Interested in growing your own food? Let’s walk first…

Before planting in your own community garden plot, it’s vital to establish roots in the community. At The Neighborhood Garden Project, individuals and families are invited into more than gardening. It is a shared journey of trust, healing, and belonging.

Rather than beginning with a reserved plot, we start by spending time together in the garden. We invite you into 20 hours of shared work—not to earn a spot, but to give us space to walk alongside you as you learn, encounter challenges, discover more about the mission, and have your questions answered. These hours can be spread out at your own pace and are simply an opportunity to share in the life of the garden before anything goes into the ground.

When those 20 hours are complete, the Garden Steward will help discern the next step—whether that means tending a plot of your own or continuing in a season of guided learning. Guided learning is an invitation to more in depth preparation: time spent with seeding, transplanting, cultivating soil, identifying and managing weeds and pests, and practicing the rhythms of seasonal planting. This time is about being equipped, supported, and ready to tend your own space with confidence.

We have found that when we take time first to intentionally prepare, the garden becomes more than a place where food grows—it becomes a place where people grow, too.