Growing Healthy People,
Growing Strong Communities
Let's grow together
Do you love....
gardening, sustainability, food equity and healthy living? We do too!
Join a Garden
Whether you’re a gardening novice or a seasoned expert, gardens are always seeking new members. Click below to find a community garden near you!
Come to an Event
Community gardens host an array of events, and we would love for you to join! Click below to find out what's going on near you.
Get Support
Explore our community garden website for a wealth of resources to help you get the most out of your gardening experience!
Why Community Garden?
Live healthy
Community gardens grow fresh organic fruits and vegetables, making them more accessible to participants. This promotes healthier eating habits, provides nutritious chemical and pesticide free options that may not be as readily available in stores, and aids in disease reduction.
Physical Exercise
Gardening itself is a physical activity that can improve fitness levels and contribute to overall well-being. It involves activities such as digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting, which can be excellent forms of exercise.
Mental Health
Gardening has been shown to reduce stress and promote relaxation. It provides an opportunity to connect with nature and put your hands in the dirt, which can have a calming effect on the mind and lasting mental health benefits.
Community Building
Community gardens bring people together from diverse, intergenerational, and cross-cultural backgrounds to create a sense of community. Participants often work together towards a common goal, fostering social connections and a sense of belonging. It also provides an opportunity to get to know your neighbors.
Environmental benefits
Community gardens can contribute positively to the environment by promoting sustainable practices such as composting, reducing food miles (the distance food travels from farm to consumer), and creating green spaces that support biodiversity. It also reduces the carbon footprint and improves the viability of soil.
Educational Opportunities
Community gardens provide a hands-on learning experience about gardening techniques, plant biology, and environmental stewardship. It also educates participants about healthy eating and nutrition and teaches children where food comes from, changing the trajectory of families and future generations.
Improved Food Security
For communities with limited access to fresh produce, community gardens can help improve food security by providing a local source of nutritious food, thereby reducing money spent on groceries.
Beautifies the Neighborhood
Community gardens beautify neighborhoods and provide green spaces that residents can enjoy, often reducing crime and improving property values. They can enhance the quality of life in urban areas by offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Skill Development
Gardening in a community setting allows participants to learn new skills, such as planting, watering, and composting. It can also provide opportunities for leadership and teamwork.
Community Empowerment
By taking an active role in growing their own food, community members gain a sense of empowerment and self-reliance. They become more connected to where their food comes from and can take pride in contributing to their community's well-being.
Flowers grow in flower gardens, vegetables grow in vegetable gardens, communities grow in community gardens.
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Happy September! Here are COCC’s gardening tips for this month:
🌱In September, think ahead. We have dinners with the various holidays and parties that will be happening soon. Do you want to take green beans or a salad to one of these gatherings?
🌱From there, determine how long each plant takes. Check out the UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide listed below, specifically the Planting Guide on Table 1, which tells you how to plant your seeds and how long from planting to harvest. Bush Blue Lake Green beans (Kitty’s favorite variety) take 45-60 days to grow to harvest. So, if you want to take green beans to Thanksgiving, you will need to plant by the third week of September.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH021
🌱For all of you perfectionists out there, don’t have paralysis by analysis. Just start! Gardening is all about learning as you go, making mistakes, and enjoying the journey. We promise everything will be ok! 💚
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #septemberplantingguide #centralfloridagardening #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities
Happy September! Here are COCC’s gardening tips for this month:
🌱In September, think ahead. We have dinners with the various holidays and parties that will be happening soon. Do you want to take green beans or a salad to one of these gatherings?
🌱From there, determine how long each plant takes. Check out the UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide listed below, specifically the Planting Guide on Table 1, which tells you how to plant your seeds and how long from planting to harvest. Bush Blue Lake Green beans (Kitty’s favorite variety) take 45-60 days to grow to harvest. So, if you want to take green beans to Thanksgiving, you will need to plant by the third week of September.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH021
🌱For all of you perfectionists out there, don’t have paralysis by analysis. Just start! Gardening is all about learning as you go, making mistakes, and enjoying the journey. We promise everything will be ok! 💚
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #septemberplantingguide #centralfloridagardening #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities
August’s Gardener of The Month is Tyler from The Sustainable Living Project! Tyler is in high school and found SLP through Eventbrite as he needed volunteer hours for his Bright Futures Scholarship. While he is brand new to gardening, he already loves the great atmosphere and being connected with nature.
Gardens are always seeking volunteers, so please let us know if you, or anyone you know, would like to help out!
And get excited, @thesustainablelivingproject, a hidden gem right across from Lowry Park Zoo, will be a stop on our Community Garden Tour on November 3rd! This incredibly charming nature escape will soon be available to rent for your parties or events, so make sure to put it on your list to check out! 🌿🦋🌺🐓
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #communitygardentour #gardenerofthemonth #communitygardensofinstagram #tampacommunitygarden #sustainableliving
August’s Gardener of The Month is Tyler from The Sustainable Living Project! Tyler is in high school and found SLP through Eventbrite as he needed volunteer hours for his Bright Futures Scholarship. While he is brand new to gardening, he already loves the great atmosphere and being connected with nature.
Gardens are always seeking volunteers, so please let us know if you, or anyone you know, would like to help out!
