"The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command." J.R.R. Tolkien

Everyone should endeavor to grow some of their own food. Oklahoma is blessed with great weather for home gardeners, and there are many local resources to help people do this.

And when you think about growing food, broaden your horizons a bit to include what is known as "permaculture," which is using perennial food producing plants as part of your home's landscaping. Gardening does not have to be confined to a corner of your back yard, your entire yard is potentially a beautiful, food producing garden. If you'd like some advice about permaculture, call me at 405-613-4688. We are currently cultivating 105 edible or useful plants on our former yard, 67 of which are perennials. Bob Waldrop


OK Organic Community Gardens There are some gardens sprouting up - anyone interested in learning about or getting involved with organic community gardening in Oklahoma call the Urban Harvest program at the Regional Food Bank.
 
Next to Nature, Thom Marak, 203-9410. Next To Nature is a family owned business in Norman, OK. Regardless of the season, now is the time to get our gardens in. It's also time to set up raised beds, compost and vermicompost bins. We have a growing line of gardening products such as corn gluten meal, organic soil amendments, predatory insects and beneficial pathogens. If you have a pest or a need in the garden, we have the solution. You can garden in your own back yard in the not-so-dead of winter. It's fun! Next To Nature is dedicated to organic gardening in Oklahoma. Get Next To Nature, garden organically! Thom Marak, 203-9410. Next To Nature is a family owned business in Norman, OK. Regardless of the season, now is the time to get our gardens in. It's also time to set up raised beds, compost and vermicompost bins. We have a growing line of gardening products such as corn gluten meal, organic soil amendments, predatory insects and beneficial pathogens. If you have a pest or a need in the garden, we have the solution. You can garden in your own back yard in the not-so-dead of winter. It's fun! Next To Nature is dedicated to organic gardening in Oklahoma. Get , garden organically!
 

Oklahoma Organic Gardening Association, Meets the fourth Friday of each month except November and December, 7 PM, OSU Extension Center,. 930 N. Portland, OKC, auditorium on the northside, has nice newsletter, dues are $12/year, POB 75602, OKC, OK 73147.

Oklahoma City Herb Society, meets the first Monday of each month, 7 PN, Will Rogers Garden Center, OKC. Dues are $15/year. Contacts: Rita Holder, 405.390.8513, Glynnda Johnson, 405.524.1000.

Oklahoma Native Plant Society, c/o Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 South Peoria, Tulsa, 74114, encouraging the study, protection, propagation, appreciation and use of Oklahoma's native plants. http://www.usao.edu/~onps/.
Oklahoma Herb Growers and Marketers Association, POB 700991, Tulsa, OK 74170; 981-481-0464 (note: that's the phone number given on the listing I found, it should probably be area code 918 rather than 981). Send a SASE for brochure.

Oklahoma Fruit Growers Association. This groups meets once a year (in January) as part of the Arkansas/Oklahoma Horticulture Industries Show. Contact the Tulsa Cooperative Extension office (918-746-3707) in early November for registration information. The Oklahoma Fruit Growers Association also publishes Oklahoma Fruit Review, a quarterly newsletter. For membership contact: Dr. Dean McCraw, OSU Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture 360 Ag Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078. 405-744-5405

Oklahoma Organic Certification Program, Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture, 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., OKC, 73105, 405-521-3864.

Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association (OPGA) is an educational and advocacy group that gives a voice to Oklahoma's pecan industry. Membership is $30 per year, which includes a very informative quarterly newsletter, subscription to Pecan South magazine and discounts on registration at the annual OPGA meeting. Held every June, this two-day meeting includes educational talks, a trade show and an excellent "hands-on" field day. To join contact: Don Gray, OPGA treasurer, Route 2, Box 22, Vinita, OK 74301.

Cherokee Small Farm Project, small farm information for Cherokees and others. Weekly meetings at Restaurant of the Cherokees in Tahlequah; contact Kathy Carter at the Cherokee Nation headquarters in Tahlequah or visit Cherokee Small Farm discussion group.

New Okie Pioneers, on line discussion group for people interested in homesteading, back to the land, in north Texas and Oklahoma. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewOkiePioneers.

Harn Homestead, located at 313 NE 13th in Oklahoma City, an 1889 homestead, has an heirloom herb garden, 1900 working farm, 1890 Shepherd house, and 1897 one room school. http://www.harnhomestead.com

Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, POB 588, Poteau, 74953, 918.647.9123. working farm, research, demonstration projects, on-line information. On-line library and links. http://www.kerrcenter.com/.

Overstreet Kerr Historical Farm 918.966.3396. showcasing late 19th and early 20th century farm life and technology. Preserves heirloom livestock and plants. Near Keota. On the second Saturday of October, they have a Fall Farm Fest, with demonstrations of 100 year old farming activities.

Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma. Lots of information for people growing food, for themselves or for market. Plentiful info on growing in raised beds and in hoop houses. http://www.noble.org/

Rhizosphere II: resources from Steve Diver, one of the best collections of web resources for growers (both urban gardeners and producers for market) I have found, Steve is with our near neighbors in Fayetteville, Arkansas at Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, and their website is a gold mine too.

Fukuoka Natural Farming, not located in Oklahoma, but provides a wealth of information about all natural no till farming and gardening. http://www.fukuokafarmingol.net/index.html

Permaculture Activist is the closest thing to a "national headquarters" for the permaculture movement in the US of A. A national journal, website has lots of links and info about permaculture, also has permaculture books available. http://www.permacultureactivist.net/