Grow a Garden

What is Grow a Garden?

DUG’s Grow a Garden program connects individuals, families, seniors and groups to the necessary seeds, seedlings and education to grow a thriving vegetable garden, thereby improving local food security for program participants.

Who can participate?

In previous years, Grow A Garden was an income-qualifying program. However, beginning in 2020, this program has expanded to be accessible to all individuals, families and community groups* alike that wish to grow food using a sliding scale, pay-what-you-can model.

*Group applications are for those applying on behalf of groups such as schools, classrooms, educational, human service or faith-based organizations and community garden donation plots.

What do you get with the Grow a Garden Program?

Individual participants can choose up to 10 seed packets and up to five two-packs of seedlings. Group participants (school, groups, hunger relief orgs, etc.) can receive up to 18 seed packets and up to 10 two-packs of seedlings. Many of the seeds provided through this program are organic; however, all seeds are untreated and non-GMO (not genetically modified). Additionally, some seeds will be marked for the previous year. These seeds are still great for planting, though we do recommend seeding more heavily.

Note: Denver Urban Gardens purchases seeds from local seed companies to fill gaps in seed donations. All of the seedlings are grown organically by a local greenhouse.

Seeds

Participants can select from the following seed options. Because many of the seeds we provide through this program are donated, we are not able to specify varieties for seeds. We do, however, provide fairly typical varieties of:

Basil
Bush beans
Pole beans
Beets
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Collards
Cilantro
Sweet corn

Cucumbers
Dill
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard greens
Yellow onion
Edible pod peas
Shelling peas
Pumpkin

Radish
Scallion
Spinach
Winter squash
Yellow squash
Zucchini
Swiss chard
Turnips
Watermelon

Seedlings

Participants can select from the following seedling options:

Broccoli, Green Magic
Cauliflower, Bishop
Cabbage, Golden Acre
Standard tomato, Celebrity
Roma tomato, San Marzano
Cherry tomato, Sweet 100
Jalapeno pepper (hot)
Anaheim pepper (mild)
Bell pepper (sweet)
Eggplant, Black Beauty
Basil (Nufar)

Apply for the Program

Applications for the Grow a Garden program are open from January 1st-January 31st each year. Due to the nature of the program, we are unable to accommodate requests outside of this timeframe. If you’d like to sign up to receive an email when registration opens for next year, you can do so here!

The 2020 Grow a Garden program has ended. The 2021 applications will open on January 1, 2021.