The Rental Farmer

06/09/2026

The Tomato That Feeds More Than One Family

06/06/2026

One of the most common questions I hear is:

"What can I plant that will actually survive here?"

Southern Utah gardening comes with unique challenges: heat, wind, alkaline soils, and limited water. The good news? Plenty of beautiful plants love our climate.

Here are five of my favorites:

Lavender
Drought-tolerant, fragrant, pollinator-friendly, and beautiful nearly year-round.

Penstemon
A native favorite that attracts hummingbirds and thrives in our dry conditions.

Yarrow
Tough, resilient, and one of the easiest pollinator plants you'll ever grow.

Catmint
Long-lasting blooms, low water needs, and bees absolutely love it.

Russian Sage
One of the hardest-working plants in a Southern Utah landscape. Thrives in heat, poor soil, and drought.

The best gardens aren't necessarily the ones that need the most water. They're the ones planted with species that belong in our climate.

Which of these do you already grow, or which one would you like to add to your garden this year?

This plant list comes from my Blooms All Year Long guide, designed specifically for Southern Utah gardeners looking for beautiful, water-wise landscapes that support pollinators and thrive in our desert climate.

06/05/2026

Happy World Environment Day!!!

Sometimes helping the environment looks a lot smaller than people think.

It might look like:
Harvesting fruit that would otherwise fall to the ground.
Sharing extra garden plants with a neighbor.
Turning leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps into compost.
Planting flowers that support pollinators.
Capturing rainwater and slowing runoff.
Growing even a small portion of your own food.

At Community Roots, we believe environmental stewardship starts close to home.

Not because any one garden will change the world overnight. But because thousands of small actions create healthier soil, less waste, stronger local food systems, cleaner neighborhoods, and more resilient communities.

Every fruit tree harvested.
Every compost pile started.
Every garden bed planted.
Every volunteer hour shared.

It all matters.

This World Environment Day, don't worry about doing everything. Just do one good thing where you are.

Nature has a way of multiplying small acts of kindness.

06/04/2026

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ROOTS?

Imagine if every fruit tree, compost pile, seed packet, extra tomato plant, volunteer hour, and unused garden tool had a place to go.

Imagine neighbors sharing abundance instead of letting it go to waste.

Imagine schools growing food with students.

Imagine community gardens built from donated materials.

Imagine surplus harvests finding their way to families who need them.

That's the vision behind Community Roots Iron County.

We're building a community-powered network that connects people, resources, food, and knowledge to create stronger local food security throughout Iron County.

Right now, we're starting with two simple programs:

Iron County Gleaners
Recovering surplus produce and connecting it with local families through Iron County Care & Share.

Community Garden Network
Collecting donated materials like compost, mulch, pallets, plant starts, seeds, soil amendments, tools, and volunteer support to help create food-producing community spaces.

Because food security doesn't begin at the grocery store.

It begins in neighborhoods. It begins in gardens. It begins when communities choose to care for one another.

Want to help?

We're currently looking for:
• Fruit tree owners
• Gardeners with extra produce
• Farmers with surplus harvests
• Businesses with usable materials
• Volunteers who want to make a difference

Together we can grow something bigger than a garden.

06/03/2026

World Bicycle Day: A Different Kind of Harvest

Most people think of bicycles as transportation or a fun weekend activity.

But bicycles can do something else, too.

They can build stronger communities.

When I was young, I learned to glean by bicycle.

A basket, a backpack, and a willingness to help were often all it took to move food from one place to another.

Today, many of our local food security challenges don't require massive solutions.

Sometimes they require neighbors helping neighbors.

A bicycle can carry a bag of apples from a backyard tree.

A basket can deliver extra tomatoes to a family nearby.

A trailer can haul garden tools, seedlings, compost, or produce between community gardens.

Every trip made by bike saves fuel, reduces waste, and keeps resources moving locally.

As Community Roots grows, I'd love to see neighbors helping neighbors in simple ways, whether that's harvesting a fruit tree, sharing extra vegetables, or delivering food across town.

Sometimes changing a community starts with something as simple as two wheels and a willingness to help.

Happy World Bicycle Day!

Let's keep growing stronger communities, one ride at a time.

05/12/2026

Welcome to The Rental Farmer! Now Offering Water-Wise Garden Support in Cedar City

Hi farm friends, I’m Rachel - founder of The Rental Farmer, a regenerative gardening and community food initiative focused on helping everyday people create more functional, manageable outdoor spaces.

After years spent working in pollinator habitat building, food systems, water-wise gardening, and practical regenerative design, I’m excited to begin offering affordable Desert Garden Walkthroughs here in Cedar City.

This service is designed for:
overwhelmed homeowners
beginner gardeners
retirees
busy families
new Southern Utah residents
anyone wanting a lower-maintenance, more functional outdoor space

For $65, I’ll walk your property with you for approximately 2 hours and help you create realistic next steps for your yard, garden, or outdoor space.

We may discuss:
• raised beds
• pollinator-friendly landscaping
• edible plants
• water-wise garden ideas
• practical low-maintenance solutions
• outdoor spaces that better fit your life and energy

This is not a large landscaping package or expensive design consultation: just approachable, practical support for people wanting outdoor spaces that feel more manageable and sustainable in our desert climate.

You’re welcome to tackle projects yourself afterward, or keep my information for future support as needed.

Cedar City & surrounding areas
[email protected]

Simple ideas. Real solutions. Outdoor spaces that work for real life.

04/15/2025

We LOVE our contributors! Check out what some of them are up to with this new Community Focused book! 🥰

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