This gardening season, local gardeners, volunteers and city coordinators are joining forces at Flagstaff’s three community gardens to strengthen local food networks through shared gardening, workshops and volunteer events.
Flagstaff Sustainability Office manages the community gardens to promote green living and strengthen neighborhood connections by bringing residents together to share resources, knowledge and a common space.
Colorful foliage at the Bonito community garden that gives residents a place to connect through sustainable living, Nov. 5. Murphy Elser/The Lumberjack
The city rents out garden plots, sectioned pieces of land, to community members every March. Returning gardeners receive first selection as they can reclaim their plot from the previous season.
Steven Thompson, the city’s sustainability manager, spoke on the importance of food systems as a whole.
“What stuck out to me the most is how Flagstaff is a food hub for most of northern Arizona, and there are a variety of ranchers and farmers throughout the community,” Thompson said. “Most of the people buying and purchasing food do it in or around Flagstaff, or the food comes through Flagstaff, or people distribute food in Flagstaff.”
A garden plot is $65 to rent per gardening season, though half and full scholarships are offered to reduce or cover the fee.
A decorative black bird stands among plants in the Bonito community garden. Gardeners add personal touches that help make the spaces unique, Nov. 5. Murphy Elser/The Lumberjack
There are three community gardens spread around Flagstaff: Bonito, Southside, Hal Jensen and formerly Izabel.
The Izabel garden closed in 2023 due to Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona receiving funding to build affordable housing on city property. The city invited Izabel gardeners to continue growing at the Hal Jensen Garden.
Sierra Frydenlund, the city’s food systems coordinator, runs the community farms. She outlined plans for the months ahead.
Frydenlund said growing season is typically from March or April through November, but Flagstaff’s harsh winters prevent most plants from growing after the warmer seasons.
She said she also plans on having winterization workshops where gardeners will remove dead vegetation, protect soil and minimize pests.
“Up here in Flagstaff, it’s a pretty cold climate, but we want to make sure that the soil is, in a way, insulated and protected,” Frydenlund said. “So when it does get warmer in the spring, we’re ready to go and it’s productive.”
A large cabbage plant grows in the Bonito community garden. This was planted by residents to help grow more food, Nov. 5. Murphy Elser/The Lumberjack
Each plot comes with a shed for the gardeners, who receive a code for keypad to access shared tools. Gardeners are asked to maintain the tools by cleaning, storing and returning them properly.
Sonja London-Hall, a local member of Bonito community garden, said she enjoys gardening with her daughter on their plot.
“We were very, very happy with our tomatoes this year, squash and tomatillo,” London-Hall said. “But more importantly, things grew. The garden last year was terrible.”
Frydenlund said some community members have been involved in the food systems for more than 20 years. Those who have gardened long term are interested in sustaining themselves with the food they grow, whether it is for their family, friends or neighbors.
Each garden includes communal growing spaces and pollinator gardens designed to attract bees and butterflies. Community beds are shared by local groups and volunteers.
“I got into the Bonita garden having not known about the community gardens at all,” London-Hall said. “I did the renovation and installation of the bench, sign and trail at the Southside Historic Garden. I did not know plots were available. I applied the next year for a plot.”
The city signed the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge in 2020, joining 500 other cities in a dedication to expanding pollinator habitats and educating the community. They have since reached 15 of 30 goals, such as adding new pollinator gardens in two elementary schools and creating the Murdoch Butterfly Garden.
This pledge supports the city’s broader goal of assessing and growing a community food system through projects like backyard livestock, school gardens, pollinator habitats and urban farms.
“We applied as the city of Flagstaff for a USDA grant, an innovation and production urban agriculture grant, which then we were awarded a year later to start the project assessing and growing a sustainable food system,” Thompson said.
Gardeners must follow several guidelines when renting a plot. They are responsible for keeping their plots well-maintained and clear of weeds at all times. All pathways and open areas around each plot must also remain weed-free and covered with mulch, which is provided on site.
Orange and black flowers at the Bonito Community Garden. Planted by volunteers through the garden’s accessible community programs, Nov. 5. Murphy Elser/The Lumberjack
All plots must be actively planted and cared for during the growing season. Any plot that has not been planted by June 15 will be forfeited.
In accordance with Frydenlund’s winterization, plots must be prepared for winter by Nov. 1. Gardeners must finish harvesting, uproot old plants, weed their plots, add compost and cover the soil with a layer of mulch such as leaves, straw or woodchips. Gardeners who plan on returning next season can plant crops that grow through the winter.
The program encourages gardeners to practice sustainability by conserving water, sharing hoses, composting plant-based scraps and reducing plastic use.
Behavioral rules include not picking from another person’s plot without permission, always keeping children under adult supervision and a no pet rule in the gardens.
London-Hall said she feels the garden should be of free use to anyone; if someone wants to pick something from the garden, they should be able to due to the collaborative environment.
If a gardener breaks the behavioral rules three times, they lose their plot, but they have the opportunity to reapply the following year for a new space.
“I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is being transparent with folks, because Flagstaff doesn’t have a lot of land to begin with,” Frydenlund said. “There is a way to kill birds with one stone. Have both this affordable housing and the space to produce food.”
The city has been working with NAU students in the permaculture class, who study ecological and long-term agriculture, alongside Superyard Farms to design an urban farm at McAllister Ranch for future use.
Dried corn stalks at the Bonito community garden. These were planted by volunteers to help support Flagstaff, Nov. 5. Murphy Elser/The Lumberjack
Frydenlund said the hope is to have the urban farm running by spring 2026. The goal is to create a sustainable practice for urban agriculture and to build another community garden.
Flagstaff’s Sustainability Program has a monthly newsletter detailing more about the community gardens, which focuses on food systems, growing and garden-related events. The city also hosts volunteer nights for the community on the first three Tuesdays of each month from May through October, from 5 to 7 p.m.
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