Community gardens are all around the San Antonio area. They are a great place to enjoy some nature but also to learn about gardening and provide community interaction. Usually these gardens are started by a local organization or committee and maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers. Some of these gardens are a true communal effort where everyone who participates gets to enjoy the benefits of the yield. Other gardens have plots that individuals work and that is their designated work space but still with community spirit and events. It’s a good place to pop in and learn with the kids or to volunteer as a family. Some of these gardens have various workdays or workshops that would be fun and educational for all. Getting out in nature like this is a good way to perhaps start your own family gardening adventure! Here are just a few community gardens around San Antonio:
Ron Pedde Community Garden
1017 Town Creek Rd. Cibolo TX 78108
This natural area is part of Schlather Park and serves as a demonstration garden maintained by the City Gardener, who is an AgriLife Master Gardener. Garden plots will soon be available for seasonal rental. Volunteers are welcome to help and learn gardening!
Guadalupe County Community Garden
1101 Elbel Road, Schertz, TX 78154
This garden sits behind the Guadalupe County Annex Building. Guadalupe County Master Gardeners and Texas AgriLife Extension maintain this area and use it as a teaching garden. There is also a butterfly garden area. Much of the food grown here is given to the Schertz Food Bank.
Gardopia Gardens
619 North New Braunfels Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78202
This garden serves as a community center that has a goal to increase food security for the community. There are Saturday volunteer days and occasional farmers markets held there.
El Dorado Community Garden
12606 Prima Vista, San Antonio, TX 78233
This community space has various workshops, sometimes in Spanish, for the community. There are also outreach volunteers that go out into the nearby community to beautify areas.
Beacon Hill Community Garden
1144 W Gramercy Pl, San Antonio, TX 78201
This site has become a place for social gatherings, education, and more. Plots are free to the nearby community when available. There are monthly workdays to maintain the herb area, butterfly garden, vegetable beds, etc.
Landa Community Garden
233 Bushnell, San Antonio, TX 78212
This garden has a medieval theme with an area for herbs, culinary, fragrance, and beauty. In addition, this garden meets the criteria to qualify for the Mayor’s National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors Monarch Pledge. In order to maintain this criteria the garden must support habitats for a variety of different animals.
Little Victory Community Garden Organic Community Garden
6440 Evers Road, Leon Valley, TX 78238
This natural area is owned and operated by the city of Leon Valley. Plots are free and applications are taken every January for Leon Valley residents on a first come first serve basis. Each plot has organic potting soil and no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are allowed.
Labor Serena Community Garden
1246 Chalmers Street, San Antonio, TX 78211
This garden serves as a community center and recently hosted a Spring Break camp for children. Children created stepping stones and were able to get a little dirty while learning about gardening.
Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas and Sustainable San Antonio
These are two organizations that work to keep nature in our urban spaces. As San Antonio grows, they work to help get community gardens started and continue to offer resources to keep those gardens going. This is a good beginning place to check out information on community gardens in your area. However, Bexar County Master Gardeners is also another great resource. Whichever way you find one of these local nature spots, it might be a fun adventure to visit with the kids and see how you can participate and maybe get a little dirty in the process!
