An important seasonal topic that can continue during the COVID-19 pandemic is growing and eating fresh local produce. Good news: whether you grow a garden or not, local Ohio farmers are committed to supplying us with fresh produce during the growing season.
Vegetable gardening offers easy access to fresh, in-season produce for all ages and abilities. Ohio State University Extension suggests:
- It’s OK to dream big and start small. Whether you grow in containers on a patio, in a school or community garden plot or in your front or back yard, make the best choices for your growing space, interest and goals.
- Learn about the plants you would like to grow.
- Know your local resources like your county Extension office.
- Be familiar with potential challenges and possible solutions. Your county Extension office might have a Horticulture Hotline. If not, there’s a state-wide Ask A Master Gardener site.
- Use food safe practices in the garden, from the garden to the kitchen and in the kitchen.
- Enjoy yourself and your fresh produce.
- Share your success stories and share your extra produce.
While vegetable gardening is a timeless topic, we will note a few things special to the 2020 growing season:
- Please respect social distancing and other recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health. This is especially important at community places such as stores to purchase supplies and also when visiting and working at community garden sites.
- Follow all previous recommendations for food safety. Although Covid-19 transmission from food has not been shown, everyone should continue to follow good hygiene practices (i.e., wash hands and surfaces often, separate raw meat from other foods, cook to the right temperature, refrigerate foods promptly) when handling or preparing foods.
- Most likely, different local services as well as national and international ones will be disrupted due to COVID-19. For example, we encourage gardeners to do a soil test but sites like University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory share the following message: “All onsite work at the Soil & Plant Nutrient Testing Lab has been temporarily suspended due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. We are not accepting new samples for analysis at this time. Current turnaround time is not known.” The OSU Extension FactSheet on Soil Testing includes a list of both private and public labs and some of the labs are accepting soil samples. Please reach out directly to the labs for their current hours and services provided. Reach out to local stores and greenhouses to know their current shopping and sale practices as well.
- Gardening offers many benefits. In 2020, we hope that your garden can offer some stress-reduction, fresh air and tasty treats!
Writer: Patrice Powers-Barker, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Lucas County.
Reviewer: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Perry County.
Links from post:
Beam, B. (2020). Directory of Lucas Food Producers. Ohio State University. Retrieved 05/08/2020 from https://u.osu.edu/localfoodproducers/
Boggs, J.. Meyer, C., Gao, G. and Chatfield, J. (2017). Soil Testing for Ohio Lawns, Landscapes, Fruit Crops, and Vegetable Gardens. Retrieved 05/08/2020 https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1132
Darnton, J., and McGuire, L. (2014). What are the physical and mental benefits of gardening? Michigan State University Extension. Retrieved 05/08/20 from
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_are_the_physical_and_mental_benefits_of_gardening
Food Safety for Consumers, Specialty Crop Producers and Marketers during Covid-19 (2020). Retrieved 05/08/2020 from
Hill, M., (5 May 2020). Considerations for vegetable gardening. Ohio State University Extension. Retrieved 05/08/2020 from https://wayne.osu.edu/news/considerations-vegetable-gardening
North Carolina State University, (2020) Handling Covid-19, Guidance for Community Gardens. Retrieved 05/08/20 from https://fcs.osu.edu/sites/fcs/files/imce/PDFs/COVID/OSU_Community%20Gardens_COVID-19_042120.pdf
Powers-Barker, P. (2018). Fresh, Safe Garden Produce, Live Smart Ohio. Retrieved 05/08/2020 from https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/food/powers-barker-1osu-edu/fresh-safe-garden-produce/
Photos: pixabay and Lawrence, E. (2020)
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