This page has links and information from both OSU Extension as well as partners such as Franklin County and the USDA. It has information to assist new growers as well as seasoned growers on topics including basic growing, season extension, starting a food business, keeping backyard poultry, and much more. Please reach out to mcdermott.15@osu.edu if you have questions or if you find a broken link so I can repair it.
Garden Planning Fact Sheet – Brand new? Here is where to start.
Want to learn how to grow all year long? Check out the Full Year of Growing page with 33 pieces of content organized chronologically to assist new to intermediate growers.
Landing Page for City of Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan. This has the link to the urban agriculture information for the City and the County.
OSU’s Knowledge Exchange has an amazing map of Ohio’s Food System that is searchable on many levels.
OSU Extension Franklin County has a YouTube channel with a ton of videos to check out
OSU Extension Franklin County partnered with NBC4 WCMH Columbus for Extension Today: over 50 kid-safe, short, and engaging videos on a ton of food production and preparation topics.
Farm Management and Farm Law
OSU Extension has excellent information to assist growers with farm taxes, farm management, and farm law:
- CLICK HERE for the 2019 link to Tax Practitioners –> Ag Tax Preparer List Jan 2019 Final
- OSUE Farm Office: Ag law and farm management
- Grants and Loans for Ohio Small Farms
NEW FARMER LINKS AND INFORMATION: I will update as I find new good information.
- Beginning Farmers.org – Planning Page
- AgPlan – planning app
- USDA New Farmers Website
- USDA National Agricultural Statistics
- USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loans
HIGH TUNNEL INFORMATION: Please refer to the Local Food Action Plan link if you are a Franklin County producer and have high tunnel installation and zoning questions.
- High Tunnel Page with excellent technical references and links for growers including both high and mid-tunnels as well as irrigation, installer, and supplier info.
- High tunnel research on Vegetable Production Lab website
- Vegetable Grafting website
Want to Keep Backyard Poultry?
I am also a Team Member for the POULTRY TEAM at Ohio State. This is a collaboration with State Extension Vets, Educators in AG and 4-H, as well as backyard enthusiasts to provide knowledge that all groups can use.
Midwest Vegetable Guide: Excellent resource for growers that have questions regarding pests
OSU Extension has an amazing resource of online free Fact Sheet call Ohioline.
- Ohioline
- Check below for some Fact Sheet on common fruit and vegetables, there are lots more you can find when you search Ohioline:
Vegetable Factsheets for home growers:
Fruit Factsheets for home growers:
Are you interested in getting started in Hydroponics?
Optimia University has a free self-paced course designed to reach the basic knowledge of hydroponic systems built in collaboration with OSU faculty. CLICK HERE for the LINK.
POND INFORMATION
- OSU School of Environment and Natural Resources Pond Page
- USDA Ponds: Planning and Design – outstanding free large PDF resource
Are you interested in starting a food business? I have two great resources to share.
- Franklin County Food Business Portal – web page with links to assist you to succeed in getting your food business started.
- OSU Extension Food Business Central Online Course. Self-paced, $25 dollars. Flyer with course registration –> Food_Business_Central_Course_Promotional_Flyer
Other Helpful Links:
OSU Extension FREE guide to vegetable grafting (requires submit for download)
OSU Extension’s Integrated Pest Management YouTube channel
ATTRA is the National Sustainable Agricultural Assistance Program. Their publication list has literally hundreds of links to free PDF’s as well a some for a small fee on every topic you can imagine in Agriculture including but not limited to horticulture, small farms, herbs, flowers, fruit, vegetables, animals, etc. You get the idea ———> CLICK HERE FOR PUBLICATION LIST
Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide ——> CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO LIST
Protecting Pollinators in the Landscape ——> LINK TO THE PDF
Pond Management —–> Free 20 page PDF from Purdue Extension
Ohio State Weed Management Website
Minnesota Extension has a great website on diagnosing plant/tree/flower/etc ——> CLICK FOR LINK
Excellent OSU website to diagnose problems in ears of corn
Weed Control in Pastures presentation – good pictures with references and control information
Got a problem with a tree? You may need an Arborist to help you: