1. Use the map to explore DUG gardens near you with potential plot availability.
Gardens that have potential plot availability for the season are shown in green. Click on the garden icon to find more info on the garden, including the contact email for the Garden Leader.
If a garden is marked blue and is already full for the season, email the Garden Leader to ask to be added to a waitlist.
2. Email the Garden Leader to confirm plot availability and to request a plot registration.
Each spring, Garden Leaders first check with gardeners from last year and contact their current waitlists (if applicable) to confirm plot availability before accepting new registrations or marking their garden as full.
For gardens with plot availability, plots are accessed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
3. Submit your annual plot fee.
The average plot fee is $40 a year and goes towards collective garden resources such as water fees, compost, garden tools, maintenance support, and garden events. Each garden’s plot fee is determined by the Garden Leader.
Additionally, DUG charges each gardener an annual fee of $25 in DUG Dues, which supports our behind-the-scenes work. We encourage our gardeners who have surplus financial resources to ‘pay-it-forward’ by donating additional money for plot fees and dues to those with fewer resources.
If you cannot afford the full plot fee or DUG dues, please let your Garden Leader know when requesting a registration. No one is turned away from joining a garden due to an inability to pay.
4. Start growing!
You can explore our free gardening resources, including DUG Online, the Organic Growing Guide, digital Gardening Articles, and more to support your growing journey from seed-starting to putting the garden to bed.
Additionally, DUG offers free seeds, low-cost Plant Sales, and affordable educational workshops so that anyone who wants to grow can grow!
Before joining a DUG garden, learn more about the commitments we ask of gardeners in the community garden network.
All DUG community gardeners are asked to abide by the DUG Community Agreements:
Potential gardeners who wish to garden at a school-based community garden must pass a background check as part of the registration process.
School districts consider community gardeners to be school volunteers; therefore, all gardeners who wish to garden at a school-based community garden (including family members of students) fall under the classification of a volunteer, and a background check is required.
While a photo ID is required, it does not need to be issued by the US Government. For example, a foreign photo ID such as a passport, license, student, or Consulate ID is also okay. A social security number is also not required to complete the process. The information provided by a volunteer on the background check form is completely confidential and is never shared with other government agencies. Immigration status is not checked.
Potential school-based gardeners must complete a background check (distributed by Garden Leaders) before completing their plot registrations.
