Updated April 2023
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!
The Olmsted History Center
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: 12’ x 20’
Cost: Member: $50, Nonmember: $75
To Register: Community Garden Rentals
Contact: services@olmstedhistory.com
The Village Community Gardens
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 Amanda Nigon-Crowley at AmandaNC@rochvillage.org or send a check to:
The Village Agricultural Cooperative
4905 Country Club Rd SW
Rochester, MN 55902
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: Amanda Nigon-Crowley at AmandaNC@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
Zumbrota Community Garden
The Zumbrota Community Garden is located behind the city’s post office. This garden operates as a group project meant to educate and provide gardening experience to the city’s residents. It was started by Gary Harbo in 2020 to give the community access to nutrient-dense foods.
Gary is a healthcare worker who left nursing to pursue a future in agriculture. He said, “I feel the future of medicine and more distinctly health, is directly related to the health of our soil systems.” Gary invites everyone to stop by to visit the Zumbrota garden.
Location: 150 West 4th Street in Zumbrota
Cost: Free
To Register/Contact: Gary Harbo gary@manamycelium.com or revitalizezumbrota@gmail.com