Community gardens in Palo Alto

Palo Alto's lots are small and expensive and many apartments have no yard at all. The city's community gardens fill that gap. For a modest fee, residents rent a plot of their own in a shared garden, grow vegetables and flowers and swap advice over the fence with their neighbors. Plots rarely change hands, so the hardest part is getting in.

This guide explains how the city's program works, based on its community gardens page and its garden guidelines. Fees and rules can change, so confirm the details with the Community Garden Coordinator before you commit.

The five city gardens

The city describes its program as five plots of land scattered throughout Palo Alto. The garden guidelines name them as Johnson, Eleanor, Rinconada, Ventura and Arastradero. The names hint at where they sit. Rinconada shares its name with Rinconada Park, Ventura with the Ventura neighborhood and Arastradero with the road in south Palo Alto. Johnson and Eleanor take their names from neighborhood parks in the northern half of the city. The city's main page does not list street addresses, so ask the coordinator which site is closest to you.

Each garden is divided into individual plots with shared paths, water spigots and common areas. Gardeners volunteer as liaisons to help staff run each site. The gardens keep set hours:

• Johnson, Eleanor, Rinconada and Ventura: open daily from sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Arastradero: open Monday to Saturday from sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 30 minutes after sunset.

Who can apply

The program is for residents. To get a plot you must:

1. Live in Palo Alto and show proof of residency.
2. Be over 18.
3. Be approved by the Garden Coordinator or the garden liaisons.

You can sign up online or in person at the front desk of the Lucie Stern, Mitchell Park or Cubberley community centers. The city's contact for the program is the Community Garden Coordinator at 650-496-6962 or [email protected]. Email the same address to join the waitlist or give up a plot.

How the waitlist works

There is no lottery and no fixed opening date. Liaisons and staff contact people on the waitlist only when a plot becomes available. That happens when a gardener moves away, gives up a plot or loses it for breaking the rules.

When your turn comes, speed matters. The city gives you 48 hours to respond. If you do not, it sends a second notice. If there is still no response, the plot goes to the next person and you are removed from the list. Keep your email address current and check your spam folder while you wait.

The city does not publish wait times and they vary by garden. If you are flexible about which site you join, say so. It may get you a plot sooner.

Fees

Plots are priced by the square foot and new gardeners pay a one-time refundable deposit at sign-up. Seniors 60 and older get a 25 percent discount and the city's fee reduction program applies to eligible residents. The rate printed on the city's page has looked garbled at times, so ask the coordinator to confirm the current price per square foot and the deposit before you pay.

Licenses run for the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. You can renew each year as long as you stay in good standing.

The rules that matter most

The garden guidelines are detailed. These are the points new gardeners most often miss.

Organic only

The gardens follow organic principles. Only organic fertilizers and weed control products are allowed. Using nonorganic pesticides or herbicides, with Roundup named as an example, is grounds for immediate termination. Report pest or disease problems to the coordinator rather than reaching for a spray.

What you can grow

• Vegetables, flowers, berries and herbs only.
• No trees or bushes, except in containers pruned to 5 feet or less.
• Permanent plants such as roses may not grow taller than 5 feet.
• Tall crops like corn and vines must not shade the next plot or spill onto paths.
• No selling produce for profit.

Keep it tended

Spring preparation should start by April 1. If you do not plant a winter crop, cover the plot with mulch, a cover crop or plastic and keep the weeds down. An abandoned plot is the fastest way to lose one.

Shared work

Each gardener owes 4 hours a year of common area cleanup on assigned workdays. You can bring family or friends or hire someone to do the hours. In special circumstances you can donate $35 an hour to the gardens account instead. Skipping the work leads to a written warning and possibly losing the plot.

Water rules

Never leave water running unattended. Any gardener may shut off a hose left running. Timers need the coordinator's approval, shared spigots need a Y or T connector and flood irrigation is banned. Standing water is not allowed and small ponds need mosquito fish or another mosquito control.

Growing in Palo Alto's climate

Palo Alto has a Mediterranean climate. Rain falls mostly from November to March and summers are dry and warm, with cool nights. That gives gardeners two seasons rather than one.

Mulch heavily to save water and keep the soil cool. Drip lines with a hand shutoff work well within the rules on timers. Our weather guide has month-by-month temperatures and rainfall.

Other ways to garden while you wait

• Volunteer at Gamble Garden. The Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden at 1431 Waverley Street was rebuilt over the years with help from volunteers and is a fine place to learn from experienced gardeners.
• Care for street trees. The nonprofit Canopy trains volunteers to plant and care for young trees. See our urban forest guide and our volunteering guide.
• Compost at home. The city's green cart takes yard trimmings and food scraps. Our trash and recycling guide explains what goes where.
• Shop the markets. If you cannot grow it yet, buy it from the growers at the farmers markets on California Avenue and downtown.

Frequently asked questions