A crucial resource for community gardening in Philadelphia
Preserving community gardens
The Neighborhood Gardens Trust (NGT) secures and protects land for community gardens throughout Philadelphia. Since its founding in 1986, the organization has preserved 45 gardens, ranging from small gardens on single home lots to 3.7 acre-large spaces, to vegetable and flower gardens to sitting parks. NGT removes the barriers to ownership of community-managed open spaces so that Philadelphians can reap the social, health, economic and environmental benefits of community gardening.
Apply for preservation
NGT’s website has an application through which your garden can apply to be preserved as part of the trust. Once an application is submitted, NGT works with you to assess whether or not your open space is a good fit for permanent preservation through NGT. If your garden is not ready for permanent preservation, NGT will explore other land access and preservation strategies with you.
If your garden is approved for protection through NGT, we will then work with the city and other relevant land owners to complete acquisition of the land. NGT will hold the land so that community members can continue to care for it for generations to come. NGT also provides insurance, as well as support garden improvements in partnership with Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Your garden or farm may be a good candidate for preservation if:
- Your garden has been active for at least three growing seasons
- Your garden has ties to other community organizations, such as churches or schools, and can demonstrate community and city council support
- Your garden is active and well-maintained
If you have any questions about NGT’s application process or want to discuss your garden’s preservation, please contact Marlana Moore at (215) 988-1630 or mmoore@pennhort.org.
Get involved with an NGT-preserved garden near you
If you are looking for a garden plot at an NGT garden, you can start by looking at the map below or on their website to identify gardens by location. Once you select specific gardens you are interested in, please email ngt@pennhort.org so they can connect you with garden leader. Demand for garden plots can be high and certain NGT gardens have wait lists.
Neighborhood Garden Trust:
This document is meant to be a living document of resources and recommendations for those growing food for themselves, their neighbors or others. If you would like to add a resource to this page, or if you see something on this page that appears to be inaccurate, please contact Jonathan McJunkin.