Community gardens help create great communities, connect people to their food supply, empower residents to grow their own food, promote healthy activity and better nutrition, and create a more livable urban environment. The City of Tacoma’s community garden program is adding garden spaces throughout Tacoma as part of the Tacoma-Pierce County Community Garden Program.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Community Garden Program is a collaborative effort of the City of Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Metro Parks, Pierce County, Forterra (formerly Cascade Land Conservancy) and other community groups. The Community Garden Program works to support the deveopment and success of community gardens by providing information and assistance to community gardens, facilitating garden networks, and hosting workshops and events.

2013 Events     
2013 Edible Garden Workshop Series       
About the gardens          
Gardens in development

No events are scheduled at this time for 2013.

2013 Edible Garden Workshop Series  

Please visit www.piercecd.org/communitygardens for up-to-date information about workshops and events.

For more information, contact Kristen McIvor at (253) 363-1846 or email KristenM@piercecountycd.org.

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About the gardens

Tacoma and Pierce County are home to a variety of community gardens, managed by both public and private entities. Below is a peek at the community gardens that are part of the City of Tacoma’s program. (For information about community gardens not owned by the City of Tacoma, go to www.PierceCD.org or contact garden program coordinator Kristin McIvor.)

Green Thumb Community Garden, Portland Avenue & Wright Street
This garden has been a runaway success and already has a waiting list. Features of this garden include a number of accessible plots which are taller than the typical raised bed. The community has painted several cedar planks that provide a colorful display along the back fence. This neighborhood has been very involved in all parts of making this garden a reality, and have already begun converting a nearby empty lot owned by the Puyallup Tribe into a second community garden.

Orchard & Vine, North 45th & Orchard
This garden has been transformed from a gravel parking lot and eyesore into a gorgeous garden featuring lots of raised beds, a children’s garden and a lovely hand-painted sign. A community gathering area is in the works, complete with a barbecue pit for community celebrations. This garden has already been harvesting its bounty and taking produce to local food banks.

Northeast Tacoma, 57th Avenue Norteast & Norpoint Way
This community garden site was completed during the Spring of 2011 and is a gorgeous addition to the neighborhood, it also features a gorgeous view of Mount Rainier. The gardeners have built two picnic tables and are planning to construct a gathering space where people can sit, hang out in the garden and enjoy the view.  Come check out the wooden chicken.

South 48th Street & Yakima Avenue
Garden beds have been built and planted and other details for this garden are underway. Features of this garden will ultimately include a children’s garden, dedicated food bank donation area and an education space for gardening workshops.  

North 16th & Junett   
Built on the site of a former Tacoma Public Utilities substation, this garden features accessible plots and an amazing gazebo!  Swing by and check out the gate and sign.  The active neighborhood group has created a beautiful garden that functions as a neighborhood gathering place for get-togethers.  Also the home of an active food bank garden that donates food to the emergency food system.

The below sites are under development!  Contact Kristen if you would like to participate in the creation of gardens on these sites. 

• North 43rd & Pearl
• East 51st between East L and East K 
• East 68th between East L and East M (adjacent to the south side of Boze Elementary)