South Bend Community Gardens

Garden Sites

See how we are growing! There are gardens across South Bend and spreading across the Michiana region. There are many kinds of gardens to meet the needs of the gardeners, the neighborhoods and the community.

Unity Gardens are designed to bring together diverse people to provide healthy, free food to those who need it. These gardens are open to anyone who wants to help plant, water, weed and/or harvest as they are willing and able. The produce is picked twice a week, although anyone who needs a carrot or pepper or some greens can get some food when they need it.
The Center for the Homeless Garden is operate by the Center for the Homeless and is located in downtown South Bend, Indiana. Guests learn to plant, tend, harvest, prepare, preserve and enjoy the produce.
Community Gardens are tended by a designated group of gardeners who may or may not pay a small fee for a share in the garden. All of these in South Bend have some combined aspect of Unity, market or donation plots to assist with fundraising for CGM or feeding the larger community.
The Food Bank Garden is grown with the express purpose of donating all produce to the Food bank of Northern Indiana.

A Community Garden Can Be…

Any Piece Of Land Gardened By A Group Of People.
Urban, Suburban, Or Rural
One Community Plot or Many Individual Plots
Multi-Generational: Youth, Adults And Seniors Gardening Together
A Series Of Plots Dedicated To "Urban Agriculture" Where The Produce Is Grown For A Market.

Community Gardens of Michiana recognizes that each neighborhood that wants a garden will want to develop it to meet their own needs and interests. There are many frameworks for developing a community garden. These include:

Individual family plots “rented” for a season
A cooperative large group garden where care and harvest are shared
Urban agriculture gardens where produce is raised for sale at local markets
Youth Gardens designed to engage and educate the young and young at heart about how and why to garden

In addition, a new model for gardening is growing around town. This is known as the Unity Garden.

The Unity Gardens

We’re growing community; sprouting seeds of sharing.

What would happen if we all worked together during these tough economic times to provide healthy food to all who need it? What is we could feed our hungry so they could concentrate on higher human needs? What if our incarcerated or recovering brothers and sisters could assist others in their journey to better health and independence, as only those who have “been there” can? What if we bring together diverse people in Michiana with the common goal of providing healthy, free food to those who desire it? Could we all benefit from the growth?

Broadway Unity Garden
Broadway Christian Parish
Broadway and Carroll St.
South Bend
Contact: Nancy Nichols, pastor

Butternut Squash Unity Garden
802 S Kaley St
South Bend
Contact: Judith Rubleske

Center for the Homeless Garden
813 S Michigan St.
South Bend
Contacts: Angela Wilson & Stephanie Brauer

Garden of St. Therese Unity/Community Garden Map
Church of the Holy Trinity
915 N Olive St.
South Bend
Contact: Ruth Wivell

Greenhouse Community Garden Map
2105 Mishawaka Ave
South Bend
Contact: Krista Bailey

J.F. New Food Bank Garden
Walkerton
Contact: Lynn Cudlip

Lakeville Unity Garden
Mangus & Patterson
Lakeville
Contact: Charlotte Wolfe

LaSalle Square Unity Garden
Ardmore and Prast St.
South Bend
Contacts: Melissa Murawski & Linda Hopkins

Monroe Park Unity Garden
South and Carroll St.
South Bend
Contact: Karen Coman

Robertson’s Apartment’s Unity Garden
Contact: Patty Willaert

Salvation Army Unity Gardens
Western and Chapin St.
South Bend
&
Main St.
Mishawaka
Contact: Liz Fallon

Oaks at South Paw Community Garden
Roosevelt Rd and SR 331
South Bend
Contact: Carol Laidig

Visitors and volunteers are welcome at all sites. Contact people are listed for each garden for those interested in arranging tours or group volunteer opportunities.