Community Gardens Program Overview
The Community Gardens Program helps groups start new gardens on parkland and provides support for existing community gardens on city owned land. Nonprofit program partners such as Austin Parks Foundation and Fruitful Commons also provide vital support through grants, volunteer coordination, and liability insurance.
Community gardens are long term stewardship projects where people come together to care for land. Community gardens are diverse and can include gardens with individual plots, community orchards, program gardens at Recreation, Senior, and Cultural Centers, teaching gardens, and gardens that are communally tended.
City of Austin permitted community gardens are places where volunteers grow food for themselves and their communities. Community Garden Program staff work with groups who want to start new gardens on parkland and help to connect existing gardens with resources like technical assistance, and gardening supplies.
Community Garden Permits are not required for gardens on private land. The Community Gardens Program offers educational resources and welcomes gardeners on private land to attend workshops and programs offered throughout the year.
Contact: communitygardens@austintexas.gov
Join a Community Garden
To join a community garden, reach out to the gardens directly. Contact information can be found on the Coalition of Austin Community Gardens website (see the link below).