​Our History

The Common Good Gardens began when a shoreline gardener wondered how she could address the problem of hunger locally. A woman with an “enviable power of persuasion” approached a church member (who was also an Old Saybrook Selectman) about the unused parcel of land behind Grace Episcopal Church on Main Street. The church accepted, having wanted to use the land for outreach. So in 2002, a group of local gardeners came together to design and build a garden that would go on to serve thousands of food insecure community members for many years.

GIVE

To provide fresh, organic fruit and vegetables to those in need throughout the shoreline community

NOURISH

To improve access to fresh, nutritious, and sustainable food

EDUCATE

To educate others about organic gardening, share expertise, and provide hands-on experience​

GROW

To support the shoreline community through gardening, inspire others to follow in our footsteps, and promote the spirit of volunteerism

Learn more from a Common Good Gardens volunteer, David King

The Garden Today

• Our facility includes a garden shed full of tools, a programmable irrigation system, an elaborate composting system, and a deer fence.
• Our garden is “no till” in order to protect soil structure. 
• We created a 22-bin compost system that is carefully rotated, watered, and fed by garden waste to make our rich soil.
• We manage and deter pests organically and do not use commercial fertilizers.
• We soil test each year and apply natural soil amendments.​​

• We have half an acre of luscious gardens.
• We grow over 20 different varieties of fruits and vegetables.
• Annually, we harvest about 8,000 lbs. of produce from our garden and collect another 10,000 lbs. of day-old produce from farm stands.
• We deliver our produce to soup kitchen pantries in Old Saybrook, Niantic, and Old Lyme and also supply produce for the Heat and Eat program (prepared meals for people in need).​

Meet Our Board