Our local community gardens are great organizations that have fun sharing their experiences when gardening with others in the community.  If you are looking for a few additional resources, this page offers topics ranging anywhere from gardening in a container to growing specific crops popular to the Dubuque area.  These resources are available for free from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Thinking about starting your own garden?

Where to put your vegetable garden will be a decision you face when starting a vegetable garden.  This publication on Where to Put Your Vegetable Garden may help

If you live in a more urban area, you may feel that a garden is not possible.  But there are alternatives to the large gardens some other gardeners have.  You can do Small Plot Vegetable Gardening suitable for small backyard lots or even Container Vegetable Gardening suitable for a sunny back porch.

When you have decided where your garden will fit into your landscape you will want to choose what crops you wish to grow.  Many leafy green herbs such as basil and cilantro do well in vegetable container gardens.  If you have a larger in-ground raised bed or larger garden you may wish to grow tomatoes, sweet corn, potatoes, garlic, cole crops, peppers, and onions.  If you are really determined as a beginning gardener you can also consider growing some perennial vegetables which include rhubarb and asparagus.