Community Garden

Community Garden

The Howard County Conservancy began a community garden in 2009. The community garden program aligns with the Conservancy’s mission to preserve the agricultural resources of the county. Community gardens empower individuals, knit together a stronger community, beautify local areas, and produce clean and nutritious food. The gardens provide another opportunity for the local community to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Conservancy and meet the demand for garden sites in our county.

The garden has over 70 plots for rent. Full plots (20′ x 25′) rent for $56 a season. There is an entrance fee of $125 and a yearly service requirement of eight hours of community garden work outside of an individual plot. Half plots are also available.

The community garden includes a pollinator garden to attract beneficial insects and wildlife. Deer fencing, water and compost bins are provided. Workshops and lectures of interest to gardeners are provided. We make regular donations to local food banks. In 2016, our Community Gardens donated over 1,400 pounds of fresh vegetables to the Howard County Food Bank!

The plots at the Conservancy must be gardened with holistic, sustainable growing practices, using integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy and BayWise practices, using only pesticides on the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) list.

Most importantly, keeping a garden plot planted and weed free involves a regular investment in time throughout the year.

This is a very popular program and currently there is a wait list. If you feel you could comply with the above guidelines and would like to be placed on the wait list, please send full contact information: Name(s), mailing address, phone number(s), and e-mail address(es) via email to the Garden Manager or call the Conservancy at (410) 465-8877. Please keep your contact information updated and notify the Conservancy if you wish to be removed from the wait list.