Best Community Gardens In Orange County

Community gardens help promote relationships with members of the community and educate those members the importance of healthy living. There are many programs throughout Southern California that promote these gardens for personal use and for school food services as a garden-to-cafeteria program. If you are looking to give back to the community by providing for your local school the Department of Food and Agriculture has a validation process for your garden to become a certified producer. Here are the best community gardens to help promote healthy living habits and opportunities to give back to the community in Orange County.

Wig Wag Community Garden
428 S. Melrose St.
Anaheim, CA 92805
anaheim.net

The city of Anaheim began a community garden project in 2012 and is currently hosting four garden run by the city with community members. These projects have transformed unused land throughout Anaheim to help promote community interactions, relationships and healthy living. To learn more about this plot in Anaheim contact the community leaders by visiting the website.

The Community Gardens
Main St & Maple Ave.
Orange, CA
(714) 744-7276
cityoforange.org

The existing 8,000-square-foot plot in Orange is home to 51 individual plots that are 10 feet by 15 feet. In order to reserve a plot at this location there a few requirements including a $100 deposit per plot and each resident pays $75 per plot every year to use the community gardens. There are access paths, fencing and water services for those that are looking to invest in a plot. Every January the plots are renewed with priority given to existing plot renters. 

South Laguna Community Garden
South Laguna Civic Association
P.O. Box 9668
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
southlaguna.org

What started as a garden project with volunteers and donations on Aug 2009 with weeding led to community members to complete the carpentry, fence installation, terracing and rock placement for the grand opening of this community garden Dec 2009 with a grand opening. The transformation of this garden was done by the work of volunteers and donations by the community. The last few years the garden has become a park that is enjoyed by Laguna residents and visitors. For those that are interested in learning more about gardening can enjoy classes that are available at this location. There are two free events every month for locals and visitors to come and learn more about the community and how they can get more involved.

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Del Mar Community Garden
170 Del Mar Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(714) 754-5034
costamesaca.gov

There are two community gardens located in Costa Mesa and operated by the city. The 60-parcel property at Del Mar is approximately 15 feet by 15 feet per plot for the local community to take part in starting a garden. For those that take part or have a plot at this community, they have water service, access to a portable toilet and a trash dumpster. No commercial use of the land is permitted as this is to help promote person consumption and healthy living. Maintenance of the parcel is up to the gardener and to apply for a plot, you will need to visit the website and apply for the waitlist.

Seeds of Hope Garden Project
St Andrew's Episcopal Church
1231 E Chapman Ave. 
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 870-4350
saintandrewsfullerton.com

On a mission to provide nutrition and food to the poor in the Orange County community, the St Andrew's Episcopal Church in Fullerton plans to turn their 11,700-square-foot front lawn into an urban garden. In consultation with biologist and farmer Jonathan Duffy Davis, the church will have a goal of 50 boats loaded with plantings and harvest of fruits and vegetables for the community. They will be providing the food harvested on the land to three local food banks that help feed 1,400 people each week. LA landscape architect Mark Rios helped design the garden. If you would like to donate your time as a volunteer to help this project grow, visit the website to learn more.

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