Gardens cultivate thriving communities.
Community gardens create spaces for inter-generational interactions, connecting growers of all ages to the land, the neighborhood, and the people of the area.
These communal places improve mental well-being by providing a place to de-stress, meditate, and be productive in nature.
In low-income neighborhoods with limited access to fresh foods, community gardens introduce growers to new fruits and vegetables and make produce more accessible.
In the United States, food now travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to table; community gardens offer a local source of fresh fruits and vegetables, and reduce the local food system’s carbon footprint.
Locally-grown food from community gardens are harvested at peak ripeness and reduce “food miles” that are required to transport nutritious food. This makes for foods that are fresher, more nutritious, and tastier when they reach the plate.
How does Urban Harvest make an impact?
We support over 135 affiliate gardens, spanning 100 miles across the greater Houston area.
65 gardens are in food deserts, and 25 donation gardens provide nutritious produce to shelters, food pantries, corner stores, and meal centers.
Since March 2017, we have provided over 11,730 transplants to affiliate gardens, creating the potential for over 252,000 pounds of organic, locally-grown produce through our seasonal hub distributions.
We give away free & seasonal seeds to affiliate gardens, along with planting guides on growing fresh fruits and vegetables in Houston’s unique climate.
Our Community Gardens program accounts for over 7.3 acres of diversified,
productive greenspace across Houston.
We educate affiliate gardens on how to grow fresh fruits and vegetables through free organic gardening classes & hands-on demonstrations.
Our Affiliate Gardens
How does your community garden grow?
Tips to make your garden sustainable, well-established and long-lasting:
- Meet monthly as a group with garden leaders and volunteers
- Develop a clear leadership team that makes decisions for the garden
- Inform gardeners of what goes on in the garden, day-to-day
- Build a large base of active gardeners
- Offer consistent events and programming
