Dig In: Community Garden Welcomes New Gardeners for 2026
For over 20 years, a quiet stretch just off of Meadow Lane Ave near Glenwood Park has been home to something good: a community garden where neighbors rent small plots, share and connect through the joy of gardening. Here they grow what they love, whether that’s tomatoes, zinnias, or just a reason to get outside.
The garden almost didn’t return this year. The property is for sale, making the season uncertain for a while. But manager Kathy Teten recently got word: the garden is on for 2026. Right now, there are five or possibly six plots available for new community gardeners.
How it Works
Plots are 16 feet wide and 14–20 feet long, rented for $35 a month during the season. The fee covers water, access to a tool shed with various tools, and fencing and poles for climbing crops. Bring your own tools if you like, but supply your own hoses. Gardeners range from their 20s to 80s, and all experience levels are welcome; beginners and masters work side by side.
On your own plot, grow vegetables and flowers to your heart’s desire. You’ll need to handle the watering of your own plot and you retain the harvest of your crops. The one gentle guideline: please avoid plants that spread aggressively and are stubborn to remove completely.
Shared Efforts
A shared area has planter boxes for growing shared herbs, rhubarb, and other plants, and a communal compost pile is available. Some gardeners take the main responsibility for some of this communal area, but everyone pitches in to make it work.
Each year, a local farmer donates 20–50 bales of straw to the community garden who keeps things garden safe. His personal standard requires that it’s safe enough for his wife to use in her garden. Gardeners can use straw as mulch, or bring their own. The choice is yours.
There are some shared chores that happen regularly, including mowing the area around the garden using a riding lawnmower and tending the planter boxes.
Children Welcome
Gardeners are welcome to bring their children or grandchildren to help tend their plots. Working side by side on an early summer morning with the sounds of birds filling the air creates the environment to connect. You grow a relationship while growing crops. This turns the time of watering and weeding into a hands-on lesson in where food comes from, how things grow, and an opportunity to learn more about nature.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact Kathy Teten today to schedule your walk-through. See in person where you’ll grow the zinnias, cucumbers and lettuce, get your guideline sheet, and secure your spot in the garden for this season. 307-250-4008
Janet Jones
Owner, Publisher, Editor
Janet has a rich history in Cody with her grandparents moving here in the late 1930s. Her grandfather started Wyoming Well Service. Janet is a writer, photographer, graphic designer and webmaster. Cody Journal and Cody Calendar blends her skills and talents with her love of the area.
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