Solano Gardens
About Solano Gardens
Solano Gardens collaborates with community members and organizations to create edible gardens based on the principles of permaculture to serve as a source of fresh produce, inspiration and companionship for people in need across diverse communities. Each garden design is unique to the community it serves and cared for by community champions passionate about sustainable food.
What Solano Gardens Offers
The Solano Gardens program has grown beyond its original scope of creating and supporting gardens that provide access to fresh produce in communities that have historically experienced limited access to healthy food. With the expansion of the program, the broader goal is to help Solano communities regain control over the growing, sharing and preparing of food in the following ways:
- Create and support community gardens
- Provide resources to community gardens, such as plants, seeds and trees
- Creating a network of support for residents interested in producing their own food
- Culinary training classes for youth with fresh, seasonal produce
Explore the Gardens
Our programs support more than 15 gardens. Learn about these community gardens here!
Active Gardens
Use the map below to learn more about these active gardens in the network and their volunteer needs.
A number of other gardens were developed, but not all of them are active; we are working with these communities to bring gardens back to life so our network can keep growing and nurturing all beings involved.
Know of a site that would support a community garden or a community garden in need of support?
Fill out our Solano Gardens Interest Form here!
We continue to look for residential sites to demonstrate waterwise edible landscapes. Have a site in mind?
Fill out our Sustainable Landscaping Interest Form here!
Find and support your neighborhood community garden!
Learn more about community gardens around the county here!
Donations
Considering an in-kind donation (non-cash gift) to Sustainable Solano?
Part of supporting our community of gardens is the sharing of plants, seeds and more among gardeners. Occasionally, individuals, corporations and organizations reach out to us with the offer of donating resources (time, services, plants, materials, etc.) to the community through SuSol.
We would be happy to work with you to coordinate a donation of a physical good (or a service) to help us better serve the Solano community. Please send a photograph and description of your donation(s) to patrick@sustainablesolano.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please note, as a smaller organization we do not have a large amount of physical storage space, and may not be able to accommodate larger donations if we cannot immediately store your donation. We also cannot accept yard waste, live animals, perishable food, and dead or diseased plants.
Resources
Caring for Your Tree
Here are some resources to help with planting and pruning your new tree. Our local nurseries can provide expert advice as well on the care of your specific type of tree.
SuSol’s Plant Resources (click here and scroll down for fruit tree planting and pruning resources)
Winter Fruit Tree Care (watch this video to learn about how to care for your fruit trees in the winter, including planting bare-root fruit trees, from Lemuria Nursery’s Kristina Fink)
Urban Tree Care (watch this video to learn about urban tree care, including maintenance and planning, best techniques for caring for trees trees, and best practices, in this class with Master Gardener Melissa Sandoval)
Planting a Bare-Root Fruit Tree (watch this short video for quick tips on planting your tree)
How to Plant a Fruit Tree (this video gives details on planting bare-root vs. potted trees)
Learn More
Celebrating Outstanding Service: Honoring Noah Galgan and Stephanie Oelsligle Jordan
In recognition of their exceptional work to reach Solano County youth through Sustainable Solano’s Youth Wellness Program, Local Food program managers Noah Galgan and Stephanie Oelsligle Jordan were recognized at the 19th Annual CAC Recognition Awards.
2025 Benicia & Vallejo Tour: Featured Gardens
Scroll through the list below to read about the Benicia and Vallejo gardens that are featured on this year’s tour, and to learn about special offerings at some of the gardens! Register for the April 26 tour here! Benicia Food Forest, Pollinator & Community Gardens...
2025 Benicia & Vallejo Demonstration Food Forest Garden Tour: April 26
By Nicole Newell, Sustainable Landscaping Program ManagerEvery year, as the first blooms of spring peek through the soil, excitement fills the air in our Solano County community. It’s time for our 9th Annual Food Forest Garden Tour in Benicia & Vallejo — an event...
Solano Gardens is funded through support from Solano Public Health