From relieving stress to connecting with nature, gardening offers many mental and physical health benefits, not to mention the sense of satisfaction when your labor of love finally sprouts. Community gardens are prominent throughout Boulder County, and for good reason. For apartment dwellers or those with limited planting space around their home, community gardens are a great way to tend to your green thumb while connecting with other garden enthusiasts and enjoying the outdoors. Ready to get started? Here are our recommendations:
- The nonprofit Growing Gardens manages more than 530 individual community garden plots across 12 locations in Boulder County. Gardeners can grow their own fresh organic produce, including tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers. No worries if you’re a newbie trying to navigate Colorado’s growing climate—each garden is managed in partnership with a volunteer resident who serves as a Garden Leader – a valuable resource for individual gardeners throughout the season.
Gardeners may request a plot assignment beginning in January. There is a wait list every year, so we recommend signing up as soon as the wait list goes live for a better chance of receiving a plot in your preferred garden.
- The community garden at the Colorado State University Extension Office consists of 30 plots that community members can rent. One of the oldest in the area, this community garden started more than 30 years ago and is located at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont. Most gardeners plant edible crops, but if flowers are more your thing, ornamental gardens are also allowed. For more information and to request a plot, you may contact Amy Lippold at (303) 678-6238.
- A little further north lies the Second Start Community Garden in Longmont, a communal organic garden. With 53 plots, individuals or groups can grow their own vegetables, flowers, and herbs. This garden has a true community feel—on any given day, you’ll find people of all ages and gardening levels tending to their gardens. For more information, please contact [email protected] (you can also visit their Facebook page).
Community gardens are a terrific way to dip your toe into the world of gardening without having to purchase a ton of equipment (many gardens provide tools, composting, and irrigation). Studies of community gardens also estimate that a 64 square foot garden can save a family $600 in food purchases per year. With the community garden plots listed above ranging from 400 to 600 square feet, gardeners can see a substantial saving in food costs, not to mention the myriad health benefits.
As their name suggests, community gardens are a terrific way to build relationships and strengthen bonds between neighbors and community members. Most require a nominal amount of community service assistance each year to the garden plot, which enhances a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among the gardeners.
Are you involved in any of the community gardens listed above, or are you ready to try your hand at it? We’d love to hear about your experience–let us know in the comments below!