Updated April 2024
Community gardens are a fun and inexpensive way to provide your family with healthy foods – grown by you! Planting, tending, and harvesting your own produce is a fantastic way for kids to learn about where food comes from. And harvesting their own produce gives them a sense of accomplishment.
No gardening experience? No problem! A green thumb is not required. You can find planting instructions on the internet or at The Rochester Public Library. Check out the RPL’s Seed Library for more.
Rochester and the surrounding area have several places for you to start your own garden. Check out this guide and make sure to get a head start on your plans – the plots fill up quickly!
History Center of Olmsted County
The History Center has a fenced-in community garden for you to use. Plot registration fills up fast, so make sure to get your application in early! You can stop into the History Center or apply online.
Location: 1195 West Circle Drive SW in Rochester
Garden Plot Size: Standard Plot: 14’ x 20’ and Raised Bed: 4′ x 20′ options available
Cost: Member: $75, Nonmember: $100
To Register: Community Garden Rentals
Contact: 507-282-9447
The Village Community Gardens- FULL for 2024
The Village Agriculture Cooperative is a service that provides garden space specifically for recent immigrant communities and low-income residents. Their space expanded four acres In 2022, and it filled up fast. To continue as a free business, they are asking for donations.
Your $75 donation helps to cover operating costs for one family. Please consider donating if you are able! Contact at contact@rochvillage.org for more.
Locations:
Village Farm at the History Center of Olmsted County – 1195 W Circle Drive in Rochester
Jubilo Farm – 8700 Country Club Road Southwest in Byron
Covenant Church – 4950 31st Ave Northwest in Rochester
They also have sites at Presbyterian Church, Alternative Learning Center, and John Adams Middle School.
Garden Plot Size: 25’ x 30’
Cost: The cost is based using a sliding scale up to $75
Contact: contact@rochvillage.org
Rochester Parks & Recreation Community Gardens
River Road Park and Zumbro South Park are the two garden plot sites available for you by Rochester Parks & Recreation. Reservations open early in the year and plots are available for planting in late spring.
River Road Park
Location: 1021 62nd Street Northwest in Rochester
Garden Plot Size: 20’ x 30’
Cost: $30
To Register: Click Here
Contact: Rochester Parks and Recreation at 507-328-2525
Zumbro South
Location: 1111 Mayowood Road Southwest in Rochester
Garden Plot Size: 20’ x 30’
Cost: $30
To Register: Click Here
Contact: Rochester Parks and Recreation at 507-328-2525
Stewartville Community Garden
Stewartville residents can register their own garden plot to grow vegetables and flowers. The garden was made possible by a partnership with Olmsted County and the Statewide Health Improvement Program. The intent of the community garden in Stewartville is to teach about nutrition and growing your own produce.
Location: Corner of 20th St NW and Roch Medical Drive
Garden Plot Size: 20’ x 20’
Cost: $20
To Register: Fill out application here
Contact: Stewartville City Hall 507-533-4745
Byron Community Garden
Garden plots will be available for reservation on a first come first served basis to Byron residents who live within city limits beginning February 1st of each year. Payment must be made in full to reserve a garden plot. Only one (1) garden plot may be reserved per household prior to May 1st. Non-Byron residents, Byron residents who live outside Byron city limits, and second garden plots will become available on or after May 1st based upon availability.
Location: Near Byron Soccer Complex
Garden Plot Size: 20’ x 20’ ($30) and 20′ x 10′ ($25)
To Register: Application can be accessed here
Pine Island Community Garden
Individual plots are 10′ by 20′. Raised beds are 4′ by 8′. There are a total of 18 garden beds, and 14 raised beds in the two locations. Plots are one per family/organization on a first-reserved basis.
Community Garden Options
- NE = 18 – 8’ x 20’ ground gardens
- NE = 8 – 4’ x 8’ standing gardens
- SW = 3 – 4’ x 8’ standing gardens
Contact to Register: Tom Weins tom.wiens@ci.pineisland.mn.us
