4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Community Garden Experience

By Bellingham Community Garden

Vegetable Planting

Timing and planning are key to growing a successful vegetable garden. Start by choosing varieties suited to your local climate, and stagger your plantings to enjoy fresh harvests throughout the season. Raised beds, vertical planters, and crop rotation can help maximize space and improve soil health. And remember—companion planting (like basil with tomatoes or carrots with onions) can boost productivity while reducing pests.

Flower Arranging

Bring the beauty of your garden indoors—or brighten up a neighbor’s day—with homegrown flower arrangements. Mix colors, textures, and heights for eye-catching bouquets using sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, and herbs like dill or lavender. Even a simple mason jar bouquet can become a work of art. Want to get creative? Host a flower swap with other gardeners or try drying your blooms for long-lasting displays.

Garden Picnics

Your garden isn’t just for planting—it’s the perfect spot to relax. Plan a low-key picnic among the blooms, whether it’s a solo lunch break or a family-style potluck. Pack a blanket, reusable plates, and garden-fresh snacks like cherry tomatoes, snap peas, or cucumber sandwiches. You can even use large leaves like hosta or rhubarb as natural serving trays! Be sure to leave no trace so the space stays beautiful for everyone.

Gardening Workshops

Your garden isn’t just for planting—it’s the perfect spot to relax. Plan a low-key picnic among the blooms, whether it’s a solo lunch break or a family-style potluck. Pack a blanket, reusable plates, and garden-fresh snacks like cherry tomatoes, snap peas, or cucumber sandwiches. You can even use large leaves like hosta or rhubarb as natural serving trays! Be sure to leave no trace so the space stays beautiful for everyone.

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A garden bed filled with various leafy green plants, including tall stalks resembling leeks or onions. The soil is dark and appears cultivated, with scattered small stones and plant detritus. The foliage is vibrant and lush, suggesting a healthy, thriving garden environment.
A garden bed filled with various leafy green plants, including tall stalks resembling leeks or onions. The soil is dark and appears cultivated, with scattered small stones and plant detritus. The foliage is vibrant and lush, suggesting a healthy, thriving garden environment.

Gardening

Discover tips for growing vegetables and flowers in community gardens.

A white bowl filled with fresh garden vegetables, including tomatoes and yellow beans, placed on a sunlit garden path. The shadows of a trellis cast grid-like patterns on the path, with garden beds visible on the sides.
A white bowl filled with fresh garden vegetables, including tomatoes and yellow beans, placed on a sunlit garden path. The shadows of a trellis cast grid-like patterns on the path, with garden beds visible on the sides.
A rustic garden scene featuring a small blue wooden table and a wheelbarrow filled with harvested vegetables and gourds. The table holds a variety of produce, including squash and potatoes, along with a wooden crate containing young seedlings. Lush green grass and foliage form the backdrop, suggesting a vibrant and fertile garden setting.
A rustic garden scene featuring a small blue wooden table and a wheelbarrow filled with harvested vegetables and gourds. The table holds a variety of produce, including squash and potatoes, along with a wooden crate containing young seedlings. Lush green grass and foliage form the backdrop, suggesting a vibrant and fertile garden setting.
A covered outdoor area with stacks of gardening soil bags neatly arranged on wooden pallets. There are boxes of fresh vegetables, including cabbages, on the ground next to a wall. Various garden supplies and a hanging butterfly decoration are also visible. The area is supported by wooden posts and has a metal roof. In the background, trees and a portion of a white car can be seen.
A covered outdoor area with stacks of gardening soil bags neatly arranged on wooden pallets. There are boxes of fresh vegetables, including cabbages, on the ground next to a wall. Various garden supplies and a hanging butterfly decoration are also visible. The area is supported by wooden posts and has a metal roof. In the background, trees and a portion of a white car can be seen.
A small garden area with various plants growing, featuring a wooden shed in the middle distance. Surrounding trees and shrubs add to the greenery, while two blue containers and a wooden sled type structure are also present. The garden beds are organized and show a variety of plants and vegetables.
A small garden area with various plants growing, featuring a wooden shed in the middle distance. Surrounding trees and shrubs add to the greenery, while two blue containers and a wooden sled type structure are also present. The garden beds are organized and show a variety of plants and vegetables.
Rows of lush, green leafy vegetables are growing in a neatly organized garden or farm. The vibrant shades of green indicate healthy and thriving plants. Irrigation pipes and pathways are visible, suggesting a well-maintained agricultural setup.
Rows of lush, green leafy vegetables are growing in a neatly organized garden or farm. The vibrant shades of green indicate healthy and thriving plants. Irrigation pipes and pathways are visible, suggesting a well-maintained agricultural setup.
Garden

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info@bellinghamcommunitygarden.org

Scott Rice

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