Community Gardens

Today I will make a difference. I will help grow the kind of community we all want to live in . . .

The Community Garden program provides gardening opportunities for the physical and social benefit of the people and neighborhoods of Tacoma. Opportunities to . . . meet your neighbors, become more self-reliant, beautify your neighborhood, produce nutritious food, reduce your family food budget, conserve resources and get outdoors for some healthy exercise.

Locations:

Franklin 1201 Puget Sound Ave. (S 12th St. at S Puget Sound Ave.) Garden Plots 2009 For garden questions contact  Doreen Odell at 253.305.1050 Franklin Photos

Kandle 2323 N Shirley St. (N 26th St. at N Shirley St.) Garden Plots 2009 For garden questions contact Doreen Odell at 253.305.1050

Proctor 3901 N 21st St. (N 21st St. at Proctor) Garden Plots 2009 For garden questions contact Doreen Odell at 253.305.1050

Gardener's Corner:

• Letter to Gardeners - English
• Rules & Regulations - English
• Update your Information
  - provide your first and last name, garden location, new address, new phone number, new e-mail address, other contact name, contact relationship, contact phone number
• Waiting List Request
  - provide your first and last name, address, phone number and preferred garden location
• Due to overwhelming community response we are limiting plots to two (2) per person this year. Available plots after April 1, 2009 will be assigned from the Community Garden Waiting List only.

2009 Timeline:

• March 12 - Letters to gardeners mailed 
• April 1 - Fees due for returning gardener's garden plots
• April 2 - Lots not paid for will be reassigned to those on the waiting list
• Mid-April - MPT will do their best to have gardens tilled and staked by this date (weather dependent)
• Gardeners may begin gardening AFTER the gardens have been tilled and maps are posted on the gate. Plots not worked by May 1, 2009 or uncultivated for more than two weeks during the growing season shall be reassigned.
• October 31 - All gardeners must clean their plots of all non-compostable materials by this date

Theft:

Metro Parks Tacoma understands that theft of produce is an ongoing challenge in the 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.

Community gardeners need to maintain a presence in the gardens and be proactive with regards to theft on their own behalf.

Last Updated: Mar 5, 2009 12:42 PM