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The American Community Gardening Association uses a broad definition of what a community garden entails. It can be urban, suburban, or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot, or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood. Another way of thinking about community gardens are as “Community-managed open space”. They are different from a park or public space where some other entity ultimately decides the purpose and maintains the site. Community gardens are where the residents of a community are empowered to design, build and maintain spaces in the community.

While Community Gardening has been an activity enjoyed by residents of Tacoma and Pierce County for decades, the Tacoma/Pierce County Community Garden program was founded in 2010 through a collaborative effort led by the ACHIEVE coalition. The City of Tacoma took leadership role in creating a position to support the efforts of community gardeners county-wide. Initially housed at Forterra (formerly the Cascade Land Conservancy) as a pilot project, in 2012 the program was established as a permanent project of the Pierce Conservation District. We are supported by a diversity of community partners, including the City of Tacoma, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, Metro Parks Tacoma, the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Mission
Foster and sustain a culture of community gardening throughout Pierce County through community building, education, advocacy and celebration.

Vision
A thriving Community Garden culture that brings people and neighborhoods together through gardening and food – to share, grow, and celebrate secure, healthy and happy communities.

Staff
Kristen McIvor – Community Garden Program Manager
kristenm@piercecountycd.org
(253) 363-1846

Micaela Cooley – Share the Harvest Program Coordinator
micaelac@piercecountycd.org
(253) 307-3457

Emily Garofalo - Fruit Tree Steward Coordinator
emilyg@piercecountycd.org
(253) 468-3749

Matt Price – Harvest Against Hunger Gleaning Coordinator mattp@piercecountycd.org
(253) 282-8910

Steering Committee
• Monty Smith, Northwest Leadership Foundation
• Dan Thompson, City of Tacoma
• Monica Dixon, Healthy Communities of Pierce County
• Joe Brady, Metro Parks Tacoma
• Ryan Mello, Pierce Conservation District
• Nicole Martini, WSU Extension Master Gardener Program
• Barb Carr, Gig Harbor Community Garden
• Andy Mordhorst, Manitou Community Garden
• Stephanie Leisle, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities
• Kathleen Macguire, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department

Partners
• City of Tacoma
• Pierce County Public Works
• Metro Parks Tacoma
• Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
• Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department Supporters
• Multicare
• Gardensphere
• McClendons