Community gardens bring people in neighborhoods together. For a small fee of $12 per month made payable to the Community Gardens of Tucson, residents can plant flowers and vegetables on a small plot of land at one of their gardening sites. The fee pays the water bill and pays for irrigation equipment. Because these are neighborhood gardens, individuals and families get a designated plot on which they can plant their fresh, organic goods. Before people became concerned about the environment, community gardens were around in cities like Tucson, Arizona.
Chaverim Garden
Chaverim Garden, located of East Second Street, is a community garden on the east side of Tucson. The nearest thoroughfares are North Sahuarita and North Sonoita. The closest main street is Speedway Avenue. This neighborhood garden serves communities that live on the outlying areas east of Tucson. Because the location is parallel to a main street, it should be easy to find for people familiar with the area. People who want to get a small plot to plant their gardens should contact site coordinator Stephanie Bourn-MacDonald at [email protected].
Presidio Garden
Presidio is located off Fort Lowell and Country Club in the Presidio Neighborhood. This community garden is an ideal location for people trying to go green who live in Midtown. This neighborhood garden grows organic vegetables every season. The produce is surprisingly lush and green to say they have to thrive in a dry, hot climate. They have a bed and breakfast nearby, but people can pick the produce unless they are gardeners or invited guests. For more information on Presidio Garden, contact site coordinator Gene Zonge at [email protected].
Wilson Garden
Wilson Garden is located in the Wilson Neighborhood, close to the intersections of Campbell Avenue and Prince Road. This community garden is a few miles north of the University of Arizona and many students and staff workers of the University live in the neighborhoods near this location. For the small monthly fee, they can go green and enjoy organic vegetables grown by their own hands. For more information, email site coordinator Melissa Urreiztieta at [email protected].
Sabino Vista Garden
Sabino Vista, located at Sabino and Cloud Road, is in the northeast section in the outlying region of the city of Tucson. It is not easily assessable for anyone living in midtown or the southern area of the city. This community garden serves people who live in this secluded area. People who want to go green and live in this area should not be surprised to have their neighborhood garden visited by some of the wildlife that inhabits these areas of the city. For information about this area garden, email site coordinator Teddy Carney at [email protected] or Cindy Hazeltine at [email protected].
People who want to go green and invest in the $12 a month for a plot of land benefit themselves and the environment. The money helps keep the community gardens going. They know that the food grown at the community garden is fresh, organic and pesticide free. These neighborhood gardens can also serve as an educational experience because they have information on healthy eating and even sponsor trips for children at local schools. So, the community gardens in Tucson help the city as well as individuals.
