GARDEN NEWS: 

December 4, 2025 — Come to our organizational meeting where applications will be accepted for 2026 Jarvis Street Garden spaces. The meeting will be held on Saturday December 13 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm at St. Peter's See House, 611 Lincoln Street. We'll be discussing all the various aspects of how we expect the garden to operate, and we'll briefly go over the Rules for Gardeners. This is the first opportunity for Sitka residents to submit applications for garden spaces at the Jarvis Street Community Garden for the 2026 growing season. Applications will continue to be accepted through January 31. We have two types of spaces available: standard 10' by 20' plots which rent for $55/per season, and smaller 2' by 8' climbing beds which rent for $10 per season (note that even though we call them 'climbing beds' because they are meant to accommodate tall growing plants like pea vines or sun flowers, they can be used to grow other varieties too.) Garden space assignments will be made using a process of randomly pairing applicants with available spaces, with results announced in February after the application period closes. Rental fee payments will be required to accompany applications. At this time, garden space rentals will be limited to a maximum of one standard plot and/or one climbing bed per household or organization. They will be assigned mostly on a first-come-first-serve basis. We will suspend accepting applications when we reach the Jarvis Garden's capacity - 45 plots and 18 climbing beds.

August 28, 2025 — Big News this time!

Transition Sitka Selected by Philanthropy Northwest to Receive $345,000 EPA-Backed Grant for Jarvis Street Community Garden

Transition Sitka announced this week that it has been selected by Philanthropy Northwest to receive a $345,000 grant through the Thriving Communities Program, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award will support the development of the Jarvis Street Community Garden, a project aimed at enhancing local food security, sustainable community resilience and cooperative civic engagement.

Over the next two years, Transition Sitka’s grant will enable major improvements to be made to the garden site, including the building of a modest multipurpose structure incorporating under a single roof an open-sided shelter, an enclosed storage room and a restroom. Once complete, the garden will offer:

·      A locally cultivated source of healthy produce, reducing reliance on imported goods.

·      Opportunities for residents to engage in and learn more about organic gardening.

·      A hub for promoting community health, connection, and resilience.

“We are deeply honored to receive this grant from Philanthropy Northwest,” said Barbara Bingham, President of Transition Sitka. “This funding ensures that we’ll be able to provide community members with a substantial number of gardening spaces by spring of next year, and hopefully have all spaces at the Jarvis Street Garden growing healthy food by spring of 2027.”

For more information, contact Project Manager Joel Hanson at 907-747-9834, or submit email inquiries to transitionsitka@gmail.com.

July 7, 2025 – Sitka Community Gardens is accepting plot sign-ups for the Jarvis St. Community Garden, opening to the public Spring of 2026. Signing up confirms your priority for a space based on sign-up date, plots will be assigned and plot/garden membership fee will be collected after the new year, likely in February. Message us with your contact information to be added to the list, and with any questions you have. We’ll reply asap. 

June 5, 2025 - The Jarvis Street Community Garden will be under construction during 2025 with the goal of making garden plots available for assignment to individuals and groups in 2026. Volunteers are needed this summer to help move the project forward, including by building, planting and tending several demonstration plots. Work party and other organized volunteer opportunities can be found on the Donate your time page. Additional volunteer opportunities can be arranged by contacting Jarvis Street Community Garden Project Manager Joel Hanson at (907) 738-1033.