Community Gardening Program
568 BELLEVUE AVENUE
OAKLAND, CA 94610
PH: (510) 238-2197
FAX: (510) 238-7199
EMAIL: pcollier@oaklandnet.com
Oakland Parks and Recreation is gardening with a purpose, with 16 locations that bring people of all ages and diverse backgrounds together to grow organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers. Check out our free volunteer days and workshops at The Gardens at Lake Merritt (full schedule below), or join us at one of our ten rental plot community gardens, where participants pay an annual fee of $30 for a garden space. These spaces are assigned on a rolling basis, as plots becomes available, and preference is always given to Oakland residents if a garden is full and has a waiting list. Volunteers are encouraged to join us for monthly “work parties” at each garden!
Additionally, OPR now offers six garden locations run in partnership with schools and nonprofits. These beautiful gardens engage children and community members to help grow food for themselves and their families, at no cost to participate. Please scroll down to see a full list of our partners, and links to their respective websites. Contact them today to get involved!
OPR features 23 sites with youth gardening facilities, including at most of our recreation centers - please visit your local center today to see how you can help us show kids the value of organic gardening!
To apply for space in one of OPR's ten rental plot community gardens, please first contact the program director Peter Collier to see if space is available. Please call 510-238-2197 or email Peter at pcollier@oaklandnet.com. If you would like to join a garden's waiting list (or also pay for a plot if space is available) please first read our rules and regulations, then download our registration form. Once the registration form is completed and signed, mail it to our office at 568 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 - we'll contact you once space is available!
| Allendale Park Community Garden Rental Plots 3711 Suter Street |  | Arroyo Viejo Park Community Garden Rental Plots 79th Avenue and Arthur Street cul de sac |
 | Bella Vista Park Community Garden Rental Plots 11th Avenue and East 28th Street, by Bella Vista Elementary School |  | Bushrod Park Community Garden Rental Plots 584 59th Street |
 | Dover Street Park Community Garden Volunteer with Phat Beets Produce Dover Street between 57th and 58th |  | Fitzgerald Park Urban Farm Volunteer with City Slicker Farms Corner of 34th Street and Peralta Street |
 | Golden Gate Community Garden Rental Plots 1068 62nd Street | King Estates Community Garden Volunteer with People UnitEd for a Better Life In Oakland (PUEBLO) 8251 Fontaine Street | |
 | Edible Demonstration Gardens at Lake Merritt Volunteer-led Demo Plots; Some Rental Plots 666 Bellevue Avenue |  | Marston Campbell Park Youth Garden Volunteer with Oakland Based Urban Gardens (OBUGS) 16th Street and Market Stree, by Lafayette School |
 | Mosswood Community Garden Rental Plots Corner of MacArthur and Webster |  | San Antonio Park Community Garden Rental Plots Corner of 16th Avenue and East 19th Street |
Stonehurst Edible Schoolyard Volunteer with Stonehurst Edible Schoolyard 901 105th Avenue |  | Tassafaronga Park Urban Farm
Corner of 83rd and E Street
| |
 | Temescal Community Garden Rental Plots 876 - 47th Street |  | Verdese Carter Park Community Garden Rental Plots 96th Avenue & Bancroft Avenue |
The Community Gardening Program often partners with the Rotary Nature Center at 600 Bellevue Avenue.
For regular updates and to show support, please like the Community Gardening Program on Facebook and follow us on Twitter here.
Edible Gardening Demonstrations at Lake Merritt
The Edible Demonstration Gardens at Lake Merritt offer FREE workshops and volunteer days from April thru November. See our groups and schedules below, let us know if you have any questions, and we'll see you out there!
Alameda County Master Gardeners, volunteer days every Wednesday from 10-11:30am, FREE MONTHLY DEMONSTRATION WORKSHOPS EVERY 4th Saturday from 12pm-1pm. Don't miss these incredible workshops! For a full online schedule with descriptions please visit http://bit.ly/10jd2Y4.
People's Victory Garden, volunteer orientations every 2nd Saturday from 9-10am. Volunteer educational workdays every 3rd Saturday from 9:30-11:30am. More info available at: http://www.victorygardenfoundation.org/.
Merritt College Horticultural Department, volunteer participation days every Wednesday from 9:30-11am. Seasonal vegetables by seasoned gardeners!
