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Volunteers shovel soil into a raised bed garden installed by Victory Garden Initiative. (Photo by Jennifer Reinke)
Milwaukee offers many opportunities for residents to tend a garden during the summer growing season. Plots vary in size, neighborhood restrictions and growing periods. Residents wanting to raise a garden in a vacant lot can apply for permits as well.
Urban garden opportunities are listed below. If you are aware of a community garden that is not listed, please leave a comment.
Name: Alice’s Garden
Location: Corner of West Garfield Avenue and North 20th Street
Cost: $25
Description: Residents of the neighborhood have rental priority for the 16-square-foot in-ground plots. Beds that are not rented by residents are available to the public.
Website: http://www.alicesgardenmilwaukee.com/rental-plots.html
Alice’s Garden features in-ground garden beds for neighborhood residents. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Contact: 414-687-0122
Name: Concordia Gardens
Location: 220 E. Concordia Ave.
Cost: $10-30 for first plot; $10 for an additional plot
Description: This community garden features 4- by 8-foot raised beds.
Website: http://victorygardeninitiative.org/event-1816969
Contact: Yaa Bema Tutu at yaa@VictoryGardenInitiative.org or 414-364-7579
Name: Garden District Community Garden
Location: Sixth Street and West Howard Avenue
Cost: $25 with an additional $25 clean-up deposit
Description: Beds available to rent include in-ground 20-foot square beds and raised 4- by 16-foot beds. The clean-up deposit will be returned once the renter cleans the bed at the end of the season.
Website: http://milwaukeegdna.com/Committees/Garden_Committee/garden_committee.html#GardenPlots
Contact: Dawn at dawn@milwaukeegdna.com or 414-379-2450
Name: Madison Garden
Location: 3201 W. Madison St.
Cost: $5 for residents living in Silver City, Burnham Park or Layton Park
Description: Four 4- by 8-foot raised beds are available in this pocket park created by residents and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors.
Website: http://www.lbwn.org/parks-recreation
Contact: Brett Lipshutz at blip73@gmail.com
Name: Milwaukee County Cooperative Extension
Location: Ten locations available: http://milwaukee.uwex.edu/files/2010/08/Community-Gardens-Map.pdf
Cost: $20 up to $252, depending on bed size.
Description: Garden sizes range from 200- to 10,000-square-foot beds. Staff from the Cooperative Extension Urban Agriculture Program till, stake and provide water for the gardens. The renting period is May 25 to Oct. 18. Garden rentals may be renewed to keep the same plot each year.
Website: http://milwaukee.uwex.edu/agriculture/garden-rental/
Contact: garden.rentals@ces.uwex.edu or 414-256-4606
Name: Milwaukee Urban Gardens
Location: Varies
Cost: No cost for permit
Description: Residents can apply for seasonal permits from the City of Milwaukee to plant gardens in vacant city-owned lots in their neighborhood.
Website: http://city.milwaukee.gov/NeighborhoodGardens#.VQs1QmZBC3J
Contact: groundworkac@gmail.com or 414-431-0919
Name: The Story Garden
Location: 2830 W. Burnham St.
Cost: Free for residents living in Silver City, Burnham Park or Layton Park.
Description: Six 4- by 8-foot raised beds are available in this pocket park created by residents and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors.
Website: http://www.lbwn.org/parks-recreation
Contact: Jorian Giorno at jorian@lbwn.org or 414-385-5341
Name: Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley Community Gardens
Location: Three Bridges Park
Cost: $35 Members ($70 Non-members)
Description: Available plots are 4- by 8-foot or 4- by 10-foot beds and are in walking distance of the Menomonee Valley Branch of the Urban Ecology Center. The organization provides gardening classes, as well as tools and water on site.
Website: http://urbanecologycenter.org/what-we-do/grow-your-own-food.html
Contact: Michael Espinoza at mespinoza@urbanecologycenter.org or 414-431-2940
Name: Victory Garden Initiative
Location: Varies
Cost: $160
Description: Volunteers from the Great Milwaukee Victory Garden Blitz will build and install raised garden beds from May 9 to May 23. Those interested should register for the 4-foot by 8-foot raised bed, which includes fresh soil.
Could we register our Martin Drive Neighborhood Garden? http://www.martin-drive.org/community_gardens_new.html This year we will be adding a rain harvesting and activity pavillion to the garden.
Name: 53rd Street School Community Garden
Location: On 53rd Street School grounds, at Keefe Ave. and 53rd St.
Cost: $10 per 4×8 plot for the season
Description: A community garden that includes privately leased beds as well as several community beds that are tended by all gardeners.
Contact: Heather Morris, Garden Coordinator: 414-444-4645 or bobheatherm@att.net