A New Community Garden Takes Root in East Palo Alto

East Palo Alto’s community gardening tradition is being revived — and reimagined — in a brand new location.

New community garden plants roots in East Palo Alto

The six-acre lot on Demeter Street in East Palo Alto is generally empty, aside from a compost station, a shed tucked in the back corner and the chainlink fence that surrounds it. But East Palo Alto leaders have ambitious plans for this area, which will soon be transformed into a community garden and potentially the city’s newest activity hub.

Palo Alto OnlineLisa Moreno

For years, Fresh Approach, the local nonprofit behind the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market, managed the community garden at 1785 Woodland Avenue. That space was a cherished green haven for residents to grow food, learn about urban farming, and connect with neighbors. But earlier this year, the garden’s lease expired, and the property — along with four adjacent lots — was purchased by Crazy Love Ministries.

Rather than let the city’s only community garden fade away, Fresh Approach’s team, led by Executive Director Laura DeTar, began searching for a new home. They leased a quarter-acre rectangular lot on Demeter Street — part of a four-acre parcel that city leaders hope will become a vibrant activity hub.

“East Palo Alto has always had agricultural roots,” said DeTar. “Before this area was paved with tech campuses, this was farmland — fields of flowers, orchards, and vegetables that fed the Bay Area. But as the region developed, what was once farmland became neighborhoods, and a city that once produced food now struggles to access it.

That’s what makes this new garden so powerful. It reconnects East Palo Alto with its agricultural heritage, while meeting the urgent need for food sovereignty and resilience today. It restores not just land, but history — and builds a healthier future for generations to come.”

Since the ribbon cutting in June, what was once an empty, fenced lot has transformed rapidly. Thanks to the work of volunteers, builders, and community partners, the garden now boasts raised beds, fruit trees, composting areas, and gathering spaces — all designed to cultivate not just food, but connection.

Residents can sign up for a garden plot waitlist here, and upcoming workshops will teach urban gardening skills, composting, and seed saving.

Photos provided by Jeremy Dutra, Marketing & Communications Manager at Fresh Approach

Upcoming Volunteer Garden Workday

On Saturday, October 25 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Fresh Approach is hosting a special volunteer garden workday in collaboration with Love, Tito’s. This 21+ event invites community members to help build out the new space by:

Installing raised garden beds and shade structures
Helping build with cob in the garden
Supporting the Community Compost Hub and Seed Lending Library
Trenching and laying irrigation pipes
Transplanting trees and spreading mulch

Volunteers will enjoy food, drinks, and snacks during their shift — plus a swag bag and t-shirt as a thank-you for their work.

This new garden represents more than just a place to grow food — it’s about restoring roots and building resilience. Whether you want to get your hands dirty, learn new skills, or simply see what’s blooming, the East Palo Alto Community Garden is ready to welcome you.