How To Form A Community Garden

Websites to Find and Join Community Gardens

National & Regional Organizations

American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) –
National directory with interactive map of community gardens across the US and Canada

ACGA Garden Map – garden
Searchable map tool to find gardens by location with detailed information

USDA People’s Garden Initiative – https://www.usda.gov/peoples-garden
Federal resources for community gardening with national network connections

Northeast

Boston Community Garden Directory – https://www.boston.gov/departments/growboston/community-garden-and-urban-farm-directory
Official Boston city directory with 175+ gardens

Washington DC Parks & Recreation Community Gardens – https://dpr.dc.gov/page/community-gardens
DC’s official community garden directory and contact information

New York GreenThumb – https://www.nyc.gov/html/dpr/html/greenthumb.html
NYC’s community garden program with 550+ gardens

Boston Community Garden Directory – https://www.boston.gov/departments/growboston/community-garden-and-urban-farm-directory
175 community gardens across 11 neighborhoods

Philadelphia Community Gardens – https://www.phila.gov/programs/farmphilly/gardening/#community-gardens-network
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation garden listing

Vermont Garden Network – https://vtgardens.org/
Supports 370+ community and school gardens across Vermont

Grow Pittsburgh – https://www.growpittsburgh.org/
Interactive urban garden map for Pittsburgh area gardens

Gather New Haven Community Gardens – https://gathernewhaven.org/our-programs/community-gardens/
Supports 40+ community gardens throughout New Haven

West Coast

Seattle P-Patch Program – https://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/p-patch-gardening
An extensive network of 88+ community gardens

Los Angeles Community Garden Council – https://www.lagardencouncil.org/
Directory of LA community gardens with membership information

Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) – https://dug.org/
Network of 200+ community gardens across metro Denver

San Francisco Recreation & Parks Community Gardens – https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Community-Gardens-146
35+ city-managed community gardens

Portland Community Gardens – https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/39846
Portland Parks & Recreation community garden listings

Midwest

Chicago Urban Agriculture Mapping Project – https://cuamp.org/
Maps and resources for Chicago area gardens

Illinois Extension Community Gardens – https://extension.illinois.edu/community-gardens
Resources for Illinois community gardening

Austin Community Gardens – https://www.austintexas.gov/department/community-gardens-program
Austin’s community garden program and locations

Minneapolis Community Gardens – https://www.minneapolisparks.org/activities__events/gardens_nature/community_gardens/
Minneapolis Parks community garden directory

Southeast

Richmond Grows Gardens – https://www.richmondgrowsgardens.org/
Network of 24+ community gardens across Richmond city

North Carolina Community Garden Partners (NCCGP) – https://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.edu/
Statewide network directory with interactive map

Coalition of Community Gardens (West Central Florida) – https://coalitionofcommunitygardens.org/
Network of 60+ community gardens across 5 counties in West Central Florida

Specialty Organizations

Slow Food USA Community Gardens – https://slowfoodusa.org/network/chapters/
Slow Food’s garden-to-table community connections

Urban Agriculture Network – https://ruaf.org/
International urban agriculture and community garden resources

Food and Agriculture Organization Community Gardens – http://www.fao.org/urban-agriculture/en/
UN FAO urban agriculture and community garden resources

How to Use These Resources

Getting Started:

1. Begin with your local city or state listings
2. Contact garden coordinators directly via email
3. Visit gardens during open hours to meet members
4. Join waiting lists early as popular gardens often have queues
5. Attend community meetings and volunteer workdays

What to Expect:

• Annual fees typically range from $15-$75
• Plot sizes usually 10’×15′ to 20’×20′
• Most gardens require volunteer hours
• Water access and basic tools often provided
• Organic gardening practices commonly required

Tips for Success:

• Visit multiple gardens before committing
• Ask about garden rules and community culture
• Check if the garden fits your schedule and accessibility needs
• Consider starting with a smaller plot if you’re a beginner
• Connect with experienced gardeners for mentorship