And get excited, @thesustainablelivingproject, a hidden gem right across from Lowry Park Zoo, will be a stop on our Community Garden Tour on November 3rd! This incredibly charming nature escape will soon be available to rent for your parties or events, so make sure to put it on your list to check out! 🌿🦋🌺🐓
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #communitygardentour #gardenerofthemonth #communitygardensofinstagram #tampacommunitygarden #sustainableliving
Interested in sponsoring our First Community Garden Tour on November 3rd? COCG has over 60 gardens across five counties so we expect this event to have quite a reach! Please email Meryl at [email protected] if you, or anyone you know is interested - they are selling fast!
🍌🌿📸: Linwood Community Garden - Temple Terrace
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #communitygardentour #communitygardensofinstagram #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities
Interested in sponsoring our First Community Garden Tour on November 3rd? COCG has over 60 gardens across five counties so we expect this event to have quite a reach! Please email Meryl at [email protected] if you, or anyone you know is interested - they are selling fast!
🍌🌿📸: Linwood Community Garden - Temple Terrace
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #communitygardentour #communitygardensofinstagram #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities
SAVE THE DATE! Coalition of Community Gardens is honored to announce our FIRST Community Garden Tour this Fall!
🫑 Tour community gardens across greater Tampa Bay
🥬 Meet your neighbors and connect with community
🥦 Learn about growing your own food & best community gardening practices
🫛Enjoy nature, classes, markets and more
We can’t wait to see you there! Stay tuned for more info coming soon!
Sunday, November 3rd
10am - 4pm
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunuties #communitygardensofinstagram #communitygardentour #tampagardening #tampacommunitygardens
SAVE THE DATE! Coalition of Community Gardens is honored to announce our FIRST Community Garden Tour this Fall!
🫑 Tour community gardens across greater Tampa Bay
🥬 Meet your neighbors and connect with community
🥦 Learn about growing your own food & best community gardening practices
🫛Enjoy nature, classes, markets and more
We can’t wait to see you there! Stay tuned for more info coming soon!
Sunday, November 3rd
10am - 4pm
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunuties #communitygardensofinstagram #communitygardentour #tampagardening #tampacommunitygardens
Happy #muralmonday community garden style! 🌱🎨
1. Harvest Hope Community Garden 📍Tampa @harvest_hope_garden
2. St Pete Youth Farm 📍St Petersburg @stpeteyouthfarm
3. Om Grown Community Garden 📍Spring Hill @wellcomeomcenter
4. Daystar Community Garden 📍St Petersburg @robinpclemmons
5. Greco Community Garden 📍Temple Terrace
#communitygardensofinstagram #communitygardenart #coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #tampacommunitygardens
Happy #muralmonday community garden style! 🌱🎨
1. Harvest Hope Community Garden 📍Tampa @harvest_hope_garden
2. St Pete Youth Farm 📍St Petersburg @stpeteyouthfarm
3. Om Grown Community Garden 📍Spring Hill @wellcomeomcenter
4. Daystar Community Garden 📍St Petersburg @robinpclemmons
5. Greco Community Garden 📍Temple Terrace
#communitygardensofinstagram #communitygardenart #coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #tampacommunitygardens
Positive Potato may have lost an eye recently, but still remains positive and still believes in you!
🐝Apiary and Bee Bunker at USF Community Garden
#dontworrybeehappy #coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #adventuresofpositivepotato #godoyourthing
Positive Potato may have lost an eye recently, but still remains positive and still believes in you!
🐝Apiary and Bee Bunker at USF Community Garden
#dontworrybeehappy #coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #adventuresofpositivepotato #godoyourthing
It’s Okra Season baby! Don’t miss the 9th Annual Okra Occasion where you can delight in the magic of okra and learn about sustainable living practices!
🌱 Saturday, September 7th
🌱 11 am - 1 pm
🌱 5939 Main Street, New Port Richey, FL 34655
#coalitionofaommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #okraseason #zerowaste #okraoccasion
It’s Okra Season baby! Don’t miss the 9th Annual Okra Occasion where you can delight in the magic of okra and learn about sustainable living practices!
🌱 Saturday, September 7th
🌱 11 am - 1 pm
🌱 5939 Main Street, New Port Richey, FL 34655
#coalitionofaommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #okraseason #zerowaste #okraoccasion
Did you know Florida is one of the few states where you can grow your own food year round?!
Okra is one crop well suited for Florida’s hot, humid summers 🥵 It’s also rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease!
Robin from Daystar Community Garden in St Pete shows us how to harvest and popular ways to eat it! But don’t wait too long, this veggie grows FAST! What’s your favorite way to eat okra?
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #stpetecommunitygarden #communitygardens #okra #okraharvest #growyourownfood #growinggardeners
Did you know Florida is one of the few states where you can grow your own food year round?!
Okra is one crop well suited for Florida’s hot, humid summers 🥵 It’s also rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease!
Robin from Daystar Community Garden in St Pete shows us how to harvest and popular ways to eat it! But don’t wait too long, this veggie grows FAST! What’s your favorite way to eat okra?
#coalitionofcommunitygardens #cocg #growinghealthypeople #growingstrongcommunities #stpetecommunitygarden #communitygardens #okra #okraharvest #growyourownfood #growinggardeners