Boston's Best Community Gardens

Community gardens are popping up in and around the city of Boston. There are urban and suburban gardens that are flourishing with the help of many community members banding together for the common good, as well as their own benefit. Most gardeners carefully plan their planting to optimize the garden area they are allotted. Gardeners grow a variety of things, including mostly veggies with some herbs and flowers scattered into the mix.

This seven-acre garden space near Fenway Park offers free space for Boston residents to grow crops that they are interested in. There are more than 500 garden plots available in this community garden that sits on the beautiful Emerald Necklace in the Fens. Since the gardens are so large, there is plenty of space to attract non-gardeners to participate in yoga classes, movie nights and gardening workshops at this great space. The Fenway Victory Gardens is America's oldest continuously operating community garden, offering many learning opportunities to the participants.

Berkeley Community Garden
62 Summer St.
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 542-7696
www.berkeleygardens.org

Berkeley Community Garden, which takes up a full city block, is a traditional community garden in the South End neighborhood of Boston. There are 140 plots available, which are awarded by a lottery system every spring. Gardeners can grow anything they want in their plot as long as it is not a tree or invasive plant like morning glories. The public is welcome to come and stroll through the garden seven days a week from sunrise to sunset, which is a unique opportunity in a community garden. There is a sizable grassy area in the middle of the Berkeley Community Garden where visitors can pause and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. 

Worcester Street Community Garden
114 Worcester St.
Boston, MA 02118
www.worcesterstreetgarden.org 

The Worcester Street Community Garden, an all-volunteer managed property, is located in Boston's eclectic South End neighborhood. Over 100 garden plots are available to all Boston residents on a first come, first serve basis. The participants at this community garden site are a unique group of individuals and families striving to grow crops of fresh veggies for their own personal consumption.

Related: Boston's Best Garden Centers

Harvard Community Garden
Harvard Square
27 Holyoke St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
www.garden.harvard.edu

This community garden is a student-run green space that is focused on teaching the participants about urban farming and sustainable living practices. The garden support team aims to educate the community about the importance of local food through hands-on learning opportunities. The Harvard Community Garden, which is located in the middle of Harvard Square, supports the community by donating the produce to Cambridge neighborhood food pantries. They also supply produce to Food for Free and Faith Kitchen that distribute food to shelters and homes in Cambridge and Somerville for the underprivileged.

Community Gardens At Larz Anderson
23 Newton St.
Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 730-2069
www.brooklinema.gov

There are over 103 community garden plots, which vary in size from a small 15' x 15' to a larger 15' x 30' area, at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, just south of Boston. The garden plots are available to Brookline residents living in apartments or homes with little or no space in which to garden. These plots are renewable annually. Gardeners grow vegetables, flowers, herbs and more in the beautiful Larz Anderson Park with spectacular views of the city.

Related: Best Outdoor Summer Volunteer Opportunities