ABOUT

The American Community Gardening Association uses a broad definition of what a community garden entails. It can be urban, suburban, or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot, or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood. Another way of thinking about community gardens are as “Community-managed open space”. They are different from a park or public space where some other entity ultimately decides the purpose and maintains the site. Community gardens are where the residents of a community are empowered to design, build and maintain spaces in the community.

Community Gardening Network Purpose

The Jackson County Master Gardener™ Association strives to help create, support and grow community gardens that enrich their neighborhoods by enhancing food security, promoting a sustainable environment and fostering community based educational opportunities and community building. A yearly grant is offered for this purpose. Quarterly meetings are held to bring garden leaders together to share ideas, policies, successes and resources to improve their community gardens.

Grant Mission

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association Community Garden Grant Committee in collaboration with the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program intends to increase Food Security by assisting in establishing community gardens throughout Jackson County with monetary and educational assistance.

GRANT GUIDELINES 

Applications are accepted in the spring. 

Watch this space for 2024 grant amounts and application deadline.

  • Applicants must be sponsored by a non-profit organization.
  • The garden must have an established location.
  • Gardeners must participate in the garden in order to obtain produce.
  • Produce cannot be sold.
  • The garden must have clearly stated policies and procedures for operation (an organizational outline).
  • The garden must have an on-going educational component.

Please include the following items in your application as outlined below:

I.     COVER LETTER

In a letter summarize your project, indicate the amount of money you are requesting and include name, address and phone number of the contact person.

II.    TAX EXEMPT STATUS

Attach a copy of your IRS exemption letter under section 501(c)(3). If you are working under the umbrella of an existing nonprofit, include a letter from the group verifying that arrangement and a copy of their IRS exemption letter.

III. DESCRIPTION

Include your goals and objectives, time line and evaluation methods and identify the population to be served. How will the garden be organized (i.e. who is the leadership, how will it function?).

IV.    PROJECT BUDGET

Describe the overall budget for the project and how this grant will be spent.

V.     FUNDING

List other funding sources and how the garden will be sustained in the future.

VI.    SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Include flyers, newspaper articles, photos, support letters, etc.

 

For additional information contact Ronnie Budge at: rleebudge@gmail.com

JACKSON COUNTY COMMUNITY GARDENS

Ashland Community Gardens
Coordinated by the Ashland Parks and Recreation Dept.
Call the North Mountain Park Nature Center for availability – 541-488-6606.

  • Garden Way Park, 1620 Clark St.
  • Clay Street Park, 491 Clay St.
  • Ashland Creek Park, 27 East Hersey St.
  • Scenic Park, 603 Scenic Dr.

Southern Oregon University Ecology and Sustainability Resource Center Garden
Contact – 541-552-8512

  • South Mountain Ave. above Henry St.

The Farm at SOU

  • Across the street from Ashland Middle School on Walker Street in Ashland.  Contact The Farm for information.

Phoenix Community Gardens
Coordinated by garden members. Call Sandy Wine for availability – 541-631-1865

  • Blue Heron Park Community Garden, 4361 Bear Creek Dr.

Talent Community Gardens
Coordinated by garden members. Call Sharon Anderson for availability – 541-535-9055

  • Talent’s Great Green Garden, Talent Elementary School, 307 W Wagner St.

Eagle Point Community Gardens
Call Eagle Point City Hall for availability – 541-826-4212

  • Creekside Park Community Garden, 711 North Royal Ave.

Central Point Community Gardens
Coordinated by garden members.

  • Don Jones Park, 223 West Vilas Rd. Call Central Point City Hall for availability: 541-423-1012
  • Central Point Presbyterian Church, 456 W. Pine St. – 541 664 1828

Medford Community Gardens

  • Mark’s Episcopal Church and Family Nurturing Center Garden, 5th St. & Ivy St. – 541-779-5242
  • Come-Unity Garden at First Christian Church, 1900 Crater Lake Ave. – 541-772-8030
  • Union Park Community Garden, 501 Plum St. – Jamar Johnson –  480-249-1419    jjjohn@protonmail.com  

Housing Authority Community Gardens
Available for residents of the Housing Authority of Jackson County complexes. Call individual complexes for information.

  • Ashland: Snowberry Brook, 380 Clay St.
  • Talent: Anderson Vista, 571 Talent Ave.
  • Medford: Canterbury Hills, 3693 Arrowhead Dr.
  • Medford: Cherry Creek, 1040 North Berkeley Way
  • Medford: Lilac Meadow, 3005 Cummings Lane
  • Medford: Maple Terrace, 3-29 Mace Rd.
  • Central Point: Scenic Heights, 1801-1843 Scenic Ave.
  • Central Point: Willow Glen, 1200 Cherry St, 97502
  • White City: Freedom Square, 3442 Avenue E.