April 28, 2025
Dig In!
Growing Flowers, Friendships, and more with Community Gardens
Whether you’re looking to grow your own produce, donate to a local food bank, or simply enjoy time outdoors in a shared green space, joining a community garden can make a healthy change to your life—and allow you to nurture your roots within your family, neighborhood, and town. Litchfield County is home to several community gardens, each with its own history, setup, and mission. Some are dedicated to donating food; others encourage you to grow vegetables and/or flowers for your own use. Garden plots are often limited in number; now is the time to find out if any are available for this season.
Produce to the People
At the Lorch Farm Community Garden in Cornwall, volunteers can help tend to and harvest the seasonal produce grown at the site, which is then donated to area food pantries to help fight food insecurity, which is a hidden but significant problem in Litchfield County. The project is under the auspices of the Cornwall Agricultural Commission.—produce2thepeoplect.com
Barkhamsted Community Garden
Near the center of town at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, the Barkhamsted Community Garden offers 10×4-foot raised beds with high-quality soil and full sun exposure. Water is available on-site, and participants receive monthly gardening tips and assistance from a Connecticut Master Gardener. Barkhamsted residents can secure a plot for $25; non-residents can participate for $30.—barkhamsted.us
Bowman Community Gardens
Located in Torrington, Bowman Community Gardens offers residents space to grow vegetables and flowers while promoting healthy eating and social connections. These gardens serve as an important hub for community members looking to engage in sustainable gardening practices. —torringtonct.org
Judea Garden
Established in 2009 by the Steep Rock Association at Macricostas Preserve in Washington, the Judea Garden provides fresh produce to local residents in need. Supported by volunteers, it has distributed over 20,000 pounds of food. In 2023, it added 74 raised beds to improve productivity and accessibility.—steeprockassoc.org
Kent Community Garden
Sponsored by the Kent Land Trust, the Kent Community Garden is located east of Kent Center School, behind Kent Greenhouse & Gardens. It offers 10×4-foot plots for a seasonal fee of $30, with additional plots available for $15 each. The garden is pesticide- and herbicide-free. Centrally located water is available to all participants. According to organizer Gwynne Seufert, “While we would give preference to Kent residents, we have never ‘sold out’ and have always been able to offer beds to gardeners who do not live within Kent. Any interested gardener should inquire!”—kentlandtrust.org/community-garden
Litchfield Community Garden
Established in 2009, the Litchfield Community Garden was founded through a grassroots effort, and now provides 40 plots for local gardeners on the Graham Thompson Land Preserve. Managed by the Litchfield Community Center, the garden fosters community engagement through gardening, educational workshops, and seasonal gatherings. Over the years, it has expanded with Eagle Scout projects, a pollinator garden, and accessibility improvements. It serves as a valuable resource for fresh produce and a space for outdoor connection. The garden currently has a waitlist. For more information, contact the Litchfield Community Center at [email protected].—litchfieldlandtrust.org
New Milford Victory Garden
Designed to encourage residents to grow their own food, the New Milford Victory Garden provides resources and support for home gardening. The program aims to help gardeners discover the joy of growing fresh produce while also providing for their families and neighbors in need.—newmilford.org
