Portland’s community gardens are a point of pride amongst residents. Wherever they crop up, a waiting list up to six-years long inevitably pops up with it. With towering sunflowers buzzing with happy bees, poles strung with long beans and flowering vines, zucchini the size of baseball bats, and a cascade of red and yellow cherry tomatoes, it’s easy to get swept up into the beauty of a garden on a summer day. While beautiful, community gardens are more than beautiful spots for flowers and plants – they create bonds between neighbors, provide food for the hungry, teach children about food and nature, all the while giving Portlanders the opportunity to get their hands dirty, a little therapy for the hungry soul. If you’re looking for homes for sale in Portland near a Community Garden, don’t hesitate to contact us at the McDonald Group!
With over thirty five gardens established, and more in the planning stages, its apparent that the Portland Community Garden movement is much more than a trend. Over 750 gardeners are waiting for a spot to open, which happens when current tenants move away or get too busy. Here’s a map of all of the community gardens in Portland, and the following are some of our favorites:
Colonel Summers Community Garden – SE 20th Ave & Taylor St – This beautiful garden is located next to Colonel Summers Park, just south of SE Belmont on 20th Ave. The garden is dominated by majestic sunflowers and well-organized plots. This garden recently grew in size to accommodate a few more gardeners, as the waiting list is estimated to be over six years long. Colonel Sanders gardeners are active participants in the Produce for People program, which connects local gardeners with food banks and shelters. Residents are often found swapping food and helping a neighbor who’s harvest has gotten a bit out of control.
Woodlawn Community Garden and Children’s Garden – NE 11th Ave & Claremont – This Northeast Portland garden lies near both a park and a school which allows it the perfect opportunity to serve as a teaching tool for local kids as well as a haven for gardeners and gleaners. The garden is right next to the Woodlawn’s Children’s Garden, and was able to use the educational benefits to receive financial support for paved paths, tool sheds and supplies, and outdoor sitting areas for educational classes. The Woodlawn garden also participates in Produce for the People, with a specially-designated 700 square foot plot solely for donation plants.
Gabriel Community Garden – SW 41st Ave & Canby St – This garden is located in the Southwest neighborhood of Multnomah Village. Right next to the historic Gabriel Park, this older, 33-year-running garden site added an orchard in 1991. The raised beds maximize the sloped site, and classes are offered to people wanting to know more about gardening and harvesting.
Hazelwood Community Garden – NE 117th & Holladay – The Hazelwood garden is one of the youngest gardens in the Portland system, but it has already become a favorite of the community and local green thumbs. The garden is managed by Richard and Olive Larsen, and serves as a cornerstone to the northeast Portland community that surrounds it. The garden is rich with creative collapsible trellises and raised beds for elderly and differently-abled gardeners.
Brentwood Community Garden – SE 57th Ave & Cooper St – The Brentwood Community Garden is a non-profit, community supported organic garden established to support community involvement, neighborhood relationships, and access to homegrown organic food within the neighborhood boundaries. With 81 plots and 124 active gardeners, this garden serves as both a place to garden and a community center where gardeners of all ages gather to be around friends and neighbors. The garden includes individual plots as well as a common fruit area, several accessible plots for the handicapped, and much more. Free classes teach skills such as fruit tree pruning and other essential gardening skills.
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