Get Involved with Emeryville's Community Organic Gardens!
City of Emeryville and various community groups own and operate four community gardens throughout the city. A map noting each garden's location and information about each garden can be found below.

Emeryville's Community Gardens
MAP
Emeryville Community Organic Garden (ECOG)
Location: 1300 59th St (NW corner of 59th & Doyle St)
Garden Plots: 30
To join the garden/waitlist, check out the application below. There is a non-refundable $15.00 application fee. This fee will count towards the first year of dues. Annual dues for those with a garden plot are $60.00. Annual dues for Friends of the Garden, those with garden access but no plot, are $10.00.
If you have questions or would like to become a Friend of the Garden, please contact the ECOG coordinator at ECOG.59thDoyle@gmail.com.
Sherwin Avenue Community Organic Garden (SACOG)
Location: 1550 Sherwin Ave (NW Corner of Sherwin & Halleck)
Garden Plots: 26
To join the garden/waitlist, check out the application below. There is a non-refundable $15.00 application fee. This fee will count towards the first year of dues. Annual dues for those with a garden plot are $60.00. Annual dues for Friends of the Garden, those with garden access but no plot, are $10.00.
If you have questions or would like to become a Friend of the Garden, please contact the SACOG coordinator at SherwinAvenueGarden@gmail.com.
Temescal Creek Community Garden (TEMCOG)
Location:1042 48th St (SW Corner of 48th & 53rd)
Garden Plots: 25
To join the garden/waitlist, check out the application below. There is a non-refundable $15.00 application fee. This fee will count towards the first year of dues. Annual dues for those with a garden plot are $60.00. Annual dues for Friends of the Garden, those with garden access but no plot, are $10.00.
If you have questions or would like to become a Friend of the Garden, please contact the TEMCOG coordinator at TEMCOG.Emeryville@gmail.com.
Big Daddy's Complete Rejuvenating Community Garden
Location: 3601 Peralta St (SW Corner of Peralta & W MacArthur Blvd)
Garden Plots: 20
To join the garden/waitlist, contact Vickie Jo Sowell at vickiejosowell@hotmail.com or call (510) 655-7374.
There is a non-refundable $15.00 application fee. This fee will count towards the first year of dues. Annual dues for those with a garden plot are $60.00. Annual dues for Friends of the Garden, those with garden access but no plot, are $10.00.
Garden Eligibility
Community garden membership is reserved for those who currently live within the 94608 zip code. This includes Emeryville residents and residents of the immediate adjoining portions of Oakland. Residents of 94608 who live in areas identified as "disadvantaged communities" by California State Parks are prioritized when applying for plots at TEMCOG.
Friend of the Garden is a special non-gardening membership category that allows community members to access the garden in exchange for hosting curious visitors. Friends of the Garden are typically people who enjoy spending time outdoors and in the garden at their convenience; they may or may not be residents of 94608, but are often people who live or work in the vicinity. Please contact the garden coordinator of your preferred garden to learn more about being a Friend.
History
Emeryville's four community gardens serve over 100 community members interested in gardening and organic produce. The Emeryville Community Organic Garden (ECOG) was established in 1992 by a community group lead by then-resident Elaine Drukman. Big Daddy's Complete Rejuvenating Community Garden, named after the auto business which once existed at the site, was established next, in 2002, through the efforts of resident Vickie Sowell. Both Big Daddy's and ECOG were built by volunteers and funded by generous local donors. Originally, Emeryville leased both gardens from the respective property owners. However, in 2004, ECOG was removed to allow the Doyle Street Greenway Project to advance. At this time, Emeryville purchased the land and had it rezoned as a public park. The garden was rebuilt on the same site in 2005, corresponding with the completion of the Doyle Street Greenway Project. Later, in 2008, the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency acquired a small parcel on 48th Street with plans to build a new community garden. Unfortunately, development stalled due to legal challenges and remediation. In 2011, the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency closed permanently. Luckily, in 2014, City of Emeryville secured funding and began building the Temescal Creek Community Organic Garden (TEMCOG) on the parcel. Recently, in 2016, residents of the Park Avenue Residents Committee negotiated the development of a new community organic garden at the former Sherwin Williams Paint Emulsion Factory site. The Sherwin Avenue Community Organic Garden (SACOG) officially opened to the community in April, 2024.
Compost
Big Daddy's Complete Rejuvenating Community Garden hosts an annual compost giveaway in celebration of Earth Day. Please check back for next year's event.
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