Community Gardens:

Southeast Metro Park 1.5 miles past the intersection at FM 973 on Hwy 71 Southeast Metro Park is home to a delightful, tasty treasure: an organic edible garden and native fruit tree orchard. The garden is a community garden of 8 10’ x 10’ garden plots with access to water, tools and compost. All of the plots are available and there is no plot fee. Initiated through a partnership between Del Valle Independent School District (DVISD), TreeFolks, and Travis County, the orchard was planted in 2001 by a kindergarten class at Popham Elementary in the DVISD. Each year these same students return to prune, cultivate, and nurture their orchard. Southeast Metro Park is managed by Travis County Parks Department. The park is open from 9am – 6pm, 7 days a week. For more information, call (512) 854-7275.

Alamo Community Garden 2101 Alamo Street Austin, Texas 78722 (map) With 14 plots, a demonstration "pizza" garden, raised, wheelchair accessible horticultural therapy bed, an educational compost station, and rainwater collection site, this small neighborhood garden is ideal for gardeners of all ages. Excess produce from the garden is donated to the Alamo Recreation Center where it is used to feed elderly neighbors.

El Jardin Alegre Community Garden 1801 East 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78702 (map) Started in 1996, through the hard work and dedication of concerned community members, this former haven for drug dealers and abusers is now a thriving community garden. With 40 garden plots, a compost area, urban orchard, tool shed, picnic tables and benches, and an award-winning mural, this garden is a sight to behold.

Youth Gardens:

Sanchez Elementary School 73 San Marcos Street Austin, Texas 78702 (map) Started in 2002, this garden of 20 raised garden beds provides an interactive educational area for students in grades 3 to 5 to learn basic concepts in science and organic gardening as well as stretch their imaginations.

UT Elementary School 2200 East 6th Street Austin, Texas 78702 (map) The newest gardening effort of SFC, the UT Elementary School garden was built in early 2006 as part of the school's Healthy Families Initiative. Over 160 Kindergarten through 3rd grade students participate in weekly garden-based, interactive activities through which they develop an appreciation for the fresh food they grow in 20 raised bed gardens.