Garden Directory: Central Minneapolis Community Gardens
12th and 13th Avenue Block Club Garden
2727 12th Ave South, Minneapolis
Food Production, Youth Programming, Individual Plots
This Midtown Phillips garden began in 1996 as a block club crime and safety initiative. Its success is linked to the success of the neighborhood. In 2001 we purchased the lot, becoming the first resident-owned community garden in Minneapolis. Three plots are tended by Anderson students, including an elevated bed for the autistic kids’ program. In 2004 we installed stone steps, allowing everyone to safely enjoy our tranquil garden. In 2005, we added garden art constructed by kids and coordinated by Victoria Pena.
32nd Street Community Garden
3201 29th Avenue South, Minneapolis
Food Production, Individual Plots
The 32nd Street Community Garden has been a formal community garden since 1999 and was an informal community garden for most of the 1990s. It is in the back yard of a house which is used as a church. In 2006, a new house was built on the lot which caused the garden to be redesigned with much support from the landowner. The original garden was 20 by 80 feet with 11 small plots and the new garden will be larger (about 40 by 50 feet) and have 8 large plots. Most plot holders live within a block of the garden. No waiting list is maintained. For more information: Eric Hart at 612-722-3260 or hart3151@tcq.net
5th Street Community Garden
1800 5th Street South, Minneapolis
Beautification
The Fifth Street Community Garden was started in the Spring of 2006 to beautify our neighborhood and stimulate interest in a community-based project. Despite our brief existence, we’ve added some special features. The most popular is the beautiful curved brick path, an important pedestrian link in the neighborhood. Near the path is a rain garden that catches runoff from a parking lot next door. Gardeners used the left-over dirt from these projects to construct a mound planted with native prairie plants and grasses. We also built an herb garden and an area with shrubs and ornamental grasses.
Bancroft Meridian Garden
1201 E 38th Street, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Beautification
The Meridian is a large perennial garden lovingly started and maintained by neighbors and friends. Relax among our colorful blooms and butterflies while chatting with our gardeners about the Meridian's history, our plant selection and learn about our partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. We look forward to seeing you at the Meridian!
Columbus Community Garden
3300 Columbus Ave S, Minneapolis
Food Production, Individual Plots
Columbus Community Garden (CCG) provides a common space for neighbors to meet, grow food, and build community. The benefits of the garden extend to others as well: the garden provides green space and stabilizes the neighborhood by attracting and retaining responsible residents. It is particularly effective at connecting neighbors from diverse classes and cultures. With the help of City Garden Trust and the Trust for Public Land, CCG was able to purchase the property. CCG has played a significant role in stabilizing the surrounding neighborhood since it first began as a block club project in 1990.
Community Peace Garden (used to be known as Korean
Peace Garden)
Hwy 94 and Cedar Ave, Minneapolis
Horticultural Therapy, Beautification, Food Production, Individual
Plots
Our garden is special because immigrants and seniors are the majority of our gardeners: gardening maintains their health and provides a sense of belonging to the community. Not only do the gardeners get to eat the vegetables they produce, but they also work and socialize with other community members.
East Phillips Rainwater Garden
28th Street and the Midtown Greenway, Minneapolis
Beautification -- a project of the Midtown
Greenway Coalition
This project is made possible through a grant from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. Over 160 volunteers participated in prepping, planting, maintaining and watering the gardens for the past three years. A total of 2,071 hours! All of the gardens take advantage of stormwater drainage either from the trails, or by a near by surface parking lot or roof. We are committed to using plants native to this region. Site plans are available for each garden. Please contact us to request a copy or to become a Greenway Garden Steward and help us maintain these gardens in the future.
East Whittier Community Garden
107 East 27th Street, Minneapolis
Food Production
Eat Street Community Garden
2416 1st Ave S, Minneapolis (just south of the purple and turquoise Victorian
House)
Beautification, Food Production, Individual Plots
The Eat Street Community Garden has been part of the Whittier Neighborhood since at least 1991. Omega House sponsors this inspirational organic garden as a means to build community and to promote sustainable living in an urban environment. Just two blocks from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and one block off Nicollet, the garden provides outdoor beauty and greenspace to the neighborhood.
Emily Peake Garden
1900 block of 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Horticultural Therapy, Beautification, Food Production,
Food Donation, Individual Plots
Emily Peake Memorial Garden (est. 1995) was originally a perennial garden dedicated to neighborhood Native American activist and peacemaker Emily Peake. In 2001 neighborhood interest grew, and today it supports thirteen community gardeners in an intimate nature bordered by perennial and flower beds.
