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Across the globe, interest in backyard food production is soaring. Google searches for “growing vegetables” are higher than ever before, seed companies are selling out, and consumers are concerned with empty supermarket shelves. As we work to enhance our local food security, gardening plays a key role in personal and community resilience. We are defining resilience gardening as any level of edible (culinary and medicinal) plant production that is not sold on a commercial scale. This may include potted plants, edible landscape, gardens in yards or larger shared plots.
5B Resilience Gardens is a collaboration between Local Food Alliance, Wood River Seed Library, University of Idaho Extension & 4-H, Sawtooth Botanical Garden, Wood River Community YMCA, Wood River Land Trust, Upper Big Wood River Grange and gardeners throughout our valley.
Join The Movement
Do you have a garden or grow food? Interested gardeners can join the 5B Resilience Gardens initiative by completing a membership survey. Once the survey is completed, a 5B Resilience Gardens representative will provide additional information to each prospective member based upon survey responses.
Our Guiding Principles
Gardens are unique to each individual and each space. While honoring the diversity and individuality of each garden, it was important for us to identify guiding principles that all resilience gardens share. 5B Resilience Gardens embrace at least one principle per section.
FOOD PRODUCTION
Food production for self and family (including veggies, fruits, berries, herbs, grains, seeds & nuts)
Food harvest shared with neighbors and community
Seed saving and sharing, starting seedlings from seeds, propagating perennials
Chickens and egg production
Bees for honey
POLLINATORS
Plants to feed pollinators and birds
Plants to feed predators of garden pests
Plant diversity - flowers and trees, including native plants, various sizes and colors of flowers, from early spring to late fall
Zero insecticide or pesticide (Ecological Pest Management (EPM) strategies)
“Messy” late fall and early spring yards, providing habitat materials for birds & insects & their eggs
SOIL CARE
Wise use of water (drip, minimum but sufficient, sunken water delivery, timed with weather and heat of day)
Organic fertilizing methods (No synthetic fertilizers), including manure, compost, Hugelkultur, blood meal, etc.
Composting of all kitchen, yard and garden waste
Environmentally friendly & regenerative soil cultivation practices, including permaculture, no or low till gardening, forking
Soil protection with mulch to maintain the microbiome & fertility, and reduce evapotranspiration
Gardening Resources
We have incredible gardening knowledge within our community. Many thanks to Manon Gaudreau, master gardener, and co-manager of the Wood River Seed Library, for putting together handouts and gardening info specific to our region. You can find these resources at the links below:
Local Planting Calendar/Schedule
Plant & Seed Varieties Selected for Our Growing Region
Growing Tomatoes, Peppers, and Cucumbers
Growing Tomatoes Webinar Recording
Season Extenders for the Garden
Soil Microbiome - handouts, Zoom recording, and more
Wood River Victory Garden Course on YouTube
Victory Garden Course via University of Idaho
Lynea Petty, Food Production Manager at The Hunger Coalition, writes a blog sharing her gardening tips and tricks.
UI Extension Publication: Planning an Idaho Vegetable Garden
UI Extension Publication: Selecting Varieties Adapted to Our Climate
Blaine County Water Conservation Guidelines
Compost, Plant Starts, Seeds, & Gardening Supplies:
Wood River Seed Library
Please join our Facebook group to connect with gardeners in the area to share information, tools, supplies, and more. Join us on May 30 for a tailgate-style Plant & Seed Exchange at the Upper Big Wood River Grange, 10am-Noon. Our seed library is housed in the Hailey Public Library and will be accessible soon. We have been distributing seeds directly. Review the inventory here and send your requests to woodriverseedlibrary@gmail.com.
Winn’s Compost
Currently carries a premium compost and a landscape compost, topsoil and mulch. Premium compost is $60 per yard and landscape compost is $40 per yard. Delivery charge $30.
Webb Nurseries: Bellevue, Ketchum
Both stores are open to the public. Getting new plant material in every day including a variety of early season veggie/herb starts, perennials. They have garden supplies including gloves, tools, seeds, compost, soils, they do not carry peat moss.
Sun Valley Garden Center: Bellevue
Currently open to the public
Stocked with a variety of veggie starts including tomatoes, herbs and other early season veggies. Getting new plant material in every day. They have a variety of garden supplies. Gloves, tools, bed materials: weed barriers, compost and soils.
Idaho Lumber: Hailey
Currently carrying a variety of gardening tools, gloves and other supplies. They have bagged compost and soils.
