Solano Gardens
About Solano Gardens
Solano Gardens collaborates with cities, community members and organizations to create community gardens and food forests based on the principles of permaculture. These spaces serve as a source of fresh produce, inspiration and companionship for people in need across diverse communities. Each garden design is tailored to the community it serves and cared for by local champions and organizations.
Solano Gardens in the Community
The Solano Gardens program has created and supported gardens that provide access to fresh produce in communities that have historically experienced limited access to healthy food. These gardens are often found at schools, churches and dedicated community garden sites around the county. Support has included seasonal advice, landscape design work and maintenance guidance, developing policies and procedures, and updated information on rules and regulations. Currently, Solano Gardens offers
- Resources to create and support community gardens
- An active directory of community gardens that need support and volunteers
- Educational classes on subjects like irrigation, permaculture, and growing food in Solano County
- Promotion of community garden events through our network
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.
Resources
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!
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.
Learn More
Gift of the Generations
Alana’s This Wonderful World project has highlighted the Pollinator Pathway garden installation with a series of three songs, as well as songs about the installation of Peace of Eden community garden at City Church Fairfield, a series on laundry-to-landscape greywater, and a series inspired by the Vallejo People’s Garden. This is her reflection and the last song in her spring series — it highlights community gardens through SuSol’s Solano Gardens program.
Sustainable Gardening Intern Reflections
The Sustainable Gardening internship was an opportunity for high school students to learn basic permaculture principles with a focus on waterwise gardening, and engage with community members while supporting community gardens. These three interns shared their reflections on the program with us, and we are excited to share them with you here with their permission.
Growing a Garden
The expansion of the garden at Fairfield Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church was planned at the end of 2022. Due to an unprecedentedly heavy rainy season, the workdays were pushed off time and time again, landing us at two install days at the end of April. After months of anticipation we were able to knock it out with the help of SuSol team members and the wonderful SDA champions.
Solano Gardens is funded through support from Solano Public Health