
COMMUNITY GARDENS
UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County’s Community Gardens Program facilitates the creation and management of community gardens in Sarasota County to support community development and sustainable local agriculture. Community gardens provide many benefits to gardeners and the community, including:
- Supporting urban agriculture
- Promoting a sense of community
- Reducing food costs
- Improving health and nutrition
- Enhancing recreational opportunities
Getting into Gardens
Community gardens are popular places, with members eager to welcome friends, neighbors and others interested in not only growing produce but in learning about gardening and sharing their gardening experiences. Learn more about how you can join this community of growers, or start a garden in your area, by visiting our information page, calling 941-861-9900 or emailing sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu.
If you are already a program member, you can save your time and resources by skipping the classroom orientation session and instead viewing the information in our new video series. Please note that link will take you to an event page where you'll need to register, which will allow us to note that you have completed orientation.
For gardeners in our programs and those just working the soil on their own, we're preparing videos on a variety of topics. Our first video focuses on methods for "Putting Your Garden to Bed" for the season, and how that will help keep weeds at bay. Check this site regularly for new videos.
A Community of Gardens
Community Gardens In Sarasota County
View Community Gardens in Sarasota County in a larger map
Bayou Oaks 3530 Old Bradenton Road Sarasota 34234 Layout diagram (PDF: <1mb) |
Bee Ridge 4430 S Lockwood Ridge Road Sarasota 34231 Layout diagram (PDF: <1mb) |
Culverhouse McIntosh Road Sarasota 34238 Layout diagram (PDF: <1mb) |
Englewood 1390 Old Englewood Road Englewood 34223 Layout diagram (PDF: <1mb) |
Laurel 509 Collins Road Sarasota 34275 Layout diagram (PDF: <1mb) |
Nokomis 234 Nippino Trail Sarasota 34275 Layout diagram (PDF: <1mb) |
North Port Durango Ave. / San Jose St. North Port 34287 Layout diagram (PDF: <1mb) |
Grant Programs
Please check individual grant program sites for details regarding funding availability and grant deadlines.
- Sarasota County Neighborhood Grants
- American Community Gardening Association
- Fiskars Project-Orange-Thumb
Resources
- Community Gardens Program Handbook
- Community Gardens Membership Agreement - SAMPLE
- Volunteer Opportunity Description
- Garden Manager Volunteer Opportunity Description
- Governance Procedures
- Garden Walk-through Checklist
- Community Gardens Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan
- Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
- Grievance Form
Vegetable Gardening
IPM and Organic Gardening
- Community Garden Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan
- Organic Gardening and IPM Wallet Card
- Natural Enemies and Biological Control
- Additional Vegetable Gardening Information