Charles Street Gardens is non-profit community garden available to Sunnyvale residents who would…read morelike to learn more about gardening and have a dedicated plot of land on which to raise plants. It is a volunteer-run non-profit that includes a demonstration garden supported by University of California Master Gardeners, who put on gardener training sessions during the year.

The picnic of the jour was...at this community garden! My colleague Yoko and I were visiting the…read moreLace Museum nearby and got some food to go on the way back to our work. I found this community garden and thought that on top of taking a look and see veggies growing and butterflies flying around, we could have a bite sitting there and smelling the aromas of Spring. We were not expecting that much, but honestly this community garden is awesome! Well protected with fences and trees, funnily you can find artichoke plants outside the walls! All plots are very well organized and looks like the growers-neighbors take good care of them. It is very enjoyable just to walk there. We also learned that there are classes in situ and various community activities, so very educational for children and adults alike. Speaking of children, needless to say that the kidult in me had a blast playing a the tipi tent and posing for pics in front of those colorful little cottages where the tools are kept, as well as played with some kitchenettes and mini picnic tables. I didn't ask if the plots are only opened to Sunnyvale residents...in any case, once you visit there, you will feel the love for agriculture instantly.

hubby surprised me with a cheese making 101 class at collective roots this weekend. didn't know…read morethat this place existed in east palo alto and must admit was a little wary of the location, but once we got there it felt like we were at someone's private residence. there is a beautiful garden with herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, chicken coop with hens and roosters, and beehives! we made 5 different yogurts and cheeses in our short 3 hour class: -yogurt - went through the steps of yogurt making using culture from store bought yogurt -greek yogurt/yogurt cheese - let the yogurt drain and have a richer yogurt -cultured butter - yogurt culture in fresh butter -ricotta - super easy to make and enjoy -mozzarella - fresh mozzarella in 1 hour the class was enjoyable, we got to meet lots of new people and learned a lot about local produce and cheese making. the best part was using the fruits, herbs, and honey right from the grounds of collective roots! nothing like fresh, local produce. great experience...can't wait for cheese making 102!

From the owner: The Collective Roots Community Garden provides an opportunity for gardening skill-building,…read moreresource sharing, and community empowerment in East Palo Alto, CA. Operated by 501(c)3 non-profit Fresh Approach, the garden offers a place for community members to gain hands-on experience with organic gardening. Through our workshops, volunteer workdays, and community resources, we equip families with the skills and means to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. Residents of East Palo Alto can enjoy additional free resources, such as a tool lending library and free seeds, while qualifying residents can apply for free home garden installation and use of garden plots at the Collective Roots garden. By building a strong, sustainable network of local growers, we're improving access to healthy food while helping preserve the food sovereignty of the many cultures that call East Palo Alto their home.

Do you have a green thumb but don't have a backyard? Or are you someone who wants to be a part of a…read morecommunity garden? This place recently opened a few months ago (the grand opening was on Earth Day) and they already have several folks who are growing some great fruits n veggies! The garden has strict rules when it comes to pets, children and being organic (no chemicals is a must). Most plots go for around 75 bucks a year and obviously the bigger you go the more expensive it is. It is 75 cents per square foot. Check out their website for composting classes, the rules, pdf applications and pictures.

Check out new "home" to attract barn owl to Aptos Community Garden, located behind CHC office on…read moreChrist Lutheran grounds. More "wanna be" gardeners welcome! Questions? Email one Gardner: drcameronjackson@gmail.com

I was driving through Palo Alto hoping for a cute outdoor space to spend an hour in and found this…read moregorgeous and well-kept community garden!! Each gardener gets their own bed and takes them in beautifully creative directions!! Coming at the height of summer made all the gardens look extremely prolific and beautiful. From veggies to flowers it it clear the amount of care these gardeners have for this space!

