Common Ground program seeking volunteers to help with community gardens

Common Ground, the community gardening and urban agriculture program, has 11 sites across Lawrence and needs volunteers (individuals or groups) to help maintain the gardens, plant and harvest produce, and transport produce to local food banks.

For the 2023 season, Common Ground sites that need the most volunteer help are:

• Little Prairie Donation Garden & Orchard—Peterson Park, North Iowa Street and Peterson Road. Contact Darin Brunin at bruninda@gmail.com.
• Lawrence Community Orchard—830 Garfield Street. Contact Skyler Adamson at lawrencefruittreeproject@gmail.com.
• Growing Together Community Garden—West Third and Alabama streets. Contact Umut Bayramoglu at ubayramoglu@dgcoks.gov.

A few of the Common Ground sites have designated areas that are open to the public throughout the gardening season. For designated public-picking, please visit:

• The public section of the Garden Incubator at John Taylor Park, located at Seventh and Walnut streets.
• The Lawrence Community Orchard, located at 830 Garfield St.
• Growing Together Community Garden, located at West Third and Alabama streets.

Established in 2012, the Common Ground program provides residents underutilized properties for use as community gardens and farming land for minimal cost. It serves a dozen beginning farmers, more than 230 gardeners, as well as hundreds of community members that benefit from food donations and opportunities for physical activity. Last year, Common Ground donated more than 8,000 pounds of produce to local food banks.

Questions? Contact: Program Manager Umut Bayramoglu at 785-312-2347 or ubayramoglu@dgcoks.gov.