The Many Shapes and Sizes of Community Gardens

Not all community gardens look the same, and that’s the beauty of it. Each one is shaped by the needs, resources, and creativity of the people who build it. From small neighborhood plots to large-scale urban farms, community gardens take on a variety of forms, each with its own purpose and impact. Some focus on growing food, others on education, healing, or environmental stewardship. Some are open to everyone, while others serve a specific group.

No matter the type, they all share a common thread: bringing people together through the power of growing something meaningful.

Gardens That Focus on Food & Sustenance

Allotment Gardens
One of the most common types, allotment gardens provide individuals or families with their own plots to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers. These gardens often include shared spaces for composting, tool storage, or even gathering spots for workshops and social events. Think of them as tiny farms tucked into urban landscapes, giving people the space and opportunity to grow their own food.
Giving Gardens
Built on generosity, giving gardens are designed to produce food for donation. Whether supporting a local food pantry, shelter, or community kitchen, these gardens prioritize feeding those in need. Volunteers—often from churches, nonprofits, or neighborhood groups—come together to tend the crops and make a direct impact on food security in their area.
Urban Farms
Bigger than a traditional community garden but still rooted in the city, urban farms often use innovative techniques like hydroponics, aquaponics, or vertical farming. Many sell their produce at farmers’ markets, supply local restaurants, or run farm stands, creating fresh food access points while supporting the local economy.
Edible Landscapes
Not every garden needs a fence. Edible landscapes weave food-producing plants into public spaces—parks, sidewalks, and even school grounds—where anyone can pick and enjoy fresh produce. These spaces blend beauty with function, turning a walk through the neighborhood into a chance to grab a handful of berries or fresh herbs.
Community Orchards
Fruit trees take center stage in these shared spaces, where the community nurtures and harvests apples, peaches, plums, and other fruit. Some orchards are open to anyone, while others have structured programs where members take turns maintaining and harvesting the trees. Either way, they bring the long-term reward of fresh fruit to the community.

Gardens Designed for Specific Groups or Needs

Youth Gardens
Designed with kids in mind, these gardens—often attached to schools, community centers, or libraries—provide hands-on learning opportunities. Children and teens gain a deeper understanding of where their food comes from while developing teamwork and responsibility.
Senior Gardens
Built to accommodate older adults, senior gardens often feature raised beds for easy access, wide pathways, and plenty of seating. Beyond the practical design, they provide a space for relaxation, socializing, and the many therapeutic benefits of gardening.
Therapeutic Gardens
Gardens have long been used as places of healing, and therapeutic gardens take that concept a step further. Designed to support individuals with physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges, these gardens often include sensory plants, accessible pathways, and calming spaces for reflection or rehabilitation. Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and veterans’ programs frequently use them as part of their therapy programs.
Multicultural Gardens
A celebration of diversity, these gardens reflect the traditions and heritage of the people who tend them. Different gardening techniques, heirloom seeds, and culturally significant plants make each plot a unique expression of its gardener’s background.
Refugee & Immigrant Gardens
For many who have left their home countries, growing familiar crops can be a comforting connection to their heritage. Refugee and immigrant gardens provide a space to cultivate traditional foods while building a new sense of community in an unfamiliar place.

Gardens That Highlight Special Methods or Themes

Organic Gardens
Committed to chemical-free growing, organic gardens avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. They focus on building healthy soil and using natural pest control methods to produce food in harmony with nature.
Permaculture Gardens
Taking inspiration from natural ecosystems, permaculture gardens are designed for sustainability and self-sufficiency. These gardens often feature companion planting, water conservation techniques, and perennial crops that require minimal intervention.
Pollinator Gardens
More than just a pretty space, these gardens are specifically designed to support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. With native plants, nectar-rich flowers, and habitat features, they play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity.
Herb Gardens
Culinary and medicinal herbs thrive in these gardens, which often serve as community resources for cooking, tea-making, and natural remedies. They can be stand-alone spaces or incorporated into larger community gardens.
Vertical Gardens
When space is tight, gardeners go up. Vertical gardens use trellises, hanging containers, and wall-mounted planters to maximize growing space, making them ideal for urban settings with limited ground area.
Rooftop Gardens
Often found in cities, these gardens transform rooftops into lush, productive spaces. In addition to growing food, they help insulate buildings, reduce stormwater runoff, and create much-needed green space in dense urban areas.
Community Greenhouses
Extending the growing season, community greenhouses provide a controlled environment for starting seedlings and growing food year-round. They’re particularly valuable in colder climates, where outdoor growing time is limited.

Gardens That Foster Community & Education

Learning Gardens
Designed for hands-on education, these gardens focus on teaching children and adults about gardening, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. Schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations often use them as outdoor classrooms.
Demonstration Gardens
A living exhibit of sustainable gardening practices, demonstration gardens showcase everything from composting techniques to water-efficient irrigation. Visitors can learn new skills and take ideas back to their own gardens.
Neighborhood Gardens
Smaller in scale but big on impact, neighborhood gardens are maintained by local residents and serve as a gathering place for the community. Whether it’s a few raised beds in a vacant lot or a full-scale garden project, these spaces bring neighbors together.
Pocket Parks with Gardens
Blending community gardening with public green space, pocket parks turn small, unused plots into inviting places with seating, flowers, and sometimes edible plants. They create little oases of greenery in otherwise urban environments.

Endless Possibilities

The best part about community gardens? There’s no single right way to do them. Many gardens blend elements from multiple categories, evolving over time to meet the needs of the people who tend them. Whether it’s a space to grow food, educate, heal, or simply connect, a community garden is always more than just plants in the ground—it’s a reflection of the people who make it thrive.

No matter what shape it takes, a garden has the power to bring life not just to the soil, but to the entire community around it.