Hope Community Youth and Community Gardens
2115 Portland Ave S, Minneapolis
Beautification, Food Production
JT Blaisdell Community Garden
2609 Blaisdell Ave S, Minneapolis
Youth Programming
Kaleidoscope Garden
2504 Columbus Ave S, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Individual Plots
For over ten years, the Children’s Garden in Residence (CGR) has been a joint program of the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Messiah Lutheran Church, and Kaleidoscope Kids’ Place. Supported by private donations, CGR connects inner-city children ages 6-12 with their own gardens. During the program, children learn about gardening and the role plants play in people's lives. Graduates may apply for a variety of garden-based summer jobs as members of the CityFresh team.
LaSalle Community Garden
1800 block of LaSalle Ave, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Horticultural Therapy, Beautification, Food Production,
Food Donation, Individual Plots
LaSalle Community Gardens were created in 1997 from two empty lots supporting nothing but drug deals, littering, and loitering. With the help of Stevens Square and Urban Lands, volunteers planned the foundation, hauled the soil and manure, planted trees and perennials, and turned an eyesore into a place of beauty and edibles. Today the gardens support forty gardeners and showcase unique architectural elements including an aqueduct and water wheel system, a half shade structure, and Zen pathways. Each garden has its own personality, featuring vegetable plots, communal beds with native plants, and an herb wheel.
Lehna's Garden
Greenway between Colfax and Fremont Avenues, Minneapolis
Beautification, Education
Lyndale Neighborhood Rain Garden
102 W 32nd St, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Beautification, Education
The Lyndale Community Rain Garden began in 2005 when the Lyndale Neighborhood Environment Committee decided to preserve a community space and showcase sustainable landscaping. The Committee leased property from the Lyndale Neighborhood Development Corporation and residents restored 3,000 square feet of an existing garden that now features a demonstration rain garden. A neighborhood water quality initiative funded through the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization helped to complete the restoration. Visitors can learn about gardening as part of an ecological system showcasing native plantings, low-mow grass, rain barrels, and composting. Our garden prevents 56,000 gallons of water from entering the stormwater system!
Midtown Greenway Rainwater Garden Project
- Whittier
Grand Ave and the Greenway, Minneapolis
Beautification
Minnehaha Avenue Community Garden
3128 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis
Education, Food Production, Individual Plots
Minnehaha Avenue Community Garden began in 1997 with Longfellow NRP funds. The garden was established on tax-forfeited property to solve encroachment issues and provide apartment dwellers with garden space. Plots were eventually extended to homeowners and the area was later purchased by an adjacent property owner. The garden has sixteen 8x8 plots on a long, narrow lot; plotholders are encouraged to develop their gardens as an act of discovery about themselves, the plants, and the soil. Networking activities take place within the garden and surrounding neighborhood. The garden is also host to a VA Medical Center outpatient program.
Pleasant Avenue Community Garden
3518 Pleasant Ave. S., Minneapolis
Horticultural Therapy, Beautification, Food Production
Powderhorn Park East Community Garden
3217 15th Ave S, Minneapolis
Horticultural Therapy, Beautification, Food Production
Powderhorn Park East Community Garden began in 1996 when CCP-SAFE funded block-club community-building activities. Shari Albers and Pat Ciernia wrote grants to supply watering barrels, fencing, Green Chairs, and treats for workers. Steve Miller rototilled the lot (and continues to do so). Jenny Jenkins bought the county-owned lot when she purchased the adjacent house in 2000 and has coordinated garden activities ever since.
Prairie Oaks Community Garden
2600 Oakland Ave, Minneapolis
Food Production
Shalom Garden
2819-23 15th Avenue S, Minneapolis
Food Production, Individual Plots
Residents started Shalom Garden ten years ago on a vacant lot owned by the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA). In the beginning, several truck loads of woodchips were spread across the lot and 15 raised bed gardens were established. In 2000, the raised beds were removed and the entire lot was used, due to demand. In 2001 MCDA told gardeners to purchase the property or give it up for housing development. The Green Institute bought the garden in 2002, ensuring its future and provided a sign and mailbox. Recently, gardeners joined the Minnesota Horticulture Society. Future plans include new fencing, an on-site water source, other improvements. Visit us again to see our progress!
