Why Community Gardens?
Community gardens make important contributions to all facets of sustainability. By providing access to free produce, gardens save participants money, increase access to healthy food, and cut down the amount of fossil fuel used to get food to the dinner table.
Ways to Get Involved
Find a garden
There are dozens of community gardens in Leon County, but if there isn’t an active one nearby, Leon County’s Community Garden Program offers an opportunity to change that.
Community Garden Program
Leon County’s Community Garden Program offers technical, material and grant support to citizens looking to start or revitalize a community garden anywhere in the County. Grant funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as long as they are available. Gardens are separated into three categories: County, School Stakeholder, and Non-School Stakeholder. For more details, see the applications linked below.
County Gardens
In areas where there is vacant County land that has been determined suitable for gardening purposes, community members can apply to use the land to start a garden. Material and technical support and grants up to $500 are available.
To apply, visit Community Garden Application
School Stakeholder Gardens
Teachers or staff interested in starting, or revitalizing a garden on school property are invited to apply to be a School Stakeholder Garden. Schools have the chance to receive material, technical support, and grants up to $1,000.
To apply, visit School Stakeholder Garden Application
Non-School Stakeholder Gardens
Citizens interested in starting or revitalizing a garden at an organization other than a school are eligible to apply to be a Non-School Stakeholder Garden. Non-School Stakeholder Gardens have the chance to receive material and technical support, and grant funds up to $1,000.
To apply, visit Non-School Stakeholder Garden Application
Existing Gardens - Stay Connected!
We ask gardens who have received grant funding from us to check in annually, so we can keep up with garden progress. Feel free to use this template, or be creative in showing how your garden is doing. Submit completed reports to sustainability@leoncountyfl.gov
Leon County Community Beautification Program
Through the Leon County Community Beautification Program, individuals, neighborhood and community groups, and schools can apply for reimbursement funds and limited technical assistance to plan, organize and implement small beautification, litter reduction, or place‐making projects. Small projects may be reimbursed a maximum of $500 per project. These funds are offered to support the planning and implementation of projects that physically enhance the beauty of Leon County. Project examples include litter and illegal dumping clean-up events, neighborhood plantings, and other community enhancement, beautification, or clean-up projects. Projects that promote sustainability, community collaboration, and leadership are encouraged. The goal of this program is for community members to meet and work together to further beautify Leon County.
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