The Manhattan Community Garden is a cooperative gardening project located in the south part of Manhattan, Kansas. Land is provided by the City of Manhattan and supervised by UFM. The Garden is located in southern Manhattan at 9th and Riley Lane. Over 150 plots are available on an annual basis. A small plot rental fee is charged to cover costs of operating the program. Rent is charged on a sliding fee scale to allow all income groups to participate. Water, mulch, tools, seeds and advice are available.

Orientation and plot rental occurs each year beginning in February and continues until all plots are rented. A plot rental fee is charged based on income and ranges from 2 1/2 cents to 6 cents per square foot. A $10.00 per plot deposit for cleanup is also required.

Plot Signup and Orientation dates take place in February through April each year. 

Call UFM at 539-8763 for more information.

The Manhattan Community Garden is a 2008 sponsor of the "Plant a Row for the Hungry" campaign. This national organization, through local sponsors, has helped to donate over 12 million pounds of fruits and vegetables to local people in need since 1995.

You can participate by planting an extra row in your garden to donate to the Flint Hills Breadbasket, or simply giving what you have left after sharing your harvest with friends and family. To simplify sharing your donation, local PAR volunteers will pick-up extra produce at the community gardens on advertised dates and times; and they will deliver the produce to the Breadbasket.

Sharing the bounty of your garden with those who really need it has never been easier! More information will be in the next newsletter.

Garden History

The Manhattan Community Garden began in 1974 with a mini grant from ACTION, coordinated by UFM. Basic gardening supplies were purchased. 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. No change has been made since that time.

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. The city agreed to install water meters and spigots at the site. The City agreed to donate water. A local bank donated seeds for the first year.

The 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. A children’s garden was added next to the main garden in 1979. A new shed was donated by D&R Construction in 2004.

The lease on the 3 acres of gardening space is held by UFM Community Learning Center and renewed by the City of Manhattan every five years.

Currently the Garden has 150 plots. A plot rental is charged on a sliding scale to cover garden expenses.

For more information, call UFM at (785) 539-8763 or e-mail info@tryufm.org.