Soo
Line Community Garden
2845 Garfield Ave S, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Beautification, Food Production, Food Donation,
Individual Plots
Located in Whittier Neighborhood, Soo Line Community Garden (SLCG) begins its growing season as one of the premier gardens in Minneapolis. Before 1991, the site was marginal urban land, a grassy field strewn with litter and broken glass. Today over 100 gardeners have transformed the area into a lush, green community asset. On summer evenings, SLCG attracts visitors to its open space and natural beauty. Children play in the paths while adults garden quietly or chat with neighbors. SLCG's presence has stabilized and enhanced the area, stimulated local businesses, and provided residents with a healthy and safe green space.
The 18th Avenue Green
NE corner of 33rd St and 18th Ave, Minneapolis
Horticultural Therapy, Beautification, Individual Plots
The Artstop Garden
32nd St and Chicago Ave-SE corner, Minneapolis
Beautification
In 1991, the purchase of a corner lot by an adjoining neighbor brought The ArtStop Garden into being. Through the efforts of neighbors this bus stop lot filled with weeds, tires, broken cement, and little hope has become another symbol of revitalization in Powderhorn, a neighborhood of positive change. This peaceful garden of flowers, trees, and sculpture has been the non-violent setting for many years of creative arts activities, plantings, harvestings, and community gatherings. It is an affirming way to address the cultural diversity, pain, and assets of our neighborhood.
The Peaceful Patch
2444 11th Ave S, Minneapolis
Beautification, Individual Plots
Plants and friendships flourish in the Peaceful Patch Community Garden. The idea for the garden began when a couple of neighbors were tired of seeing trash and vagrants on this vacant lot. In 1993 these neighbors cleaned up the lot, tilled the soil, and planted. It gave a whole new look to the block, and other neighbors expressed appreciation and added plants. We’ve had a lot of fun over the years trying to create an urban Eden; in the process we’ve gotten to know a lot of people in our four-block area. Our focus is on building community.
The Seward Youth Peace Garden
2309 28th Ave S-Seward Montessori School, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Food Production, Food Donation
The Seward Youth Peace Garden, founded in 1997, evolved from a strong collaborative effort between Seward Montessori School, the Seward Neighborhood Group, Matthews Parks and the United States Department of Agriculture. The goal of this not-for-profit youth development project was to create a small-scale urban farm where youth, ages 9-13, could learn to grow their own organic vegetables and flowers to sell at markets in their local community. Profits from vegetable and flower sales are distributed to youth as a stipend based on the number of the hours they contributed to the program. Come see all that we’re growing at the Garden!
Vera's Garden
Greenway at Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis
Beautification
Vera’s Garden began on April 26, 2001 when patrons of Vera’s Cafe needed a place for “thinnings” from their home gardens. Most of the plants now come from Minnesota Green, although many of the perennials and shrubs are donated by people across the Twin Cities. For the first couple of years, 20 volunteers prepared and designed the garden. Currently five volunteers maintain it. We were honored to have Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living do a photo shoot in the garden which was featured in the Spring 2006 issue.
Walker Church Community Garden
3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis
Youth Programming, Horticultural Therapy, Beautification, Education,
Food Production, Individual Plots
Youth Farm & Market Project - Lyndale
Neighborhood
Youth Programming, Beautification, Food Production at three garden
sites
- 3110 Blaisdell Ave S (Charles Horn Terrace Garden)
- 3333 Grand Ave S (Lyndale School)
- 3110-3112 Pillsbury Ave S
Youth Farm and Market Project is a non-profit organization that works with youth in three Twin Cities neighborhoods to grow, cook, and sell organic produce, all the while learning leadership skills and making connections in the community. The Lyndale branch has three gardens: an herb garden at Lyndale School; the Pillsbury garden (which we hope to make into a fruit farm); and the Charles Horn Terrace Garden, which is maintained by youth farmers and international residents of the CHT apartments.
Youth Farm and Market Project - Powderhorn
Neighborhood
Youth Programming at three garden sites
- 34 1/2 St and 11th Ave in Powderhorn Park
- 3600 Block of Chicago Ave, North of The Ba'hai Center
- 32nd Street and Portland Ave, NE Corner
Youth Farm and Market Project (YFMP) is a nonprofit organization started in 1995 in the Lyndale neighborhood; since then it has expanded to Powderhorn Park and west St Paul. The YFMP’s mission is to nurture relationships between urban youth and their families, their communities, and the earth by growing, cooking, eating, and selling healthy foods. During the summer YFMP runs an eight-week program gardening with youth ages 9-13. All summer Youth Farmers invest their time beautifying their neighborhood, so come visit our garden and find out more! www.youthfarm.net
Phone: (612) 278-7123 - info@gardenworksMN.org