St. Anthony Park Community Garden
Garden plot information and documents (2026 updates will be posted after the holidays)
Questions? Email garden@sapcc.org or call Sue Connor at 651-649-5992.
2026 Documents – Coming Soon
We are refreshing this page now, and expect to post the updated 2026 Gardener Application, 2026 Garden Policies, and the 2025 Garden Report after the holidays. Until then, the links below remain the most recent posted materials.
Available Now (Most Recent Posted)
Plot Availability
Garden plots often fill up quickly each season. Final availability varies year to year based on how many returning gardeners renew their plots. The updated 2026 information will be posted after the holidays.
Questions about availability? Email Sue Connor here or call 651-649-5992.
Online Payments (Testing)
This season we are testing online payments as an option for the Community Garden. The link below is only for testing purposes.
For actual plot payments, please wait for the official 2026 Gardener Application and instructions (coming soon).
New Gardener Applications
Each year, applications for new gardeners are typically made available on this website and at the Hampden Park Foods Co-op. Updated dates and instructions for the 2026 season will be posted after the holidays.
Garden Details
The SAP Community Garden is located on the north side of Robbins Street, between Raymond Avenue and Highway 280. Garden plots are approximately 15 x 20 feet and are $40.00 per year. Only one application per household should be filed. When plots are available, a lottery is used to determine which new applicants receive a plot.
There are 95 plots, approximately 15 x 20 feet. Water is available at the garden. About two-thirds of the plots are seasonal plots that are tilled in the spring. The remaining plots are perennial plots that are not tilled.
Gardeners who rented a plot the previous year have an opportunity to rent the same plot again. Plots that are not rented by the middle of February are available to new gardeners. A lottery is used to determine which new gardener applicants receive a plot. All gardeners attend a spring meeting where they receive their plot assignment, meet their section manager, and sign-up for volunteer tasks. The garden property is owned by the St. Anthony Park Community Council and is managed totally by volunteers as a project of the Community Council. All gardeners are expected to help with operating the community garden. The steering committee, selected at the spring meeting, provides oversight, organization, communication, and guidance throughout the year.
Community Garden History
The St. Anthony Park Community Garden began in 1981 and has operated continuously since then. It was started by volunteers as a project of the Community Council. Located on an edge of the neighborhood that borders the railroad tracks, it provides an attractive screen between the railroad activity and the neighborhood. Gardeners plant flowers along the fence to bring more color and beauty to the area. It benefits the gardeners who rent plots, the neighborhood, and the many people who walk or drive by at all hours of the day – both residents and those who work nearby. Each year the garden donates hundreds of pounds of produce to food shelters and local low-income residents as a commitment to food justice and sustainability in our community.
Bordered by the railroad, Highway 280, and the University busway, and located near many industrial enterprises and within a few blocks of the light rail, the St. Anthony Park Community Garden is a true oasis in the midst of an intensely urban area.
St. Anthony Park is grateful to those early volunteers who began this project with a compost site and a few plots back in 1981. Among them were Joe Keleher, Bob Bacon, and Council Director Ann Copeland. Without them and all the volunteers who followed and who continue to keep it going, this marvelous asset to our neighborhood would not exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a garden plot?
When applications are open, they are available via this website and at Hampden Park Food Co-op. Completed applications are mailed in with the rental fee. If a plot cannot be provided through the lottery, the rental fee will be returned. If a plot is offered, gardeners are notified by postcard and email and are expected to attend the spring meeting to receive a plot assignment.
How many plots are available?
The number of plots available depends on the year because returning gardeners can renew their plots.
How much does it cost to rent a garden plot?
Gardeners will pay $42 per year (2026) to rent their plot. Donations and grants also suplement the opersations of the garden.
If you have other questions, please email Sue Connor here.