There are so many different gardens that are open to community access. To be exact, there are 4000 community garden plots on 47 acres throughout Dane County. We broke down a couple in different parts of Madison for folks to check out.
And when you’re done harvesting, learn how to turn your bounty into pickled and fermented goods to last all year round!
North Side
Troy Community Gardens located North of the 500 block of Troy Drive has 327 plots. To join, contact the registrar at troy53704@gmail.com or (608) 313-5188. Registration is usually on the first Saturday in March at Lakeview Lutheran Church. In the meantime, you can also put yourself on the waitlist.
Black Hawk Middle School and Lindbergh Elementary also offer different community gardens. At Black Hawk Middle School there are 44 plots open to the community. Contact the garden registrar at gardenregistrar@gmail.com or 608-698-0577 to be added to the waitlist. As for Lindbergh Elementary, there are 20 family plots for rental. For more information or to register for a community garden plot, contact Yimmuaj Yang at yang.yimmuaj@gmail.com.
East Side
The Atwood community garden is one of the oldest community gardens in Madison with 110 garden plots and youth programming with the Goodman Community Center. To be placed on the waitlist, send an email to atwoodgarden@gmail.com.
Allis School Heritage Garden is on the school’s grounds. There are over 14 plots and if you are interested in using one, contact Carol Troyer-Shank at ctshank2gm@gmail.com or (608) 469-2678.
Eastside Garden, located at 8 Straubel Court, offers 30 plots for community members, including children's gardens with youth programming through the East Madison Community Center. For more information or to register for a community garden plot, contact Info@EastMadisonCC.org.
West Side
Eagle Heights is home to one of the largest and oldest community gardens in Madison with a whopping 535 plots. For more information, check out their website, contact ehgardens@rso.wisc.edu, or pick up an application from the Community Heights Community Center.
Midvale School and Community Garden offers 43 plots for community members along with a large children’s garden for the students of Midvale Elementary. Contact the garden registrar at midvalecommunitygarden@gmail.com.
South Side
Leopold Park offers 44 plots with 7 raised beds and a children’s plot. If you are interested in being a part of this community Garden, reach out to registrar.leopoldparkgardens@gmail.com.
The Community Garden at Heifetz Park is a 30 by 30 square foot fenced area of land. This community garden is a collective effort with produce shared among gardeners, the neighborhood, and food pantries. If you want to get involved in this group effort, reach out to heifetzparkgarden@gmail.com.
On the Isthmus
There are 28 plots located at Brittingham Park that are open for community use. To learn more, reach out to Tom Wilson at brittinghamgardens@gmail.com or (608) 509-4665.
Crowley Station is another great spot to get your gardening on. This community garden has a collection of raised beds available in two sizes. The sizes are much smaller, making them great for new gardeners. For more information, contact the email CrowleyStationGarden@gmail.com.
