Bountiful Backyards, Indeed

By Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator

We have major news—and yes, it involves vegetables surviving in the cityscape. Our Bountiful Backyard Gardens program is officially an overwhelming success, defying both our anxiety and the local pest population.

When we launched this initiative, our goal was simple: break down transportation barriers, improve food access, and turn local lawns into productive, hyper-local grocery stores. We are thrilled to report that the plants understood the assignment! Right now, backyard garden beds across the city are overflowing. Zucchini plants are staging hostile takeovers of the grass; pepper plants are showing off. We set out to make fresh food accessible, and the only current barrier is finding enough counter space for the harvest.

This triumph belongs entirely to our incredible first cohort of backyard growers. You hauled compost, wrangled unruly hoses, and trusted the process.

 The Backyard Breakdown:

• Commute times to fresh food: Down to approximately 12 steps out the back door

• Transportation barriers: Successfully defeated by a pair of sturdy garden shoes

• Produce harvested: Hundreds of pounds (shout-out to the zucchini and melons for doing what they love to do best!)

From first timers who were previously afraid of killing plastic plants to seasoned pros sharing heirloom secrets, the community forming between these gardeners is unmatched. We are officially swapping tips, sharing harvests, and collectively panicking about how many cucumbers we’re suddenly harvesting.

Turns out when you give people the soil, seeds, and support, they don't just grow food— they build a backyard garden oasis!

You can learn more about our Bountiful Backyard Gardens program here.