Community Gardens
Growing our social capital, by connecting people and building community
The Community Garden program provides gardening opportunities for the physical and social benefit of the people and neighborhoods of Tacoma. Opportunities include meeting your neighbors, becoming more self-reliant, beautifying your neighborhood, producing nutritious food, reducing your family food budget, conserving resources and getting outdoors for some healthy exercise.
Beginning in September 2012, Pierce Conservation District (PCD) will work with gardeners to oversee general operations at 66 gardens throughout the county, approximately half of which are located in Tacoma. The partnership agreement includes Metro Parks, City of Tacoma, Pierce County Public Works and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. For questions about a specific garden please contact the site coordinator.
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FRANKLIN PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN 1201 Puget Sound Ave. (S. 12th St. at S. Puget Sound Ave.) Questions? Contact on-site coordinator: Susan Wigley (253) 507-9575 |
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KANDLE PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN 2323 N. Shirley St. (N. 26th St. at N. Shirley St.) Garden Plots 2012 Questions? Contact on-site coordinator: Doreen Odell (253) 305-1050 |
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MCCARVER PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN 2301 South J St. (S. 23rd & South J St.) Questions? Contact on-site coordinator: Julia Martin-Lombardi (253) 381-7501 |
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PROCTOR COMMUNITY GARDEN 3901 N. 21st St. (N. 21st St. at Proctor) Garden Plots 2012 Questions? Contact on-site coordinator: Margaret Bailey (253) 759-4481 2013 Improvements - Fencing will be replaced on three sides of the garden. An additional vehicle gate will be added to the the west side. If funding remains improvements to signage & irrigation will be considered. |
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ROGERS PARK (DOMETOP) COMMUNITY GARDEN 3151 East L St. (E 34th & East L St.) Questions? Contact on-site coordinator: Lynette Scheidt (253) 905-8018 |
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SWAN CREEK PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN 2820 Pioneer Way E. (E. 42nd & Roosevelt) Questions? Contact on-site coordinator: Sue Bernstein (253) 472-7264 |
OTHER CITY OF TACOMA/PIERCE COUNTY COMMUNITY GARDENS
- Contact Kristen McIvor (253) 363-1846 with Pierce Conservation District
- Facebook: Tacoma/Pierce County Community Garden Program
GARDENERS CORNER
- 2012 Letter to Gardeners - Kandle / Proctor
- 2012 Rules & Regulations
- Update Your Information - provide first and last name, garden location, new address, new phone number, new e-mail address
- Waiting List Request - provide your first and last name, address, phone number, e-mail address and preferred garden location
- There is currently a waiting list at Kandle & Proctor - Due to overwhelming community response we are limiting plots to two per person this year.
2012 TIMELINE
- March 15 - Applications due for returning gardener's plots - Proctor
- March 21 - Applications due for returning gardener's plots - Kandle
- March 16 - Applications not received will be reassigned from the waiting list - Proctor
- March 22 - Applications not received will be reassigned from the waiting list - Kandle
THEFT
Metro Parks Tacoma understands that theft of produce is an ongoing challenge in Community Gardens. Some methods to deter theft which have worked in other Community Gardens are:
- Plant thorny plants around the perimeter of the garden.
- Keep a presence in the garden. More people in the gardens more often means less opportunity for theft.
- Harvest ripe fruits and vegetables immediately to give thieves nothing to take.
- Plant less popular items on the outside of the garden, i.e. potatoes instead of tomatoes
- Plant different items that will throw off thieves such as purple cauliflower or white eggplant.