Apply for a Community Garden Plot
VINES manages 23 community gardens throughout the Greater Binghamton area. You can rent a raised bed or garden plot, which includes fertile soil and access to water, compost, tools, and seeds.
Before applying, review the Community Garden Guidelines.
Questions about plots or garden availability can be sent to communitygardens@vinesgardens.org or answered by calling 607-205-8108. You can also visit VINES YouTube channel for more resources.
Garden Planning and Growing
Community Garden Guidelines
Important information and expectations for participating in a VINES community garden.
Raised Bed Growing Guide
A comprehensive guide to planning, planting, watering, maintaining, and harvesting from a raised bed.
Sample Easy-to-Grow Garden Plan
A simple garden layout for beginning gardeners or anyone looking for an easy starting point.
Growing at Home: A Gardening Guide
Resources for growing food at home in garden beds, raised beds, containers, and other small spaces.
Building a 4-by-10-Foot Raised Bed
Step-by-step instructions for constructing a raised garden bed.
Hardening Off Seedlings
Learn how to gradually prepare indoor-grown seedlings for outdoor conditions before transplanting.
Growing Tomatoes: Planting to Harvest
Guidance on planting, supporting, caring for, and harvesting tomato plants.
Season Extension
Learn how hoop houses and other protective structures can extend the gardening season.
Harvest Guide
Learn when and how to harvest common garden vegetables for the best quality and continued production.
Soil, Compost, and Garden Health
Healthy Soil for Community Gardens
Information about nutrients, organic matter, soil structure, drainage, and maintaining productive garden soil.
How to: Composting
A quick introduction to turning food scraps and yard materials into compost.
Composting at Home
A more detailed guide to starting, maintaining, and using a home compost pile.
Home Garden Insect Control
Identify common garden insects and learn how to reduce plant damage.
Pest Control
Simple preventative strategies for reducing common garden pest problems.
Tomato Diseases and Disorders
Information to help identify common diseases, environmental problems, and other issues affecting tomatoes.
Soil Testing and Lead Safety
Soil around homes built before 1970 or near major highways may contain lead from older paint or leaded gasoline. If you are unsure whether your soil is safe, consider growing food in a raised bed or grow bag filled with clean soil.
Before planting food directly in the ground, consider having your soil tested. A soil test can identify lead contamination and provide information about nutrient levels and pH.
VINES offers free soil testing for community garden members and our neighbors. Availability is limited.
Lead contamination in gardens
Read about possible sources of lead and ways to reduce exposure while gardening.
Order a soil test
Order soil testing through UMass Amherst Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory. We recommend ordering the Standard fertility test for $20. This is the same lab VINES works with for our soil testing.
Broome County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Find local information about lead exposure, prevention, and health concerns.