Go Green in Portland, Oregon with the Neighborhood Community Gardens

Community gardens offer city dwellers the opportunity to test their horticultural skills within the city limits. These ecologically minded projects consist of plots of land that gardeners can rent from the city or organization providing the space and management. Community gardens give the urban population the opportunity to grow fresh, local produce, work towards sustainability, teach their children about rural living, cut down their grocery bills (especially important with the current economy), improve their communities, go green and have a little fun while they are at it. If you are looking to get in on the gardening action, Portland, Oregon is a great place to live.

Portland, Oregon has a well organized and managed community garden program. It is run by the Parks and Recreation Department, and boasts a network of more than thirty gardens throughout the area. All of Extensive information about these gardens can be found at the centralized website in the Nature section at www.portlandonline.com/parks/, or you can call (503) 823-1612. All of the rules and regulations for the various gardens can be found on the website as well as information on volunteering, special events, and tips on gardening etiquette. Twenty to eighty-five dollars will get you started in the program.

Brentwood Community Garden is located in Brentwood Park. It was acquired in 1996 and consists of 1.03 acres of gardening space. Located at SE 57^th Avenue and Cooper Street, the garden boasts a small fruit demonstration site for those interested. Visit the website for more information and maps.

Gabriel Garden and Orchard not only has a pretty name, but also has an even prettier demonstration orchard. If you are interested in fruit, this is the garden for you. It is located at SW 41^st Avenue and Canby Street. The garden was acquired in 1975, and the orchard is mature and interesting

If you cannot get enough of composting (yes, I mean it), then you should check out Fulton Garden. This site, located at SW 3^rd Avenue and Miles Street, has a composting demonstration site. Learn about this valuable tool to help your garden grow and help you to cut down on waste. The garden was acquired in 1974, and its maturity is evident in the lushness of the garden. The website has some lovely pictures.

The Portland, Oregon Community Gardening Program encompasses such values as organic gardening, composting, food sustainability, intergenerational activities, and community involvement. These are helpful in making the gardens a success, but just be prepared for a lot of work (all gardens are) and being part of a passionate community. For information on community gardening in general (and to get a feel for the community gardeners), www.communitygarden.org is a must visit website. If you are interested in volunteering or being more involved with the program, www.friendspdxgardens.org is the site to see.

Whatever you are interested in growing, Portland, Oregon has the community garden for you. So, get out there and get growing