Community Gardening in Duval County

UF/IFAS Duval County Urban Gardening Program manages one community garden on City of Jacksonville property at our Superior Street Demonstration Garden location. If you don’t have adequate space to grow vegetables at your home, or if you are looking for new gardening friends with whom you can learn and improve your gardening skills, renting a community garden plot might be for you.

Plots are available for rent to all Duval County Residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Gardeners sign a rental agreement and are able to grow vegetables, culinary herbs and edible flowers for family (non-commercial) use. If you would like to inquire about plot availability, please contact Beth Marlowe at 904-255-7450 or bmarlowe@coj.net.

Community Garden Assistance

The Urban Gardening Program assists other  community gardens throughout Jacksonville with  education and technical assistance to help  them  grow successfully. If you are interested in starting a  community garden, or renovating an existing garden,  please fill out a Community Garden Assistance Form. We can help with all phases of setting up and maintaining your community garden,  including such things as:

Planning Phase

• Start-up Checklists
• Budget Worksheets
• Site Assessments
• Plot Applications/Agreements
• Garden & Irrigation Design Guidance
• Identifying Grant Opportunities

Development Phase

• Soil Testing
• Raised Bed Construction Guidance
• Irrigation Installation Guidance
• Limited Site Preparation (Tillage)

Growth Phase

• Seed and Transplant assistance
• Educational Guidance
• Cultivar Selection
• Crop Timing
• Fertilizer Recommendations
• Pest, Disease and Nutrient Deficiency Identification
• Integrated Pest Management
• Troubleshooting Problems

Community Garden Resources: 

 There are a number of resources available online for those interested in starting a community garden. Below is a selection of documents that may be particularly helpful for gardeners in Duval County.

• Starting a Community Garden
• Community Garden Regulations
• Direct Marketing and Value Added
• Cottage Food Legislation