Cultivating food, community, and climate resilience on a human scale since 1985.

About Dug

WE GROW WHAT MATTERS

Denver Urban Gardens (just call us DUG) is one of the largest independent networks of food-producing gardens in the country.

We steward about 200 community gardens and food forests across seven counties in metro Denver… but DUG is about more than just gardens.

We’re building the ecosystem for a thriving Denver – plot by plot, neighborhood by neighborhood.

What We Do

We’re on a mission to increase the access, skills, and resources needed to grow food in community and regenerate urban green spaces.

We’re cultivating a sustainable urban future for metro Denver where people are connected to the earth, each other, and the food they eat.

Our Impact

Gardens & Food Forests

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Food Access Programs

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Education & Engagement

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Seasonal Gardening Resources

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Integrated Pest Management Best Practices

Integrated Pest Management Best Practices

7 min Read More
Water Conservation in Community Gardens

Water Conservation in Community Gardens

7 min Read More
Weed Identification

Weed Identification

1 min Read More
5 Reasons to Compost

5 Reasons to Compost

1 min Read More
How to Build a Hoop House

How to Build a Hoop House

6 min Read More

What We Value

Food

Access to fresh and healthy food is a basic human right. We believe in promoting food sovereignty and elevating the role of ancestral foodways in metro Denver.

Community

Deep social community connections is a lost art. Congregating around green space builds lifelong friendships, reduces feelings of loneliness, and gives members a third place to feel safe and welcome.

Climate

Regenerating urban green spaces improves soil quality, reduces urban heat, and enhances our biodiversity.

What’s New With DUG

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Smiling woman wearing a straw hat and denim overalls crouches beside a rainbow-painted wooden fence in a garden.
Cultivating Care Through Gardening: A Conversation with Therapeutic Gardens Participant Mo McCanna

Cultivating Care Through Gardening: A Conversation with Therapeutic Gardens Participant Mo McCanna

July 21, 20267 min Read More
Group of around 14 adults posing and smiling in front of a bright mural with a large lemon tree image behind them (outdoor group photo).])
Grow Your Impact Year-Round with Payroll Giving

Grow Your Impact Year-Round with Payroll Giving

July 21, 20265 min Read More
Lindsey Parker holding garlic bunch
Pride Grows Here: Cultivating Belonging in DUG Community Gardens

Pride Grows Here: Cultivating Belonging in DUG Community Gardens

July 16, 20264 min Read More
Circular metal planter beds filled with soil and small plants arranged in a courtyard near a modern apartment complex, with a black fence and gravel ground behind them.
Growing Community in RiNo: Meet Denargo Market Community Garden

Growing Community in RiNo: Meet Denargo Market Community Garden

July 13, 20265 min Read More
Double Your Impact with Employee Matching Gifts

Double Your Impact with Employee Matching Gifts

July 10, 20263 min Read More
ryan aho headshot
Meet Ryan Aho, DUG’s Garden Projects Manager

Meet Ryan Aho, DUG’s Garden Projects Manager

July 7, 20261 min Read More
Turn Your Volunteer Hours into Funding for Community Gardens with Volunteer Grants

Turn Your Volunteer Hours into Funding for Community Gardens with Volunteer Grants

July 6, 20263 min Read More
People working in a raised brick garden bed, planting small shrubs and flowers with tools nearby under a sunny sky.
Growing Spaces Where Everyone Belongs

Growing Spaces Where Everyone Belongs

July 2, 20265 min Read More
horsebarn garden and buildings in background
429 Signatures in 72 Hours: Colorado Is Ready for a DUG License Plate

429 Signatures in 72 Hours: Colorado Is Ready for a DUG License Plate

June 24, 20263 min Read More