Community gardens are collaborative projects where neighbors come together and grow fruits, vegetables, and other plants in an accessible and open-space environment. As a gathering space, not only do they strengthen and build community pride, but they allow others to visibly see what a healthy, urban environment of stewardship and cooperation really looks like.
Traditionally, these kinds of gardens are found in an urban environment and are generally flexible, where the direction and layout can be altered to best fit the needs of the community — e.g. some gardens are shared among neighbors, some gardens are part of a broader organization, and others are completely open to the public — but in most cases, however, the gardens are an assortment of individual plots of land where community members contribute (usually with a small, annual payment) so that the space can be maintained, shared, and cared for as it grows.
But regardless of how they’re operated and maintained, their purpose and impact remain steadfast and solid — they provide affordable and healthy foods for individuals and families, they provide a space for communities to come together, they build a sense of community, and they promote healthy living.
If you’re interested in creating a garden, joining a garden network, or just want to explore some gardening resources, check out the maps below and explore away!
Found a garden map that’s not on our list or our interactive tools list? — contact us and let us know so we can get it added!
Community Garden Maps
The American Community Gardening Association “Find a Garden” Map
The American Community Gardening Association’s “Find a Garden” Map is the most extensive and comprehensive map in existence. Use the map to find a garden near you or put your own garden on the map using their easy-to-use submission form. The map includes gardens from all 50 U.S. states and Canada (and even includes gardens outside North America such as South Africa and France).
Seattle P-Patch Gardens Map
Explore the Seattle P-Patch Garden Map to find gardens within the City of Seattle, Washington. Run by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, the P-Patch Program oversees some 89 for-the-public gardens where local gardeners grow food and provide stewardship on an estimated 33.7 acres of land.
Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) Map
Explore Denver’s Urban Garden (DUG) Directory to find Gardens in Denver, Colorado. Managed by more than 500 urban garden volunteer leaders, the DUG Garden Directory is open to the public, easy to use, and completely interactive. Make sure to explore their entire website to also access gardening events, guides, resources, and more.
Vermont Community Garden Network Map
Explore the Vermont Community Garden Network Map to find a garden (or plot) in the State of Vermont. The map includes over 600 community-based gardens including parks, neighborhood gardens, backyard gardens, housing communities, workplaces, schools, and more. Use their directory to connect with others, grow your own food, and spend some quality time outdoors.
Pierce County, Washington Community Garden Map
Explore the Pierce County (WA) Community Garden Map to find a garden, join a garden, or start a garden in your neighborhood. While the gardens themselves are maintained by a group of volunteers, the map itself can be found under the Pierce County Conservation District page where you can also find resources, helpful documents, and other information.
North Carolina Community Garden Partners Garden Directory
Use the North Carolina Community Garden Partners Directory to search for a garden, locate a garden, or start a garden. The map includes 8 different garden categories — Farm/Market, Communal Community, Youth, Allotment Community, Neighborhood, Donation, Therapeutic, and Company/Institutional — and a searchable box to find a garden near you.
Urban Harvest’s Affiliate Garden Community Map (Houston)
Explore gardens in Houston, Texas using the Urban Harvest Affiliate Garden Community Map. Described as one of the largest edible gardening networks in the US, their organization not only provides users with a garden location map, but they also teach others how to start and maintain a garden through volunteers and trainings. Open the map to see the benefits of becoming an affiliate garden, how to become an affiliate garden, and affiliate garden hub distribution sites.
Green Thumb Garden Map (New York City)
Use the Green Thumb Garden map to find public gardens in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Click on any one garden to see address, neighborhood, owner, community board, council district, garden website, garden size, hours, and outreach coordinator information. Additionally, explore their expansive website to find a plethora of gardening resources.
Coalition of Austin Community Gardens Map
Check out the Coalition of Austin Community Gardens Map to find gardens in and around Austin, Texas. Use their map to locate a garden in your area, find a list of gardens, or update a garden profile. Click on a garden pin to access name, garden status, garden type, membership type, and address.
San Diego Community Garden Network Map
Explore the San Diego Community Garden map to find gardens in San Diego, California. Click on a garden to see the location, category, contact info, hosting organization, application link, and cost. As described on their webpage, the map and the network’s main mission is to enrich neighborhoods through community building, education, sustainability, and food security.
