Hillsboro Community Gardens

Growing a Community

The Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Community Gardens Program, in partnership with the Hillsboro School District and local churches, manages three organic, pesticide-free garden sites with over 200 hundred garden plots available on a first-come, first-served basis to Hillsboro residents. Gardeners in the program have the opportunity to grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables in privately leased plots and also cooperate with one another to manage the larger community garden site.

The City of Hillsboro recognizes community gardening as an activity that contributes to the health and well-being of the wider community as well. Our program promotes community building, sustainable practices, and ecologically responsible gardening. Join us and help fuel this movement towards a healthier Hillsboro.

Lease/Renew a Garden Plot

For New Gardeners: How to Lease a Garden Plot

Zinnias close up Thank you for your interest in our community garden program. We assign community garden plots to new gardeners on a first-come, first-served basis beginning in mid-February. Our program is very popular and our gardens fill quickly each season. Current gardeners have the opportunity to renew plots from season to season, so openings arise as current gardeners release plots.

We maintain a wait list for our gardens and if no plots are available at the time you contact us, we will add you to our list. We place people from the wait list according to the date they contact us.

To join our community garden program, please contact the Community Gardens Program Facilitator at 503-681-5374 or Lewis.Ferguson@Hillsboro-Oregon.gov. Before reaching out, please do the following:

Select one or more of our garden sites where you would like to lease a garden plot.
Choose a plot size. Smaller plots (10' x 20' or 15' x 20') are recommended for beginning gardeners and/or families of 1 – 2 people. Large plots (20' x 20') are recommended for families of 2 or more people, or active and experienced gardeners. However, there are no restrictions and you may select the size you feel best suits your needs. Raised beds are reserved for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Sizes/fees are:
- 20' x 20' – $60/year
- 15' x 20' – $50/year
- 10' x 20' – $40/year
- 4' x 12' (raised bed) – $30/year
Review our Garden Rules Summary to see if our program requirements fit your needs and interests.
Fill out the New Gardener Interest Form and email to CommunityGardens@Hillsboro-Oregon.gov.

When a plot becomes available, you will receive a call from the Community Gardens Program Facilitator at which time you may book your plot and make payment.

Following booking, you will be emailed a Welcome Letter with a summary of our Garden Policies and required meeting dates as well as our Hillsboro Community Gardens Participant Waiver and Release.

Please do the following:

Print out, sign, and return, at your earliest convenience, the Waiver and Release. You may return-email a scanned, signed copy or mail in the signed original to the address below.
Plan to attend the required Spring Orientation Meeting.
Plan to attend the required work parties and be aware of community service requirements.

Returning Gardeners: How to Renew Your Garden Plot

Garden plot renewals begin in mid-December each year for the following year. At the close of the renewal period, open and un-renewed plots are assigned to people from the wait list. If you plan not to renew, please inform the Community Garden Program Facilitator at your earliest convenience.

To renew, please call:

Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve
503-681-6206
Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm

Payment is due at time of booking.

Once you have renewed your lease and paid, the Hillsboro Community Gardens Participant Waiver and Release form will be emailed to you.

Please do the following:

Electronically sign, save to your computer, then attach the electronically signed document and return-email within two weeks of receiving or mail in the signed original to the address below:

Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve
2600 SW Hillsboro Highway
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Plan to attend the required Spring Orientation Meeting.
Plan to attend the required work parties and be aware of community service requirements.

The Gardens

Additional Information

Policies

Policy Documents

Refund Policy

Garden plot fees are generally non-refundable. Your garden plot fee may be credited to your Parks & Recreation account if you fail to complete your registration by the deadline and your registration is canceled. If you are removed from the program for any reason or need to relinquish your plot for any reason after registration closes, you forfeit your fee.

To complete your registration, you need to pay the plot fee, sign the Waiver and Release form and attend one of our spring orientation meetings after which you will sign our Garden Policy/Code of Conduct document.

Documents & Resources

Community Garden Guidance Documents

Garden Orientations

New Gardener Orientation

Garden Resource Links

Organic Gardening

Metro Natural Gardening

Water-Efficient Gardening

Hillsboro Gardening

How to Grow Organically

Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Product List
No synthetic chemicals (herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers) are allowed in any of Hillsboro's community gardens unless they are listed on the OMRI product list.
Oregon Tilth Getting Your Garden Started