWs and explore OSU Extension's Community Garden Resource Guide for more in-depth information.

Explore Our Local Food System
Learn how community gardens, urban agriculture, and local food initiatives are helping grow a stronger food system in Toledo.

Find Local Help

You Don't Have to Garden Alone
Lucas County is home to organizations that can help you learn, grow, and get involved. Whether you're planting your first tomato, looking for a community garden, or interested in urban agriculture, there's a local resource that can help. ​
Lucas County Soil & Water Conservation District
Resources for soil testing, urban agriculture, gardening, and conservation.
​
Visit Lucas SWCD
OSU Extension
Research-based gardening information and practical advice to help you make informed decisions.

​Visit OSU Extension
Toledo GROWs
​Community gardens, gardening resources, education, and support throughout the Toledo area.

​Visit Toledo GROWs
Urban Wholistics
Urban farming, community greenspace, environmental stewardship, and hands-on learning opportunities.

​Visit Urban Wholistics

Ready to Grow?