Using and sharing techniques

Techniques are growing methods written up by gardeners. They can describe a way of supporting plants, caring for soil, starting seeds, or another practice you want to try. Published techniques are available to read without an account.

#Find a method

Open techniques from Learn. Search for a crop or method, then read the instructions and any related plant information. Sections can include photos to show details that are hard to describe in words.

The “From Grow Food Together” badge identifies the supplied editorial guides. It describes where the guide comes from, not a guarantee that the method will work in every garden. Consider your plants, conditions, and the author’s observations when deciding what to try.

#Add it to your garden

Sign in and choose a garden from the technique’s page, then select Add to garden. You need permission to edit that garden. You can also browse and add techniques from the garden’s techniques page.

Adding a technique keeps it with that garden’s methods. It does not create an activity or mean you have already used it. You can remove the association later.

Some techniques include a named activity action, such as “Spray off bugs.” Once you add the technique, that action appears under From your techniques in the activity form. Choose it when logging the work. Your activity links back to the technique so you can remember the method you followed.

Techniques without an activity action can still be added for reference. You can describe using one in an ordinary activity note.

#Ask questions and share observations

The questions and experiences section lets you ask about the instructions or say what happened when you tried the method. Include context that helps another grower understand the result: your crop, growing space, conditions, and any changes you made. A single result may not apply to every garden.

Comments on published techniques are public. You can reply to another comment; the technique author and the person you reply to can receive notifications. You can delete your own comment or report someone else’s for review.

Show interest records that a technique interests you. The button changes to Interested; select it again to remove your interest. This does not add the technique to a garden or subscribe you to updates.

#Write your own

Choose New technique to start. Give it a descriptive title and explain what it helps with. Add sections for the materials, instructions, conditions where you tried it, and what to watch for afterward. Photos can illustrate each step. Include sources when drawing on advice from elsewhere, and distinguish your own observations from general recommendations.

If the method involves work someone would log, give it an action name and choose an activity type. This is optional. It connects the guide to the activity form when someone adds it to a garden.

A new technique is private to its author and site administrators. Save it, then choose Submit for review when you want to share it publicly. A moderator reviews it before publication. If it is not approved, read the note, edit it, and submit it again when ready.