Written by Sandra Marshall | 01 July 2010

The first garden site in the city, Broad Street Community Garden, began as a Senior Project for a Cal Poly ornamental horticulture major in 1975. The site has 17 garden plots.  One of the most popular garden sites is the Emerson Park Community Garden. Located next to the City of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department, it has 38 plots. Laurel Lane Community Garden accommodates the south-east section of San Luis Obispo and has 16 plots.

The City of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department runs the Community Gardens program. There is a long waitlist at this time, however, if interested in learning more about the program or being placed on the wait list, contact Amy Voorhies, Community Gardens Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (805) 781-7069.

Gardens Popping up throughout the county

Last fall the Paloma Community Garden in Atascadero A fully organic garden with hose bibs within 15 feet of every raised bed, seeds are in and the deer fence will be complete next week.  Many greens, strawberries and herbs have already been harvested in some of the beds. Several beds are available. The cost for a 9'x18' bed is $60; 10’x20’ is $65. Call 466-2566 for an application.
Templeton Community Garden offers space for community members, not just Templeton residents, to grow gardens March through November. Located on borrowed property at 601 S. Main St. behind the Templeton Community Center, the garden has 26 plots. The cost to rent a plot is $20 and includes free water for the garden. Each plot has a waterspout next to it. To sign up or learn more call: 805-434-4900
Open Garden workshops began presented by the Transition Paso Robles' Food group will take place on the fourth Saturday of each month through September. Held from 10 a.m. to noon at Centennial Park in Paso Robles, 600 Nickerson Drive, the intent is to explain how to convert lawns into drought-resistant, food producing landscapes and introduce attendees to the concept of a food forest. The public is welcome to participate in hands-on activities.
The Paso Robles demonstration is unique. Rather than allotting small plots of land to community members to cultivate, the garden demonstrates how homeowners can convert a front or backyard from a lawn - which requires a lot of water - to a food forest, which requires less.
The garden is a partnership between Transition Paso Robles and the City's Library and Recreation Services Department.