Cambodian Women's Garden Group, garden demonstrations every 2nd Friday from 1-3pm. Learn and experience new methods of gardening from experts!
Toddler's Garden, with fun garden demos for toddlers aged 4 and under! All workshops begin at 10am: All About Strawberries! on 4/27; What Do Plants Need To Grow? on 5/25; Ladybugs! on 6/15; Worms! on 7/27... and join us for more toddler-based garden workshops throughout the fall!
Planting Justice, Educational garden workshops every 1st Sunday, times to be announced soon!
Junior Chef Society, kitchen gardening for Oakland's finest junior chefs! Schedule forthcoming.
Hope Gardening, intergenerational - grandparents and grandkids steward a beautiful and diverse garden plot, with ornamentals mixed with edibles. Schedule forthcoming.
The Gardens at Lake Merritt are also a great stop for volunteer groups:
(Please sign up for regular updates by sending a request to gardensatlakemerritt@gmail.com)
MORE WAYS TO GET DOWN WITH THE GARDENS AT THE LAKE!
May is a one of the best months for big blooms and perfect weather in the gardens. We hope you can join us for the following volunteer opportunities:
Weekly Thursday - 9am to noon - Succulent garden
Weekly Tuesday evenings - 6:00pm-7:30pm Sensory Garden - Enter the gardens at Gate 3 across from the Boat House
Third Saturday, May 18th - 9am to noon - Sensory Garden, Palmetum, and Rhododendron Garden
Thank you for your continued hard work and support!
Bring your gloves, your favorite garden tool and a friend. Tell the attendent at the kiosk you are with the Friends of the Garden at Lake Merritt and volunteering at the Gardens at Lake Merritt and sign in to get a day pass.
Register
To garden with a purpose in one of OPR's rental plot locations, please first familiarize yourself with the program's rules and regulations. Then, contact the program director for space availability and download the registration form. Note: if you are registering into a garden with a waiting list, do not send payment until the coordinator confirms that space is available.
Questions? More information? Contact program director Peter Collier at (510) 238-2197 or by email at pcollier@oaklandnet.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our Nonprofit Organization Partners
Acta Non Verba at Tassafaronga Park Urban Farm
City Slicker Farms at Fitzgerald Park Urban Farm
Oakland Based Urban Gardens (OBUGS) at Marston Campbell Park Youth Garden
People UnitEd for a Better Life In Oakland (PUEBLO) at King Estates Community Garden
Phat Beets Produce at Dover Street Park Community Garden
Stonehurst Edible Schoolyard at Esperanza Elementary School and Korematsu Discovery Academy
The Advisory Board
Lend your voice to our cause of gardening with a purpose!
The Community Gardening Program's Advisory Board meets monthly, every 4th Wednesday from 6-7pm in the Lake Merritt Boating Center. The public is welcome to attend to learn more about how to help us provide the best services possible to the city of Oakland! Please note: dates and times of the monthly meeting are subject to change. Before planning to attend, please first verify the date and time of the next meeting with the program director Peter Collier at (510) 238-2197 or pcollier@oaklandnet.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oakland Youth Garden Leader Training sponsored by USDA and CA Dept. of Food & Agriculture
FREE TRAINING for Parents, Teachers and anyone interested in gardening with children (aged 18+). Kids should know where food really comes from and have the opportunity to experience the excitement and sense of pride that comes from growing something from seed to plate.
The garden can reconnect your kids with nature, wholesome & healthy food and an exciting world that can spark curiosity and learning that can last a lifetime.
This training day will be spent sharing tips and strategies to garden with children, interact with families, and enrich the lives of others using hands-on garden activities.
Every "Leader-in-Training" will get loads of information, a binder full of resources and ideas for "hand-on garden activities" that will help you learn how to launch kids and their families on an exciting adventure growing, preparing and eating fresh California-grown fruits & veggies.
....and it's FREE!
This program is sponsored by the USDA and the CA Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
NOTE: Leaders who complete five online modules can get Leader Certification. Certified garden leaders become part of the KGS team and have access to Kids Growing Strong educational handouts, free seeds, banners, displays and continuing support.
Visit the Kids Growing Strong website for full details.
Sign up to receive a FREE Kids Growing Strong insulated tote at the door. Use the tote to carry home your loot and to keep your fruits and veggies cool & fresh when you get them at the market.
NOTE: The Oakland Public Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users.
