Community Gardens
We aren't just growing food, we're cultivating community
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At New Village Community Partners, our community gardens are living examples of what happens when people come together with a shared purpose. These gardens offer more than fresh fruits and vegetables, they create opportunities for learning, collaboration, and healing. Rooted in the values of equity, sustainability, and community empowerment, our gardens are open to all. Our community gardens are more than places to grow food, they’re spaces to grow together.
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Community gardens are shared spaces where individuals and families come together to grow food, herbs, and flowers. Each garden is locally managed and community-led, with plots available for residents to cultivate and maintain. Some gardens may also have shared beds, native plant areas, composting systems, or educational programming.
Our Community Gardens
Our plots are available in three sizes; Small Kitchen, Medium, and Large Mini Farm. We aspire to make growing food available to all by eliminating financial barriers, our plots are priced on a sliding scale (detailed below).​​
Our community gardens are currently in the full swing of the growing season! Our community gardeners have access to compost, woodchips, leaf mulch, hose irrigation, gardening tools, as well as donated seeds and starts for no additional cost.
Email us at nvcommunitypartners@gmail.com to inquire about reserving a plot!
Small Kitchen Plot
150 sq ft - Beginner-friendly; enough space for fresh food for 1-2 people or to supplement produce and reduce cost for a larger family.
Medium Garden Plot
300 sq ft - Enough to grow fresh food for a family of 3-4, or grow an excess of specialty items for preservation.
Large Mini Farm Plot
600 sq ft - For more serious gardeners; enough to grow fresh food for a family of 4-5 with room for preservation and storage crops.
Community
$0
Standard
$20
Support
$25
Community
$0
Standard
$35
Support
$40
Community
$0
Standard
$52
Support
$57
** We are grateful to SCHIP, NOFA, and the Ben and Jerry's Foundation for providing the funding necessary to support our sliding scale pricing model! **
We can support you with: Access to tools, seeds, compost, water, & garden consulting!
Pricing explained:
Our community gardens are priced on a sliding scale. We have three tiers:
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Support -- This price covers our costs to deliver the program and it helps us to maintain the tiered pricing model to expand access to our community. Please consider paying the "support" price if you:
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... Are securely employed and live in a multi-income home​
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... Do not have significant loans or debt that inhibit your everyday spending
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... Would not require community support in the case of emergencies
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Standard -- This is the cost to deliver these plots. Please consider paying the "standard" price if you:
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... Are securely employed and/or live in a multi-income home​
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... Have an amount of savings that brings you relative financial security
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... Have access to community financial support in cases of emergency
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Community -- The "community" price is for those those who could not otherwise afford to participate in the gardens. For example, if you are...
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... Underemployed
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... Have limited or no access to community financial support in the case of emergency
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... Are disabled in any way that inhibits your ability to work
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Some ideas of what you might grow (the possibilities are endless!):
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Herb gardens -- for fresh herbs; dehydrate excess for year-round homegrown spices and medicine.
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Grow a salad garden -- mixed greens, radish, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, oh my.
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Sauce, salsa, or pickling garden -- to preserve summer's bounty
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Homegrown flowers for events (weddings, birthdays, anniversaries) or for the simple joy and beauty of it!
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Craft garden-- grow plants for dyeing, weaving, or to make soaps, luffas, or canteens. Split a plot with friends or another family for more fun and manageable upkeep!​​​
Why Community Gardening Matters
Strengthening Community Ties
Gardening in a shared space helps build relationships among neighbors. People meet, talk, and learn from one another, creating a sense of belonging and trust. Community gardens are powerful hubs of connection. Interactions between community gardeners break down social isolation and encourage collaboration across generations, cultures, and backgrounds. Over time, the garden becomes a place where people not only share harvests, but stories, skills, and solidarity.
Enhancing Well-Being
Gardening is therapeutic. A study of community gardening’s effect on stress, well-being, and resilience found that community gardeners reported significantly higher levels of well-being than individual/home gardeners. Spending time outdoors, engaging in physical activity, and working toward a shared goal all contribute to improved mental and physical health. Community gardening has been found to produce significantly higher levels of well-being compared to home gardeners, thanks to the added benefits of social interaction and shared purpose. Simply being outdoors, engaging the senses, and working with the soil can be deeply healing.
Reconnecting With Nature
In a world that often feels disconnected from the environment, community gardens provide a space to experience the rhythms of nature. Gardeners learn to observe the seasons, care for living things, and understand where food comes from. This connection fosters a deeper respect for the earth and encourages sustainable living practices. It reminds us that we are part of nature, not separate from it.
Increasing Food Access and Security
In many communities, community gardens offer a critical source of fresh, healthy produce. Participants can grow their own fruits and vegetables, often at low or no cost, which helps improve nutrition and reduce grocery expenses. By growing their own produce, gardeners also gain access to culturally relevant, nutrient-rich foods. Shared harvests and donation beds often support food pantries and neighbors in need, ensuring that fresh, healthy food is more equitably available to all.
Creating Learning Opportunities
Our gardens also serve as hands-on classrooms. Children and adults alike gain practical knowledge about soil health, pollinators, composting, organic growing methods, and more. Educational workshops, garden tours, and seasonal events help spread awareness and skills throughout the community. Through workshops, tours, and seasonal events, the garden becomes a lifelong classroom where everyone can grow.
Get Involved
Whether you're looking to dig into the soil or support the program in other ways, there's a role for everyone in our community garden network.
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You can:
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Apply for a garden plot and grow your own food
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Volunteer with garden maintenance, events, or education
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Donate tools, seeds, or funding to support garden expansion
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Participate in workshops and seasonal events
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Mentor youth or lead an educational program
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No gardening experience is necessary. We provide tools, guidance, and support every step of the way.
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