Gardens in Need of Members
Below are gardens currently searching for new membership and support. Each garden is unique in operations, whether they practice communal or individual plots and amount of garden space available. Use the contact information below to learn how to get involved.
Feel free to tell religious institutions, organizations, student groups and neighbors about the search for new garden membership at these locations.
A map is located at the bottom of this page with the locations of each of these gardens. Please refer to the letter in front of each garden description in locating the garden you are most interested in.
Contact Matt Even, Community Outreach VISTA, at 314-588-9600 ext. 29 for information.
A - Fountain Park – Large Garden space with home-made pergola and wind chimes. Garden bed space available for gardening.
B - Ford Community Garden – Formerly a school garden, now managed by long time neighborhood residents caring for the area.
C - Gateway Elementary School – Gateway Elementary School is committed to involving students in activities that will prepare them for a life of learning, focusing on Communication Arts, Mathematics, Science, Technology and Character Education. Help teachers with the youth of the garden.
D - Gravois Park Gardens – formerly International Institute Global Garden South, this garden has an open space, fence and small peach trees that need tending.
E - Metropolitan Village – This garden is located across the streets from Metropolitan Village Apartments. Work alongside apartment residents and a large secluded garden.
F - Indiana Tender – Main goal is to provide produce to people in the neighborhood who need it. Strictly a communal garden wanting members to join.
G - William L. Clay Senior Living Community Garden - A large garden that is maintained by volunteers from the 7th District Police Department and members of the Senior Living Center. Help maintain the garden with its members and volunteers.
H - Central Reform Community Garden - Small, secluded garden space previously tended by Central Reform Congregation. The garden currently needs 1-2 dedicated garden members.
I - Bolden Community Garden –This garden is currently looking to restructure leadership and pass along all garden responsibilities to new membership. The family who originally cared for this privately-owned garden would like to keep the garden alive in honor of their late mother but transfer routine management to new gardeners. This site provides an excellent opportunity for individuals in East St. Louis who are dedicated to gardening for the long term in their community.
J - COLA Youth Victory Community Garden – This garden is focused on mentoring and providing teen awareness to various youth groups. The garden welcomes members and youth participants of ages 10 and up. Garden space and program opportunities are available.
K - Fresh Starts Community Garden – Large, fenced in garden with raised beds on the corner of Dayton and Glasgow. Garden space is available with a large tool shed and access to water.
L - Dogtown Community Garden – A well established garden that has multiple garden beds with different themes. Dogtown Community Garden leaders are looking to fill positions for empty plots in this 15+ member garden.
M - Dorothy Park - Named after Alderman Conway's favorite aunt, Dorothy Park was established in 2001. Located on the southeast corner of Thurman and Shenandoah Avenues, Dorothy Park is in need of new members to help maintain the garden. This ornamental garden is well established and normally needs two big work sessions a year; one in early Spring and the second later in the Fall. Current garden members also need assistance with the annual plant swap and sale held the Saturday before Mother's Day. The plant swap is the garden's main fundraising event and proceeds are used to pay the water bill, mulch, etc.
N - Roots to Shoots - Roots To Shoots Community Garden now has 20 raised beds. We’re on almost an acre of sunny, mulched, and level land, with plenty off-street, paved parking. Some raised beds are now available to gardeners. Gardening tools are kept locked in our shed. We have blueberries bushes on berms, and grapes on vines, for community gardeners to manage and enjoy. Gardeners also need to attend three group work sessions in 2012.
If anyone has any questions, would like to join one of the gardens above, or advertise your own community garden on this list, please contact:
Matt Even
Community Outreach VISTA
Matt@gatewaygreening.org
314-588-9600 ext. 29
Map of Gardens in Need of Memberships
View Community Gardens in Need of Membership in a full screen map
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