The Garden Guru

Who we are…

The Garden Guru was established in 2012 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin in response to a perceived need of the citizens of this community for a resource, which comes to them, in order to assist with organic vegetable garden planning, supply acquisition, implementation and harvest.

In our fast-paced society, many find themselves understanding the many benefits in having fresh organic vegetables grown in their own back yard…yet they don’t have the time or knowledge to make this a reality.

With many years of experience to draw on, the Garden Guru is confident to help you plan and carry out the steps necessary to start producing edibles in your own back yard.

Because our experience and knowledgebase goes beyond vegetables, the Garden Guru can assist with selecting, planting and fostering native fruit and nut trees and shrubs as well as flowering perennials to help beautify your property.

And because we are willing to not only work for you, but to also work with you…we can help you to foster a more active lifestyle through self-involvement if desired. We’ll help you take the guesswork out of gardening and turn your backyard into your very own grocery store!


What we do…

The Garden Guru is ready to help with any or all of the following:

Garden Planning
Site Assessment
Use/Needs/Preference Assessment
Soil Analysis - Long-term advising of SFM (Soil Fertility Management)
Design and Layout (to encompass best placement based on elements of nature and aesthetics)
Subsequent year planning

Implementation
Sod Removal
Soil Amendment and preparation
Irrigating/Mulching/Cages/Trellis
Weeding and Watering
End of season winterization

Other Services
Raised/Adaptive bed construction for Elderly and People with Disabilities
Cold frame construction
Hoop house and high tunnel construction
Rain catchment and sand-point well pounding
Compost bin construction
Landscaping to accommodate planning

Education
Calendar for planting/harvesting
Facebook/Email alerts for planting/watering/mulching/harvest
Canning/Recipes
Storage – Root Cellaring
Extending Season

Why we do it…

Reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. On average, produce travels more than 1,500 miles from the industrial farm to the plate. That means one truck load of produce requires over 230 gallons of fuel!

Increase nutritional intake and enjoy a much greater flavor of food. Although the mineral content of food seems to be more related to the geographical location in which the food was grown, nutritional components such as Vitamin C and secondary metabolites (e.g. antioxidants) are much greater in organic food, according to a number of sources. In addition, blind taste tests suggest that fruits and vegetables organically grown make your taste buds happier!

Promote a more active lifestyle. We aim to provide the knowledge and planning that can help the client confidently become active in growing their own produce, thereby providing a wonderful sense of accomplishment. Our level of involvement will be tailored to your individual situation and can be enhanced as time goes by. For those interested, this may result in helping those who are interested to become completely sustainable!

Beautifying homes. There is no question that a green space can bring great aesthetic to any area. With the abundant options of vegetables as well as other native plantings (i.e. fruit/nut trees/shrubs and flowering perennials) when coupled with unlimited design options for each space, ordinary lawns can easily become a landscape of edible beauty.

Strengthening a neighborhood. As a garden and gardener come into their own, a unique palate is created. The harvest of which can result in excess produce that can be shared with neighbors, family and friends. As these contingencies evolve, so will the relationships of the individuals thereby creating stronger communities.
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