About the Garden
The Yelm Community Garden is a hub of learning, nourishment, and connection. It is a free and welcoming resource that provides access to seeds, fresh organic produce, and hands-on education.
As a program of Bounty for Families, our goal is to cultivate community through hands-on learning, sustainable gardening practices, and local partnerships. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning, the Yelm Community Garden offers a welcoming space to explore, volunteer, and be inspired.
The Yelm Community Garden includes ten garden beds, two arbors, a garden shed, and seed cabinet. Community members are encouraged to visit the garden, explore its pathways, pick up free seeds from the seed cabinet and harvest ripe vegetables to enjoy at home.
You can visit the garden from sunrise to sunset, the same operating hours as the Yelm City Park.
How the Garden Serves the Community
- Workshops and Education – We offer free, hands-on workshops throughout the year on topics like sustainable gardening, soil health, composting, and cooking with fresh produce. our garden serves as a living classroom, with beds and arbors designed to demonstrate a variety of gardening methods and techniques.
- Seed Cabinet – Our seed cabinet is stocked with free seeds for the community, helping residents grow their own gardens at home – whether in a backyard plot or a container on a balcony.
- Work parties – Community work parties are held regularly, offering a fun and meaningful way to contribute to the garden’s upkeep. These events are open to all ages and skill levels – no experience necessary.
- Educational Demonstration Beds – Our ten garden beds are used to demonstrate diverse growing techniques, crop varieties, and organic gardening practices. They’re designed to educate and inspire visitors and workshop participants alike.
- Seasonal Produce Sharing – Community members are welcome to pick ripe produce during the growing season. We ask visitors to harvest responsibly, take only what they need, and leave enough for others by checking signage to see what’s ready to pick. Any surplus produce is donated to local food distribution programs to help ensure nothing goes to waste. Our garden manager ensures leftovers are delivered to local food distribution programs to reduce waste and feed more families.
- Special Events – The garden hosts seasonal events, pop-up programs, and market-day engagement activities in collaboration with the Yelm Farmers Market and other local partners.
Throughout the Yelm Farmers Market season, our Community Garden Manager is on-site during most market days to answer questions, share gardening tips, and point out harvest-ready crops.
Together, these programs make the Yelm Community Garden a vibrant resource for growing food, knowledge, and connection.
History of the Garden and Founding Supporters
Since its founding, one of Bounty for Families core goals has been to establish a vibrant community garden program that increases access to nutritious food and empowers Yelm residents to grow their own produce – whether they live on five acres or in an apartment downtown.
In 2019, Bounty for Families partnered with several local organizations to submit a grant proposal through the through the National Association of Conservation Districts for $50,000 to support this vision. That vision became reality over Martin Luther King holiday weekend in 2021, when Bounty for Families – alongside the City of Yelm, Thurston Conservation District, GRuB, the Nisqually Indian Tribe, Yelm Community Schools and The Mission Continues (a nationwide military veterans group whose members do service projects within the communities where they live) – broke ground and installed the Yelm Community Garden in the in Yelm City Park.
Gordon’s Garden Center donated all of the seeds and starts to get things moving once the beds had been established.
The City of Yelm has been an essential partner in this project, allowing us to use the Yelm City Park space at no charge and providing irrigation and lighting.
The Nisqually Indian Tribe awarded $12,000 in grant funding for general garden support and to create an elder-friendly and ADA-accessible walkway to the garden.
The garden continued to grow thanks to the help of volunteers and work parties, with support from Rogue Permaculture & Resilient Veterans (a veteran-led permaculture group), the MOMS Club of Yelm and community volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and helped bring the space to life.
Get Involved
The Yelm Community Garden thrives because of people like you! Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, there are so many ways to support this community-grown effort. Here’s how you can help grow the garden and its impact:
- Follow the Yelm Community Garden on Social Media – Stay up to date on garden news, events, and produce availability by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Share our posts to help spread the word!
- Visit the Garden – Stop by Yelm City Park and explore the garden paths, pick some produce when available, or check out what’s growing. The garden is always open to the public – no appointment needed.
- Attend a Workshop – Join us for free, seasonal workshops focused on gardening, composting, cooking with fresh foods, and more. All skill levels are welcome.
- Volunteer at a Work Party – Bring your gloves and a smile to one of our community work parties. It’s a fun, rewarding way to get your hands in the soil and meet fellow garden supporters.
- Donate Time, Materials, Expertise, or Funds – We welcome donations of garden tools, soil, seeds, and other materials – or your time and expertise as a volunteer. You can also make a financial contribution through Bounty for Families, our nonprofit organization. Every little bit helps us continue serving the community.
Together, cultivating more than just food – we’re growing community, connection, and resilience.
If you are interested in volunteering, making an in-kind donation or sponsoring the program, please contact us.