COMMUNITY GARDENS in San Diego County
Most community gardens are grass-roots efforts created by neighborhoods or individuals who feel that their community is enhanced when neighbors come together to grow food. Other gardens are facilitated by the cities and towns in which they reside. Regardless, every community garden is a labor of love that bring folks together to create beauty and delicious food.
Most gardens on this list are full and there is a waiting list to get in. What this means is that there is a growing demand (sorry!) for more. If you're starting one and want to be added to this list, let us know and we'll get you listed. If you've got one and have a plot available, let us know that too and we'll let folks know.
Resources for Starting a Community Garden
ONE Garden at a Time. ONE = Organic, Natural, Edible. This project is in its inception right now, with the goal of providing resources to help people garden in their homes, communities and schools. The project is a collaborative effort by many of San Diego's food resource groups. To find out the latest on this project's development, click here.
(San Diego) Community Farms & Gardens Their mission is simple: to grow community farms and gardens. They are a one-stop resource for all things related to urban gardening and growing, performing outreach, leading tours, hosting or tabling at events, working with city leaders on policies that effect urban agriculture, and collaborating with a variety of like-minded organizations in the San Diego Region.
City of San Diego Community Garden Ordinance (download .pdf file)
Links to articles about Community Gardening
The Incredible, Edible Front Lawn, Earthview's campaign to plant visible public properties with food, Time, July 1, 2008
Community Gardens: Growing Food Brings People Together. Article from Common Dreams Newsletter on the nationwide resurgence of Community Gardens.
San Francisco Firm Harvests Potential of Unused Land, article from the San Francisco Chronicle about growing food in one's yard. SFGate, June 23, 2008.
Lettuce on the White House Lawn, editorial by Ellen Goodman about converting public spaces to food production, from the International Herald Tribune (New York Times), July 4, 2008.
Carlsbad: Carlsbad Community Garden
Contact: Connie Kessler (760) 434-2824
Location: 250 Laguna Drive (north of City Hall), Carlsbad 92008
Description: 48 plots, annual fee $60.00
El Cajon: Magnolia School Community Garden
Contact: Pat Hadley-Jean (619) 440-8506
Location: 650 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon 92021
Description: 36 plots, annual fee $50 plus $25 returnable cleanup fee
Escondido: Escondido Community Garden
Contact: Beth Mercurio (760) 751-2275
Location: West side Centre City Pkwy, between El North Pkwy & Mission Ave.
Description: 80 plots, annual fee $35, semi-annual fee $20, plus deposit
Escondido: Genesis Project
Contact: Megan Townsend, (760) 489-6380
Location: Intersection of E. Washington and Aster Streets, Escondido 92025
Description: 25 plots, no fee, open to residents of Genesis Project
Escondido: Proyecto Cosecha Nuestra
Contact: Rich Buquet (760) 839-4579
Location: 1540 South Escondido Boulevard, Escondido 92025
Description: 39 plots, $10 donation, open to participants of Proyecto Cosecha Nuestra
Escondido: Senior Gardeners’ Club
Contact: Maria Rosales (760) 505-3032 or Cal Watson (858) 673-7398
Location: West side Centre City Pkwy, between El Norte Pkwy & Mission Ave., Esc.
Description: 26 plots; annual fee $10, Open to seniors 55 and older
Escondido: South Escondido Garden
Contact: Norma Gualdelrama (760) 739-9273
Location: 1540 South Escondido Blvd., 92025
Description: 40 plots, annual fee $10
Fallbrook: Fallbrook Community Garden
Contact: Alexandra Lyon (760) 728-1332 or
PO Box 1777, Fallbrook, 92088-1777
Location: Alturas Road and Ali Lane
Description: In progress, looking for volunteers/support
Oceanside: Ivey Ranch Community Garden
Contact: Tonya Danielly (760) 722-4839;
Location: 110 Rancho Del Oro Drive, Oceanside 92057
Description: 48 plots, annual fee $60 for first plot, $40 for second plot
link to their site
Poway: Poway Valley Community Garden
Contact: Lisa Kirchner (858) 716-9323
Location: On Vista View Dr. behind Richardson Pontiac on Poway Road, Poway
Description: 12 plots, annual fee $60
San Diego: Golden Hill Community Garden
Contact: Heidi Behnke (619) 231-0182
Location: 2440 Russ Boulevard, San Diego 92102
Description: 31 plots, annual fee $30
San Diego: Juniper-Front Community Garden
Contact: Jaye Morgan (619) 297-7375
Location: 2260 Front Street, San Diego 92101
Description: 34 plots, annual fee $98, semi-annual fee $48
San Diego: Ocean Beach Community Garden
Contact: Margaret Young (619) 224-5198
Location: Collier Park, NW corner, 2351 Soto Street, San Diego 92107
Description: 50 plots, semi-annual fee $40
San Diego: The Orchard Community Garden
Contact: Kandi Lee (619) 223-3520
Location: 4040 Hancock Street, San Diego 92110
Description: 70 plots, Orchard Apartment residents only (senior citizens)
San Diego: TLC Community Giving Garden
Contact: Carol Morse 858-688-2949 TLCgivinggarden@gmail.com
Location: Tierrasanta Lutheran Church 11240 Claremont Mesa Blvd. San Diego 92124
Description: 70 Plots. We literally are a "Giving Garden." Participants must be willing to donate a small portion of what the grow (preferably some vegetables) for our outreach project. We will work on the honesty policy.
San Diego: Pacific Beach Community Garden
Contact: Gloria Olsen (858) 273-5935
Location: Shasta & Roosevelt Streets, San Diego 92109
Description: 49 plots, semi-annual fee $30
San Diego: Tijuana River Valley Community Garden
Contact: Marty Leavitt (619) 562-0096
Location: Corner of Sunset Avenue & Hollister Street, San Diego 92154
Description: 136 plots, annual fee $60, applications available at Ranger Station 2310 Hollister St., or at Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County, 332 S. Juniper St., Suite 110, Escondido, 92025; phone: 760-745-2061, has a waiting list
link to their site
San Diego: Vera House Community Garden
Contact: Kim Hibler, 858-565-4286;
Location: Corner of 34th Street & N. Mountain View Drive, San Diego 92116
Description: 12 plots, semi-annual fee $25,
link to their site
San Marcos: San Marcos Community Garden
Contact: Bill Schramm (760) 744-9000
Location: 1263 Fulton Road, San Marcos 92069
Description: 30 plots, annual fee $40 1st year, $20 annually thereafter
Santee: Edgemoor Senior Garden
Contact: Paul Marus (619) 562-8015
Location: 9065 Edgemoor Drive, Santee 92071
Description: 30 plots, seniors only, annual fee $20
Get your community garden listed here
If you would like your community garden listed on the San Diego Roots site, please contact and include Name of Garden, Contact Person and Contact Information, Location, Description and Website (if any).
This list was compiled by Linda Kadubec, UC Master Gardener; 1/9/06 and is not associated with this website. To get your community garden listed on the master community garden list, contact Vincent Lazaneo, Horticulture Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, (619) 694-2859