DUG’s Grow a Garden program launches to offer thousands of Denverites access to fresh and healthy growing kits.
For 29 years, Denver Urban Gardens has worked with local partners and vendors to create customized themed kits for gardening on the Colorado Front Range. DUG’s Grow a Garden program removes those barriers with ready-to-grow kits that include seeds, seedlings, and guidance. Offered on a pay-what-you-can model, this program helps thousands of Coloradans turn a patch of land—or even a few pots—into nourishment, savings, and self-reliance.
“What I plant is going to grow. It gives me a sense of hope in myself. If you do stuff right, the plant is going to live; if you respect people, stuff will work.” – Grow a Garden Participant
In 2025, 18,504 community members we served through our 2,000 Grow a Garden kits. Of our participants, 88% identified as low-income and the majority of participants accessed the program at a reduced or free cost. The impact doesn’t end there – from the kits, we estimated that over 83,550 pounds of food were grown last season. That’s about the size of a blue whale!
In 2026, DUG is offering five (5) themed garden kits which feature seeds and seedlings that grow well together in our dry climate and clay-based soil. Plus, they include educational resources like our bilingual Organic Growing Guide. After several iterations and continual shifts, we are offering the following kits: Salsa Garden Kit, Epic Salad Garden Kit, Pizza Garden Kit, Fry & Ferment Garden Kit, and Stiry Fry Garden Kit. DUG’s Grow a Garden program is ideal for beginner gardeners. We include all of the information to support any Denverite who wants to garden in their home or in a community garden.
