Community gardens abound in Long Beach, California!
Residents love to connect with learning opportunities, get their hands dirty, and have a patch of land to practice growing their own food in local community gardens.
Several organizations across the City of Long Beach host community gardens. They are all not-for-profit efforts to build community health and environmental resilience. Some sites offer individual plots, while others offer a communal growing experience. Most are very low cost, and involve volunteering one’s time to keep up the site.
Long Beach Organic Community Gardens
longbeachorganic.org
Long Beach Organic hosts several gardens across the City. Priority is given to residents who live nearby, and most gardens typically have a wait list. Gardeners contribute volunteer hours to help keep the costs low, and the organization offers regular learning opportunities to gardeners and neighbors alike, as well as an annual donation-based seedling sale in March, and a food pantry program with CSULB’s student association.
Seventh and Chestnut – 348 West 7th St
Orizaba Park – 1431 Orizaba Ave
South Forty – 2813 E. South St
Grace Park – 401 E Plymouth Ave
Mary Molina – 1640 W. 20th St
Zaferia Junction – 3709 10th St
Pacific and Sixth – 612 Pacific Ave
Crown Victory Garden – 914 Redondo Ave
Long Beach Community Garden Association
7550 E Spring St. Long Beach, CA
LBCG was founded 40 years ago and has resided within the city’s nature center for 27 years. It’s one of the largest community gardens in Southern California, and also contains an orchard of 100+ trees, which members share with their robust food bank program.
LBCG.org
Santa Fe Community Garden
2380 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA
Located in the lot behind Casa Chaski’s, this communal garden offers learning opportunities, regular volunteer hours, and shared harvest of community produce. Find them on Facebook to inquire about current programming.
St Luke’s Teaching Garden
525 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA
A vibrant communal garden organized by St Luke’s members, and open to neighbors to share in growing and participating in classes. More information is on their website.
Firehouse Community Farm
6509 Gundry Ave, Long Beach CA
A communal garden that’s hosts UC Master Gardener’s “Grow LA Vegetable Garden” classes, crop swaps, and collaborations with local makers, artists, and food security organizations. Rather than individual plots, this space is designed like a small urban farm to benefit the community – volunteers can share their own crops, volunteer and receive community produce. Also on-site, Phil’s Farmstand operates seasonally with donation-based produce.
Website
Hudson Park Community Garden
2358 Easy Ave Long Beach, CA
One of the longest running community gardens in Long Beach, Hudson Park offers large plots, easy irrigation, and a diverse and experienced community of gardeners in West Long Beach
Healthy Active Long Beach Community Peace Garden
1133 E Rhea St Long Beach, CA
Gardeners sign up for a plot, and contribute volunteer hours to maintain the broader space, with priority given to nearby residents, CalFresh or WIC-eligible households. Hosts regular events where volunteers can share their own crops, volunteer, and receive community produce.
Get a plot!
Questions? LBPeaceGarden@longbeach.gov
The Growing Experience
750 Via Carmelitos Ave Long Beach CA
The Growing Experience Urban Farm offers garden plots in connection with Carmelitos Housing and The MAYE Center. For more information on becoming a gardener, or participating in their community wellness support and urban agriculture training programs, contact The MAYE Center.
Children’s Gateway Garden
401 Golden Ave, Long Beach CA
Tucked into a public park, this ADA-accessible learning garden has offered youth programming and produce harvesting to the community. Contact healthyactivelb@longbeach.gov to get involved.
Public School Gardens
There are more than 20 school gardens city-wide, thanks in large part to the American Heart Association’s investment nearly a decade ago. Today, they are managed by different educators, parents, and organizations throughout the City. Inquiring with the school’s office is advised in order to get involved.
Alvarado Elementary School
Boys and Girls Club – Westside Center
Colin Powell Academy
Cubberley K-8 School
Garfield Elementary School
Herrera Elementary School
King Elementary School
Longfellow Elementary School
McKinley Elementary School
Patrick Henry K-8 School
Prisk Elementary School
Signal Hill Elementary School
St. Anthony Elementary School
Stephens Middle School
Twain Elementary School
Webster Elementary School
Whittier Elementary School
Franklin Classical Middle School
More info at Heart.org, or contact your school principal!
Trying to start a community garden?
Check out some of these best practices and resources!