New gardeners may reserve plots at Willie Streeter and Butler Park Community Gardens beginning March 1.
Plots are available for rent April 16-October 31.
The Community Garden Program offers a variety of gardening opportunities for individuals, families, groups and organizations. Services provided include the initial tilling of the garden area, sources of water, maintained paths, composting facilities, fencing, the advice of the garden supervisor (if requested), and the Community Gardening Program newsletter. Communal tools are available at prescheduled times during the week. Gardeners with disabilities or other limitations will find gardening support, including wheelchair-accessible raised beds and access to adaptive tools. All gardens have plenty of conveniently located parking and are also accessible on Bloomington Transit bus routes. A limited number of plots and all the raised beds allow for year-round use, with permission from gardening program staff.
Registration and Garden Plot Rental
- Returning gardeners in good standing from last season have from February 1-18 to renew the rental of the same plots gardened in 2010.
- Also during this time, returning Crestmont gardeners in good standing may rent plots in the new Butler Park Community Garden.
- From February 21-28, returning gardeners in good standing may rent plots other than those they rented in 2010.
- New gardeners may register on March 1 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Call 349-3700 or e-mail
parks@bloomington.in.gov to receive
Community Gardening Registration Forms (PDF 115.16 KB) and
Community Gardening Contract. (PDF 116.63 KB) Prospective gardeners must complete and sign the Registration Form and Gardening Contract.
Registration forms must be submitted in person at the Bloomington Parks and Recreation office, located at 401 N. Morton St. Suite 250 inside
City Hall. The registering gardener can select from available plots and record the plot number on the contract.
Any new gardeners who want to rent more than one plot or a plot with year-round use must contact gardening program staff before registering. For more information, contact Robin Hobson at 349-3704 or e-mail
hobsonr@bloomington.in.gov
Located in
Winslow Woods Park on South Highland Avenue near the YMCA, the Willie Streeter Community Gardens are the Community Garden Program's oldest and largest garden area. Since opening in 1984, the gardens have grown to include 180 organic garden plots and raised beds.
Willie Streeter Community Gardens Plot Map (PDF 34.21 KB)
| Code | Plot Size/Type | Cost |
|---|
| 76503-A | Small Organic Plot
(approx. 100 sq. ft.) | $26/in-city, $31/non-city |
| 76503-B | Large Organic Plot
(approx. 200 sq. ft.) | $52/in-city, $60/non-city |
| 76503-C | Raised Bed
(32 sq. ft.) | $26/in-city, $31/non-city |
| 76503-D | Large Conventional Plot
(approx. 200 sq. ft.) | $52/in-city, $60/non-city |
Located in
Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park at the intersection of West Ninth and North Fairview Streets, the Butler Park Community Garden enables gardeners to learn and practice the techniques of organic gardening. New in 2011, the garden includes 45 garden plots. All plots in this garden are organic and are available in two sizes. This garden also enables the expansion of the Community Gardening Program's partnership with Mother Hubbard's Cupboard by providing space for Mother Hubbard's Cupboard to maintain a hoop house as well as expand their youth gardening program.
Butler Park Community Gardens Plot Map (PDF 564.52 KB)
| Code | Plot Size/Type | Cost |
|---|
| 76504-A | Small Organic Plot
(approx. 95 sq. ft.) | $26/in-city, $31/non-city |
| 76504-B | Large Organic Plot
(approx. 140 sq. ft.) | $40/in-city, $48/non-city |
Crestmont Community Gardens
This season the Community Garden Program and Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Food Pantry will trial an alternative method of community gardening at the
Crestmont Community Garden. Replacing the individual rental plots of past seasons, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard will coordinate a collaborative garden in which all gardeners at this site will garden the entire space together. The harvest will be shared by gardeners and Crestmont community members. Surplus harvests will be distributed through the Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Food Pantry. For more information, call 355-6843 or e-mail
mhc@mhcfoodpantry.org.
Gardening Education Opportunities
People's University, the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department's adult leisure education program, hosts a number of gardening and landscaping classes throughout the spring and summer.
Check out the class list to find a class or course just for you!
Financial Aid Program
To ensure gardening opportunities are available to all members of the Bloomington community, the Community Garden Program offers financial assistance for those in need to help cover garden plot rental fees. For more information or to receive an application, contact
Judy Seigle at 349-3710.
The Banneker Green Thumbs Garden, located at the Banneker Community Center, enables youth enrolled in the Banneker Center's after-school and summer programs to learn the art of organic gardening. Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, a local food pantry, partners with the Community Garden Program to help educate the youth of our community while producing food to be distributed to community members in need through the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign. For information on how to participate
contact Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Food Pantry or call 355-6843.
Plant a Row for the Hungry
To address local issues of community food security, Bloomington Parks and Recreation joins Worm's Way, Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, Bloomingfoods Market and Deli, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard and Hoosier Hills Food Bank in encouraging gardeners to grow an extra row for a hungry family. In 2010, the campaign raised over 40,000 pounds of fresh produce, which was distributed through the Food Bank. For more information on how to participate, call 349-3700 or e-mail
communitygardens@bloomington.in.gov.
