How can I become a gardener?
Garden plots will become available on January 3, 2017 at both Sunrise and Yauger Gardens. Standard plots are 5’ x 10’ and are rented out for $25 a year. Each household can have up to two plots. The garden application is available below, or in person at the Olympia Center (222 Columbia St. Olympia WA 98501). For more information, please contact Luke Burns at 360.570.5857 or lburns@ci.olympia.wa.us.
Garden locations
There are currently two community gardens in City of Olympia parks.
Sunrise Park
505 Bing St. NW
The Sunrise Community Garden was established in 2006 through a partnership between GRuB (Garden-Raised Bounty), the City of Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation department, TOGETHER!, and the USDA. The garden is situated in Sunrise Park on Olympia’s Westside, neighboring a HUD-subsidized low-income apartment complex. In fall 2011, the City began management of this garden.
Sunrise Community Garden has 55 garden beds, a toolshed, a covered compost system, a covered seating area, and a community strawberry bed.
Yauger Community Garden
530 Alta St. SW; west side of park adjacent to Dirt Works.
The Yauger Community Garden was completed in March, 2011 and is now hosting Olympia gardeners. It has 79 garden beds, 9 of which are ADA accessible. The garden also boasts a toolshed, a compost system, a covered seating area, and multiple community blueberry beds.
One of our talented gardeners has created a blog for the Community Gardens. This blog provides insight to gardeners by highlighting organic gardening methods, pest control methods, and reuse of household items in the garden.
Check out Grace's blog: Gardeners of Yauger Park Blog
History
In 2010, the City of Olympia adopted a 10 year Parks Plan. During the plan development process, community gardens were identified as an emerging program need that the department embraced. The plan calls for the development of three to six gardens located throughout the community. The City may contract with neighborhood associations and local non-profits to plan, operate, and maintain community gardens on property it manages or owns.