Backyard Gardener Network

Collective Roots Announces the Backyard Gardeners’ Network

Support Network for Urban Gardeners

Welcome to the Backyard Gardeners’ Network, a resource for backyard gardeners, community gardeners, and others involved in various forms of urban gardening and farming. Membership in the Backyard Gardeners’ Network entitles you to be eligible for support and resources, including:

• Connection to other backyard and urban Gardeners
• Access to website featuring you and your garden (a personalized web page)
• Information and resources to support your urban gardening efforts
• Online Gardening forums, blogs, and other social networking features
• Opportunities to apply for mini-grants supporting your growing efforts
• Invitations to garden parties and other social events
• Assistance with becoming a Certified Producer
• Participation in local Certified Farmers’ Markets
• Seed and produce exchange with other Gardeners in your community

Collective Roots and the Backyard Gardeners’ Network would like to make it possible for interested backyard and community growers to sell at the EPA Community Farmer’s Market. The market is a Certified Farmers’ Market, “a location approved by the county agricultural commissioner where certified farmers offer for sale only those agricultural products they grow themselves.”

In order to be able to sell at the market, a local grower must be certified by the county agricultural commissioner. During this process, the agricultural commissioner will come to the growing site and verify that they grower is growing what they claim they grow. This certification enables a grower to sell at a Certified Farmers’ Market. The Backyard Gardeners’ Network is offering a limited number of mini-grants to members that will cover the cost of the certification process (normally $60).

In order to join the (Free) Backyard Gardeners’ Network, please fill out the form linked here.