Manhattan Community Gardens

The Manhattan Community Gardens are a cooperative gardening project located in the south part of Manhattan, Kansas. Land is provided by the City of Manhattan and by Riley County. UFM Community Learning Center supervises the project. Garden sites are located in southern Manhattan at 9th and Riley Lane and at 1435 Collins Lane. A small plot rental fee is charged to cover costs of operating the program. Signups occur November to March each year or until all plots are rented.

Signing Up For a Garden Plot

Returning Gardener Signups (Winter/Spring 2024):

Returning Gardener Signups (Fall 2023/Winter 2024):

* December 6th (Wednesday) from 6:15 – 7:00 pm at UFM Solar Addition

* January 8th (Monday) from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at UFM Solar Addition

New Gardener and Returning Gardeners adding plots:

* February 3rd (Saturday) from 9:30 – 10:30 am at UFM Solar Addition

* February 21st (Wednesday) from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at UFM Solar Addition

* March 4th (Monday) from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at UFM Solar Addition

–> UFM is located at 1221 Thurston St in Manhattan. Parking available: Access parking lot in the alley between Kearney and Thurston St.

Preparing Your Garden Plot for Tilling

Please see this YouTube video for tips on how to prepare your plot to be tilled: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjSXfUzUcao

How to Properly Use a Tiller

Please see this YouTube video for information on how to properly use a tiller: https://youtu.be/gz0RJQ6vF-4 

GRO Gardening Initiative

Looking for Urban Gardening?

Learn more about the GRO Gardening Initiative aimed at reducing barriers for urban gardeners.

GRO Gardening Initiative

Volunteer Opportunities

One volunteer activity for the good of the gardens are required by each gardening family.

Work Days & Socials

VOLUNTEER OPTIONS
(one required)

• Dates TBA
• Mowing committee
• Tilling committee
• Equipment committee

Mowing

Riley Lane

May – Oct

Collins Lane — Push Mower

May – October

Collins Lane — Riding Mower

May – October

Other Opportunities

Equipment Committee
Tilling Committee
Other Approved Service

Plot Rentals

Prices vary by plot on Riley Lane. Fees on Collins Lane are $50 per plot at full pay and $25 for low income gardeners. For more information on plot rental pricing and reduced fee guidelines, see the links to the left. If you have any questions, please email communitygarden@tryufm.org.


History

The Manhattan Community Garden began in 1974 with a mini grant from ACTION, coordinated by UFM. The land was purchased by Urban Renewal and was 150 ft from the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. This space was zoned as green space for the next 20 years.

The City and many volunteers cleared the old houses and trees from the site. A local nursery provided a tractor and fertilizer to turn the soil and the City agreed to install water meters and spigots at the site. The City agreed to donate water and a local bank donated seeds for the first year. During that first year, they had 60 plots planted.

A shed was donated by a developmental center and a small grant from Social Rehabilitation Services assisted during the first years. Later, in 2004, a new shed was donated by D&R Construction.

The lease on the two acres of gardening space is held by UFM Community Learning Center and renewed by the City of Manhattan every five years. A new site, Collins Lane, was added in 2012, is leased from Riley County and is open to anyone in the county.

The Manhattan Community Garden is grateful to the Riley County Commission for providing the land, to Howie’s Trash and Recycling Services for providing labor and financial resources to help develop the new site and to the City of Manhattan Parks department for helping develop the second acre at Collins Lane for gardening in 2013.

Currently, the Riley Lane Garden has 132 plots and Collins Lane has 152 plots. A plot renewal is charged on a sliding scale to cover garden expenses.