🌱 Community Gardens in Fox Valley & Oshkosh Area

Help us grow a greener community!

We’re building a map of all community gardens in the Fox Valley and Oshkosh area—and we need your help!

Whether you’re looking to find, add to, or start a community garden in Outagamie or Winnebago County, this directory connects you with local garden coordinators and resources. Thinking of starting a garden or having unused land? Reach out—we’ll follow up to explore next steps with you.

What a community garden is: A community garden is any shared growing space that’s at least partially open to the public. It’s okay if some plots are reserved for partner groups like churches or nonprofits.

Why it matters: Community gardens offer fresh food, cultural crops, recreation, beautification, and safer neighborhoods. This map also helps identify where new gardens are needed.

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Did You Know?

Community gardens offer far more than fresh produce. They contribute to healthy, thriving neighborhoods in many meaningful ways:

• Support pollinators – Many gardens include flowering plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
• Improve neighborhood safety – Green, active spaces are linked to reduced crime rates and stronger community connections.
• Provide learning spaces – Gardens serve as outdoor classrooms where people of all ages learn about nutrition, composting, and soil health.
• Promote physical activity – Gardening is a moderate-intensity activity that supports heart health, flexibility, and strength.
• Preserve cultural traditions – Shared plots allow for growing culturally important crops and sharing food heritage across generations.

What the Research Shows

While these individual benefits are easy to see on the ground, research confirms that the overall impact of community gardens reaches even further—supporting broad public health, well-being, and sustainability outcomes. A 2021 systematic review found that community gardens:

• Improve both physical and mental health
• Are an affordable, effective way to support overall well-being
• Encourage healthy, sustainable urban living
• Play a valuable role in promoting public and environmental health

Source: Lampert et al. (2021), PLoS One, 16(8):e0255621. View study

Extension’s Ongoing Support

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension supports community gardens across the state by:

• Offering horticulture and food systems expertise
• Assisting with garden planning and coordination
• Supporting garden-based education, especially in underserved areas
• Partnering with local governments, nonprofits, and schools to grow resilient food systems

Expanding Access Beyond the Garden

Extension isn’t just mapping community gardens—we’re building a broader picture of food access in the Fox Valley and Oshkosh region. We are focusing on the Fox Valley and Oshkosh region, but include statewide features when possible. The Food Access Map includes:

• Farmers markets
• Market stands and pop-ups
• Food banks and pantries

By expanding this resource, we aim to connect more people with local, nutritious, and affordable food options.