Our first community garden in Greenwich, The Armstrong Court Community Garden, was established in 2009. At over 15,000 square feet, this garden boasts over 140 4’x8’ raised beds, a pergola & picnic benches, Native, Butterfly & Herb gardens, an outdoor brick pizza oven, and two garden sheds filled with tools & wheelbarrows. The Butterfly Garden and several vegetable garden plots are home to our children’s gardening initiative, which we offer to the on-site Head Start Program. This “Kids Gardening Club” is supported by the Greenwich Garden Club and other local partners. In September 2015, Audubon Connecticut designated this garden an Urban Oasis.

In October 2011, Greenwich Community Gardens became a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, with the mission of creating a town-wide food system of community and private gardens, that would allow all members of the community to have access to affordable, local, healthy, sustainable sources of food.

In 2014, we opened our second community garden based on the same principles of responsible and healthful gardening. The Bible Street Community Garden in Cos Cob offers 92 4’x 8’ raised beds, 12 Universal Access plots for those with limited mobility, a lovely pollinator-friendly Welcome Garden and an ongoing meadow restoration project.

Both gardens have composting bins and sheds filled with ample garden tools, gloves and wheelbarrows. We offer garden classes for our gardeners and local residents throughout the year. Organic seeds and seedlings are often provided by local nurseries, individual donors, organic seed companies and volunteers working in our own greenhouse. In 2017, we installed rainwater harvesting systems at both gardens.

Our “Neighborly Harvest Program” produces hundreds of pounds of fresh produce annually for our Neighbor to Neighbor food pantry in Greenwich. This initiative provides nutritious food to over 1,000 people who depend on this service weekly.

In 2020, we took over management at the Culinary Wellness Garden at Nathaniel Witherell, growing fresh organic produce and delivering it straight to the chef at the Nathaniel Witherell kitchen, where it is prepared into healthy meals for the residents. This all-volunteer gardening project is an important partnership between Greenwich Community Gardens, local residents and businesses.

OUR GOALS:

Healthy Food for ALL

• Create access to affordable, local, healthy and sustainable food sources for all Greenwich residents.
• Help combat obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and diet-related issues in adults AND children.
• Promote healthy living through gardening and garden education.

Growing Locally

• Locate community gardens throughout Greenwich within reasonable walking, biking or driving distance.
• Make it easy for individuals and families to grow healthy food and to help our local food pantry stock fresh, local produce.
• Help to ensure that we know where our food comes from, that it is grown without chemicals and that it is not genetically modified.

Strengthening the Local Community

• Create public/private partnerships – build diverse and collaborative relationships with community organizations, businesses and governmental entities.
• Connect people with each other, reducing isolation and creating a stronger sense of place. (Growing, eating and sharing food brings communities together.)
• Improve quality of life – health, well-being & happiness
• Offer recreational, therapeutic and educational opportunities for people of all ages.
• Provide a catalyst for neighborhood and community development.

Protecting the Environment

• Support responsible stewardship of our environment to enhance bio-diversity, protect wildlife and encourage pollinators, and make good use of open & green spaces.
• Protect the quality of our land, soil, air and water by eliminating the use
  of chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilzers.
• Prevent food waste and lower our carbon footprints – reduce, reuse, recycle!
• Support public policy that will confirm support for community gardens