Community Gardens

Planted each spring, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s community gardens have become a signature feature of our region, captivating residents and visitors throughout the growing season.  Nearly 140 community gardens in 20 counties are made possible through corporate and organizational sponsorships, and through the work of more than 11,000 volunteers from local neighborhoods, schools, businesses and organizations.

Community Flower gardens have now been put to bed for the winter.  We had another tremendous year with volunteers. Thank you to everyone who put in their time and energy to make the gardens grow.  We are grateful and can't wait to see you again in the spring!

Aliquippa garden, 2011

Contact Lynn McGuire-Olzak at lolzak@paconserve.org for more information on how to get involved, or call at 412-586-2324.

Volunteers weeding at Homewood Garden, summer 2011

WPC’s community gardens are seen more than five million times a day, based on PennDOT statistics. Each year, more than 200,000 flowers are planted by volunteers. We are so appreciative of the many volunteers who put in their time and energy this spring to get our gardens on the right track!

Meadville Garden, 2011

There are numerous ways you can participate with WPC’s Community Gardens program:

Garden at the Point, 2011 

We are thankful to our friends at The Pittsburgh Project who take all of our plants from the Community Gardens and Downtown Plantings and compost them from summer weeding and after they have been pulled in the fall. The composted materials will serve as beneficial fertilizer for their own projects that provide ecology education, community greening and the production of edible crops.