Fresh Food Gardens

03/30/2026

Early spring planting is all about the soil temperature.

Even after a few warm days if your soil temps are still in the 30s, nothing’s really happening. Seeds just sit there.

A simple soil thermometer makes a big difference. It takes the guesswork out and lets you know when it’s actually time.

Right now, our uncovered beds are still below 40°, but inside the cold frame we’re over 50°. That 10–15 degree bump is enough to get things moving.

That’s why we’re comfortable seeding things like arugula and spinach in there expecting that they should germinate within about a week at those temps.

Before planting we prep the soil with some kelp meal and an all-purpose fertilizer. These beds were put to bed well last fall, so they don’t need much right now. Maybe top off with a little compost soon.

I got a couple of rows in today and we’ll check back next week to see how things are coming along and decide on the next row of successions.

01/01/2026

January at Fresh Food Gardens Is All About Planning for the Season Ahead 🌱 - https://mailchi.mp/249edad4a9ef/planning-for-a-beautiful-2025-garden-12847755

10/16/2025

Fall Cleanups! 🍁🍂 - https://mailchi.mp/2250dbebb5cc/planning-for-a-beautiful-2025-garden-12847185
Fall is here! As leaves turn and the season cools, it’s the perfect time to tidy your garden for winter and start thinking ahead to next spring’s growth.

05/02/2025

This Isn’t Just Gardening, It’s the Fresh Food Gardens Way! 🪴 - https://mailchi.mp/268753d4e29f/planning-for-a-beautiful-2025-garden-12845868

04/08/2025

🥒🌶️🫑With produce about to be affected by rising prices due to tariffs now is the time to get your own vegetable garden going!! Give us a call to get on the books!!!🥬🥕🧅🥔🥦

Official Start of Our Garden Season!🪴 - https://mailchi.mp/23be988851b9/planning-for-a-beautiful-2025-garden-12845653

04/01/2025

Official Start of Our Garden Season!🪴 - https://mailchi.mp/23be988851b9/planning-for-a-beautiful-2025-garden-12845653

12/06/2024

Dear Friends,
As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished together in 2024. It has been a remarkable season of growth, service, and connection through Fresh Food Gardens.

This year marked our busiest installation season yet! From custom raised beds to trellises and critter-proof garden fencing, we’ve been thrilled to help so many families and communities bring their garden dreams to life. These installations are more than just structures; they are spaces where food grows, memories are made, and the joy of gardening flourishes.

We also transitioned our home garden into a small urban farm, providing fresh weekly vegetable bags to three families and selling the rest in our Farm Stand. This experiment was a success, and we’re planning to expand it in 2025—stay tuned for details on how you can sign up for a subscription to our weekly produce bags!

Community service continues to be at the heart of what we do. Partnering with local organizations like Cultivating Community and volunteers, we had the privilege of supporting gardens across Portland, helping build spaces that foster connection, sustainability, and access to fresh food.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to offer off-season workshops in our home farm, where you can learn practical skills like Garden Planning for maximum success. These workshops are perfect for gardeners of all skill levels and a great way to prepare for the growing season ahead. Coming up for January and February, stay tuned for details on how to register!

Finally, we remain committed to offering maintenance services that make it easy for families to enjoy a thriving garden all season long. From Spring planting to ongoing weekly care, we handle all the details so you can enjoy the harvest. Spots are filling up quickly, contact us right away for a 2025 season maintenance proposal.

Thank you for making 2024 such a fulfilling year. We’re looking forward to growing with you in 2025 and beyond!

Roberto Rodriguez
Owner, Fresh Food Gardens



https://mailchi.mp/8d7d73302207/its-time-to-schedule-your-garden-fall-cleanup-12834661

11/05/2024

Fall and Winter is usually the quiet time of the year for gardeners, but it’s actually the best time to lay the groundwork for a productive growing season. During these months, we have the time to evaluate what worked (and didn’t) last year, build a strategy for crop rotation, and plan out bed prep.

Garden consults are one of my favorite parts of the job! I always aim to make things super simple for gardeners and love to share many of the successful techniques and practices I’ve learned over the years to fit their specific goals. This one hour consult could be the best investment you make for your garden this year!

Don’t wait for Spring to start thinking about your garden! Scheduling a consultation now means we can take a proactive approach, customized just for you. From addressing soil health and designing crop layouts to recommending the right seeds and seedlings, a Winter consult will set you up for success come Springtime. Let’s use this quieter season to lay the foundation for a flourishing, productive garden—call today to schedule your consult!

 
   

10/11/2024

End Of Season Sale! -

As the gardening season winds down, it’s the perfect time to prepare your garden for a strong start next year. Fresh Food Gardens is excited to offer special deals on some of our most popular items and services to help you extend your growing season and get ready for 2025! Reply to this email or f...

09/04/2024

Check out this 4’ x 4’ cold frame we custom built and just delivered today for one of our repeat clients! 🌱

Cold frames are an excellent addition to a home garden allowing you to extend the growing season. By capturing sunlight and insulating plants, they provide a warm environment for crops even as temperatures drop. Perfect for starting seeds earlier in Spring and keeping hardy vegetables, like leafy greens and herbs, growing through the colder Fall months.

We are waiting for the automatic vent opener to be delivered next week. Once installed it will open and close the top as the temperatures rise making sure your plants have the perfect temperature without the need for constant monitoring.

08/30/2024

I don’t usually note the weight of our tomatoes but since I don’t recall growing one this large before, wanted to get an idea of their weight. Well, just over 2lbs is a lot of tomato!!
These are Striped German variety from 🍅