Help people grow their own organic veggies

 
Above:  Beautiful blossoms seen in 2020 on one of our fruit trees near the front of our orchard.


Want to help make a difference?  The College Area Community Garden is well established thanks to all of our  gardeners and over 1,900 volunteers.  But, as a non-profit run by volunteers, we need help from time to time to meet the needs of our gardeners and the greater community we serve.  All donations make an impact.  That you care to donate means so much to all those who've worked hard  growing healthy food for themselves since 2013.    

Established as a community based organic garden/urban farm in 2012, the garden is a registered IRS 501c3 non-profit which is 100% run by unpaid volunteers.  After years of  work by our elected Board, gardeners and ongoing help from over 1,800  outside volunteers and supporters, we have a network of over 100 raised beds, over 55 fruit trees and related areas which foster a greater sense of community right in the middle of the City of San Diego.


The garden is sustained in part by charging a very low yearly fee for each of our 100+ raised  garden beds, by small grants, by donations large and small, as well as in-kind labor and material donations.  With the help of local subject matter experts such as Master Gardeners of San Diego County,  our community garden sponsors educational workshops and hosts classes on organic farming practices, planet friendly agricultural methods, water-wise irrigation and effective rain collection and  water storage methods. Workshops and classes promote healthy soils, water,  food crops and eco-systems. Our efforts are coordinated with other local and regional community gardens as well as local, state and federal agencies.    


Above:  Daughter and Dad enjoying our garden up close and personal.

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How are our funds used?    

Your donations support important efforts at our garden. We make sure no gardener is turned away because they cannot afford our modest lease fee.  Your donations assure needy gardeners can grow food here for their own tables. Our "lease fee offset fund" was established so we can support as many more financially challenged neighbors as possible to learn about and grow healthy veggies for themselves.

Since financial assistance from agencies is very hard to obtain,  we also need your help to pay for water; complete deferred projects such as  adding more storage space specifically for our gardeners;  more shade for relief from the hot sun;  add more storage capacity for our rainwater catchment system as well as installing more roof area to catch rainwater;  add a stable path for our gardeners needing special access;  plant and maintain many more wildflowers to benefit critical pollinator insects and birds;  add more seating and table areas for workshops;   create a living wall of vegetable plants;  install signage  which will educate gardeners and all visitors regarding native plant life being preserved onsite; to plant more fruit trees; as well as deferred maintenance such as weed abatement for fire control.  


Above:  Gardeners of all ages and backgrounds grow with us.


Above: Happy gardener shows off her just-picked veggies. 

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Please help out by donating today.  All donations are normally 100%  tax-deductible since the garden is a California and Federal (IRS) registered 501c3 non-profit charitable association. All proceeds are used for garden projects, maintenance and improvements.  No funds are used for salaries.  We encourage you to see our website for further information.   Thank you.    www.collegeareagarden.org