Directory of Gardens

HOAPV Community Garden

The Historic Oaks of Allen Parkway Village (HOAPV) Community Garden is located in the Fourth Ward in the historic Freedman's Town area off of Allen Parkway. This area has been recently renovated and offers low-income housing to area residents. It now also offers residents the opportunity to grow their own organic vegetables and a chance to meet their neighbors.

 

The garden was constructed in May of 2003 with the help of both the senior residents and community volunteers. The garden serves multiple purposes. It is available so that residents can grow their own organic produce. It serves as a meeting place for residents and as a place where they can educate each other and share their experiences. Also it is there as a therapy garden, returning the role of caregiver to the elderly residents. In the future, the gardeners hope to produce enough vegetables to be able to provide the surplus to the on-site food pantry.

 

The gardeners are elderly residents, including equal numbers of African-Americans and Vietnamese. Many of these residents are familiar with gardening and rarely miss the opportunity to educate others and share stories. They are enthusiastic, independent, and arrive in large numbers for garden workdays. Gardeners in the summer of 2003 grew bush beans, purple hull beans, squash, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, okra, cabbage, and herb plants.

 

As in most community gardens, challenges are ongoing, but some are quite unique. On one July planting work day, gardeners discovered that the knob to the water spigot had been stolen. The coordinator had to call a maintenance person to open the water faucet with a wrench. It was determined that one of the area adolescents had taken it as a prank.

 

Visitors are welcome at the garden between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Contact Urban Harvest for additional information if you would like to visit.

 

 

 

 

2311 Canal St., Suite 122, Houston, TX 77003
713-880-5540 •