PUBLIC-ACCESS

GARDENS

OUR PUBLIC-ACCESS GARDENS

We don’t just believe in abundance—we cultivate it.

Our public-access gardens are for everyone. They are special neighborhood locations where everyone is invited to harvest vegetables, herbs, berries and cut flowers. There is something magical about picking and eating food straight from its source; imagine a child tasting a raspberry or a ripe Sungold cherry tomato for the first time, eyes wide with wonder. Without the Giving Gardens, that moment and thousands like it, might never happen.

Gardens, that moment—and thousands like it—might never happen. Beyond growing food, we educate the next generation of gardeners and partner with local organizations to further serve the community. We donate produce to the local food pantry to expand access to quality food. We also offer workshops, hands-on demonstrations, and community events to restore lost gardening knowledge and empower people to grow their own food.

How Does One USE a PUBLIC-ACCESS Garden?

Pick a location from our garden map (or visit them all!)
Take a basket, small cooler, bags and a knife or garden scissors.
Simply enter the garden and harvest any produce that is ready.

GIVING GARDENS
LOCATIONS

Want a Giving Garden in your community?

APPLY HERE!

Last handful of raspberries before the freeze.jpeg

Common Questions About Our Public-Access Gardens

No! This is a common misconception. These gardens are for everyone.
In the public access gardens, we focus on crops that can be harvested more than once. For example, instead of growing a single harvest crop like a cabbage, we grow crops that can be harvested weekly throughout the growing season, such as kale. Our gardens almost always include the following: tomatoes, peppers, green beans, kale, herbs, and flowers for cutting.
If you are new to harvesting, we are always happy to teach people some basic harvesting tips - just reach out with the contact page or on social media. Additionally, we regularly post on our socials what crops are in season, we place ‘Do Not Harvest’ signs for crops that are still maturing in the gardens, and are hoping to install instructional signage for how to harvest our crops in the future.
At the Giving Gardens, we have very high maintenance standards because we recognize the importance of beautiful, orderly places. We have a strict no weed policy. We use plant supports to encourage vertical growth and keep our plants from sprawling into the walking paths.
We rely on an honor system for residents to take a fair share of produce and respect our infrastructure. In general, community members view our gardens as valuable assets, not something to take advantage of.
The fences are meant to keep deer, rabbits and other mammal pests out of the gardens. Also, the fence helps us grow climbing crops such as pole beans.
The Giving Gardens is a nonprofit organization that receives the majority of its funding from people (like you!) who want to support what we do. We also receive funding from local businesses, civic organizations, and regional foundations such as Fellheimer Trust Wesley UMC and The Tracy Family Foundation.