We joined the Gladstone Community Gardening Association in 2025 and our experience has been…read morepositive. The gardens are all organic. The new leadership on the Board of Directors over the past three years has revitalized the gardens and is planning to make them even better with a pathway project to level all the paths and make them ADA compliant. Large 250 gallon water butts have been installed in case of plumbing issues so water is always available although every plot has access to water spigots; shade awnings have been installed throughout the gardens with tables and chairs to sit and eat lunch or take a break from the heat and the sun. Raised beds are now allowed. Everyone is friendly and helpful. There are people from Thailand, Korea, Mexico, Columbia, Italy, the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Iraq. The annual rental is $50 with a volunteer requirement of 4 hours for a whole lot (25 ft x 45 ft) and 2 hours for a half lot per season. Those hours may be met in a range of different ways although most folks volunteer for the twice monthly work parties to keep the paths mown, and the parking and fencing areas trimmed. The variety of plants grown and the creativity shown across the allotments is amazing! We grow Asparagus, Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, currants, snap peas, green beans, beets, turnips, potatoes, lettuces, radishes, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, and nearly a dozen herbs and medicinal plants such as rosemary, tarragon, lavender, comfrey, chamomile, red clover, and nasturtiums. This community is built from people of all different ages: 4-90! There are individuals and couples who have been gardening here for 20 years, some just beginning their gardening, couples with young children, seniors with their grandchildren and LGBTQ+ folks. Everyone is welcome here and supportive. I've found my community!