One of the best programs that I’ve participated in is the Denver Urban Gardens Community (DUG) gardening program. Basically, DUG is an incredibly popular program that helps residents in the Denver metro area grow food for themselves and their families. These gardens are located in every part of the city so there is equal access to most city residents.
The big issue with this program is that it can be difficult to get a plot because of the program’s popularity. I had a hard time getting my first plot 3 years ago and now that I’m in, I won’t give up my plot until I move to a house and have a backyard to plant a garden in.
One thing that is pretty cool is that libraries also participate in free seed sharing programs prior to the planting season. If I didn’t have enough seeds I could go to my local branch and pick up for my garden.
Each garden is typically a fairly large sized plot of land that is then divided into subplots for each gardner. Depending on the garden’s leader, participants may meet for happy hours, are obligated to help with regular maintenance and upkeep of the garden and their own plot. And, each participant must pay a small participation fee that covers the cost for water and fertilizer.
My first year planting a garden was very successful but I was way too ambitious. I planted: corn, tomatillos (they grow like crazy), cucumbers (they also grow like crazy), onions, arugula, carrots, edible flowers, and several other items.
This year I will be planting the following: tomatillos, garlic, tomatoes, arugula, green onions, cucumbers, carrots, edible flowers, kale, herbs, turnips, and a couple of other items.
There is nothing like the process of tilling soil, watching the first tiny green shoots of whatever you’re growing peeking from the ground below. Water, weeding, and nurturing your garden. Each year your garden will be different. My first year my garden was phenomenal. I had beginner’s luck. The second year my garden languished because I just couldn’t rally enough to have the energy to consistently tend to my garden. So, it was a bust and towards the end of the growing season it took all of my energy to just get up and go to work LOL!
This year I want to supplement my groceries with whatever I choose to grow. Luckily, I will have a lot more time to manage my garden and really nurture its growth this year. I am also thinking about doing some pickling and canning for the winter…because I am a hipster like that.
Gardening is a calming, maddening, rewarding experience. The smell of the dirt tickles your nose, your back aches a little as you bend and pick the ever present weeds. Your arms ache slightly from using a shovel or a spade to move dirt around, and your skin feels the steady warmth (sting) of the sun.
I am really looking forward to this growing season and I will keep you posted on how this year’s garden grows.
Community Gardens ROCK!
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I love community gardening programs! I think they are so awesome. We have some in the city that I work in, but they are nowhere close to our house. Every time I drive by one, I think, we should have bought a house closer to work so I could use one of these. We do have a backyard, with some plants back there (raspberries, grapes) but there’s not too much room to plant and accommodate kids and dogs 🙁
I am really excited to get started on my garden this year. Last year was a total bust, so working from home will really allow me to nurture my garden and grow my favorite things.
I love, love, love fresh vegetables from the garden. My family are full of Jamaicans who love to garden and while stationed in New York a few years ago I was never out of fresh veggies. I cut them up, season, then freeze to stir fry at a later date. I’m sure it’s very therapeutic also for you so get out there and have fun!
NICE! My older relatives are former farm kids, so when I visit them in late summer/early fall there is a ridiculous amount of fresh fruit and veggies being shared. A lot of them used to have very, very large gardens. I do find gardening very therapeutic and relaxing. I am really excited about getting started.
I have a small plot in our shared backyard but last year was a complete bust. I need actual hands on education on growing stuff! I think community gardens are such a great idea!
I remember you showing pictures of your garden! I love it and I’m so happy that I got a plot this year. It’s super competitive so I was pretty lucky.
We had a bang up year in our first garden. The second was successful but not quite the same. We are fortunate that ours is just out the backdoor too. We missed last year, but have ours started now 🙂 I dug in my heels when Mr. Maroon first shared the idea. Now this year, I was the one begging him to source the tiller from our neighbor! How silly I was at first…
I am glad to hear about community gardens in urban areas. What better way to meet and socialize with othet like minded folks?
Isn’t it amazing how each year is so different? I am now addicted to having my own garden and never want to go back! Denver has a really amazing community of gardens and a huge public parks system. It’s pretty awesome.
I saw these for the first time in Germany! We don’t really have these here as most people have their own yards/gardens/space.
I wish everyone had their own garden! It would be a wonderful way to feed people and fight hunger.
Wow! I had no idea such a thing even existed. Sounds amazing! We live in a tiny apartment and I so wish we could have a garden. I make do by putting up a shepherd´s hook with hanging plants, but a real garden would be luxurious. 🙂
They are awesome! This is my third year participating in this program and I love it. The nice thing about this is that it’s open to everyone in the city and that there are gardens in almost every neighborhood in the city. I really enjoy the process of gardening.