Bring neighbors together, create greener spaces, and grow fresh food with a thriving community garden!
Whether you're transforming an empty lot or creating a shared space in your neighborhood, we hope this guide will help you get started.
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Why Community Gardens Matter
Why Community Gardens Matter
Build Stronger Communities
Build Stronger Communities
Community gardens bring people together by creating shared spaces of people with common goals of growing fresh, shared produce. These gardens encourage teamwork, social connection and reduce isolation in both rural and urban areas. They also often host education community events to strengthen community bonds.
Increase Food Security & Access to Fresh Food
Increase Food Security & Access to Fresh Food
Community gardens provide fresh fruits and vegetables to those who may have limited access to affordable, healthy food. They can reduce grocery costs, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and improve food security, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
Improve the Environment
Improve the Environment
Community gardens help improve air quality, support pollinators such as bees and butterflies, reduce urban heat, and create green spaces that benefit wildlife. They can also reduce stormwater runoff, recycle organic waste through composting, and encourage sustainable gardening practices.
Support Health and Well Being
Support Health and Well Being
Gardening provides regular physical activity, reduces stress, and supports mental health by allowing people to spend time outdoors and connect with nature. Eating fresh produce grown in community gardens also contributes to a healthier diet and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
"Flowers grow in flower gardens, vegetables grow in vegetable gardens, communities grow in community gardens."
"Flowers grow in flower gardens, vegetables grow in vegetable gardens, communities grow in community gardens."
How to Start a Community Garden
How to Start a Community Garden
- Plan and Organize
Planning and organizing will be where you put in most of your work for a community garden. Choose a location with plenty of sunlight, access to water, and good soil. Form a team by gathering interested neighbors or community members, set goals for the garden, decide what will be grown, and create a plan for shared responsibilities. Be sure to get permission from the landowner if needed and make a budget for supplies.
- Build It
Prepare the land by removing weeds and testing the soil (if possible). Choose weather you will build raised beds or just plant in ground. Mark planting areas, install paths, and make sure there is easy access to water. Add compost or fertilizer if needed, and gather gardening tools, seeds, and plants. Organize a volunteer workday to help build the garden together.
- Grow and Sustain
Start with easy crops. Find what will grow best where you live or what's in demand in your community. Create a schedule for watering, weeding, and harvesting. Encourage gardeners to share knowledge and work together to solve problems like pests or plant diseases. Make sure people know that the garden is a community space. Host group events and get your neighbors in the garden!
Tips for success
Tips for success
Start small and expand as interest grows.
Communicate regularly with participants.
Welcome gardeners of all experience levels.
Prioritize accessibility and inclusion.
Celebrate milestones and recognize volunteers.
Resources
Resources
Considerations for Starting a Community Garden, Urban Harvest https://www.urbanharvest.org/gardens/starting-a-community-garden/
The Best Vegetables to Grow in a Community Garden Plot, The Creative Vegetable Farmer https://www.creativevegetablegardener.com/grow-community-garden-plot/
How My Little Community Garden Plot Went From Flop To Flourish, Carolyn Beans (NPR) https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/17/543421360/how-my-little-community-garden-plot-went-from-flop-to-flourish
Developing and Maintaining a Community Garden, Productive Parks https://productiveparks.com/developing-and-maintaining-community-garden
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