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Outline of Garden Fare’s Custom Edible Garden Process

Step 1: Initial Garden Fare Custom Edible Garden Consultation

We will make an appointment with you for a consultation at your proposed garden site. During this consultation, we will survey your garden site, making special note of the soil type, exposure and other environmental factors particular to your garden. We will learn from you what sort of foods and herbs you are interested in growing and what aesthetic you would like to develop for your garden. Together, we will come to an initial understanding of the range of design options possible for your edible garden. If you choose to have a custom garden design, Garden Fare will use the information from this initial consultation to develop a conceptual plan and price estimate for the development of your edible garden.

Step 2: Finalizing Your Custom Edible Garden Design

After we have a concept plan we’ll meet with you to discuss it. We will focus our discussion on the selection of particular varietals for planting each season and the choice of construction materials to be used. We will determine a timeline for the installation of your garden and discuss options for ongoing garden care. Once we have an approved design we can determine a timeline for the work.

Step 3: Installation of Your Custom Edible Garden

One important aspect of a garden is the health of your soil. We will conduct a soil test for nutrients and possible toxicities before beginning work on your garden. Garden Fare will clear out any old plants and hardscaping materials that are not of use for your new edible garden. To the extent possible, Garden Fare will recycle these materials, generally either donating them to a local organization or using them in one of our local non-profit edible gardening projects. Garden Fare will aerate and amend your soil, taking the necessary steps to ensure soil health and ongoing fertility. Once the soil amendment process is complete, Garden Fare will install appropriate water conservation irrigation for your garden. Then, we will plant your garden according to your custom design. We will water in the plants thoroughly and leave you with detailed instructions for post-planting garden care.

Step 4: Caring for Your New Edible Garden

Caring for your garden yourself

Should you choose to maintain your garden yourself, the detailed instructions in our garden care guidelines should give you a good foundation for you to start with. You should expect to spend anywhere between three and ten hours in your garden each week. We are available to answer questions that may arise as you learn how to tend your new garden.

Hiring Garden Fare to care for your garden

Alternatively, we will be glad to take care for your garden for you, on an ongoing basis. In doing so we can maintain the health of your growing plants, make any necessary changes to the watering schedule, address pest, disease and other problems that arise, do routine soil cultivation and weeding, coordinate successional plantings, prepare seasonal beds, and, once the plants are ready to eat, harvest your fresh vegetables! We will harvest your garden and leave a basket of freshly picked vegetables at your door each week. Please speak with us to choose your garden care services and schedule.