I accidentally stumbled onto this 60,000 sq. ft. patch of serenity today, and my discovery made me…read morefeel a little bit like the heroine of the children's story The Secret Garden. There was virtually no one else in the garden, and I was able to wander around uninhibited, checking out all of the garden's nooks and crannies. The garden is beautiful, and is wonderfully maintained by the city's residents -- it seems that all they ask of visitors is that they 1) not allow dogs into the beds and 2) not pick the fruit, flowers, and vegetables. I think that's entirely within reason, and I am so grateful that they allow people to wander freely through the beds, whether or not they participate in the project. It's so peaceful here! I plan to come back soon and have a picnic lunch, and then just sit on the edge of the garden and read in the sunshine. This place is magical.

We love this place. Always clean, neat, have toys for kids to play. My daughter goes to preballet…read moreclass there and we love it. Easy to register, affordable and the teacher is good.

Definitely come on a Saturday at 11 AM - 3 PM, that is when their Environmental Education Center is…read moreopen! We came on the evening on a Friday, which is perfect for just talking a nice stroll or hike around, but after seeing that they had a bearded dragon (Matilda) and a chuckwalla (Chuck), I knew I had to come back again to meet them. Parking is free and love the wildlife that is around here. Not just the butterflies that I've seen fluttering about but also the coyote that trotted across the lot to cross the street. This is also a great location to find activities to do with the family or with the community. They have a 4 H Club, a community garden that you can sign up for, an entire calendar of events for the month, a Blacksmithing workshop/demonstration, and much more. We were limited on time and didn't get to see the historical buildings or the restored structures, nor was the Blacksmith Shop open, but for our next visit, I'll be sure to check them out. Outside you can meet the alpaca that they have hanging out (freshly shaved for the summer, so it was funny to see the little tufts of hair that they had on their head) and some of their goats too. Now to the highlight of my visit, the Environmental Education Center. Obviously this is meant for kids and families, but I had a great time meeting their animal ambassadors (I didn't ask for them to be taken out, but I'm sure there are events and moments for that) and learning more about them. The staff there are very friendly, welcoming, and informative. It makes me happy to know that the ambassadors that I inquired about were rescues and they have a second chance at life and in educating the community. My favs were obviously Matilda and Chuck, but there are also various snakes, turtles, a toad, fish, tarantulas, and stick bugs. The center also has books, opportunities for hands on observations and journaling for kids, puppets and educational toys and exhibits, and much more. Definitely will come back!

This was such a great place to enjoy nature and also visit some pretty cool animals! I wanted to go…read moreto see the Alpacas on the farm, but I had realized there would be so many more animals. We took the tour lead by the 4H kids and it was pretty awesome learning all the fun facts. I loved seeing the goats and how playful they were. The chickens were a riot and it was so nice being outdoors. There's also trails nearby if you want to take a hike and extend your time being around nature. Definitely will be back there soon to enjoy the place again.

VOLUNTEER REVIEW: Fertile Ground Works is a non-profit who depend on volunteers to provide…read moregardening help so that harvested produce can be given to local community kitchens and food pantries. A team of 8 of us from work came out one Tuesday morning to offer our help. Lori and Brenda greeted us and gave us instructions for each task. First we harvested veggies, which were separated into yellow bins ready for distribution to food pantries. When we were done with harvesting, we weeded a plant bed, then turned over the soil and added fertilizer. The bed is now ready for planting. It was hard work, but very rewarding. Lori and Brenda weren't just instructors, they were hands on too. Overall, a great experience for a very worthy cause.

I heard about this nonprofit in social media. You can come here and get a few bags of free compost…read more The garden is part of a charitable and educational nonprofit in Livermore, California in land, owned by the Asbury United Methodist Church. They grow vegetables that they provide to local community kitchen and pantries and operate programs to feed the hungry in the tri-valley region. To get your free compost drive all the way to the back and you will see the piles of compost. Bring your own reusable bags or containers such as pots. Then you should first register using your phone, go to the sign, and then scan the QR code. Afterwords fill out the survey. This information helps them to track usage and helps them to understand usage and their value to the communities. I also heard that sometimes during the year they sell different plants. It's important that you only come during the posted hours when they are open. Check their website!