We are really excited to share Wangari Gardens with you! This 2.7 acre garden park in Washington, DC is bursting with creative potential. With a mission inspired by a passion for community engagement and Professor Wangari Maathai’s legacy, we are building a park to benefit everyone. We’ve started with a community garden, fruit tree orchard, rain garden, outdoor classroom, medicinal garden, and pollinator hive. Drop by to grab a snack from the shared garden spaces, or reserve a private plot! Soon, we hope to start working on a community compost drop off center, youth farmer’s market, walking/wheelchair trail, butterfly/sensory garden, play space and playground, and dog park.
Contact us at wangarigardens@gmail.com or 202-670-5459 for more information!
Wangari Gardens in the News:
“Activist gardening is the latest face of social justice in the District. Forget living in a tent in McPherson Square. Instead, try pulling on muddy work boots and hauling fertilizer and mulch to a forlorn lot, then persuading your housemates to get off their iPads and go outdoors to plant snap peas and garlic.”–The Washington Post
“Saturday May 4th was a special day at Wangari Gardens in Washington DC. Wanjira Mathai, Wangari Maathai’s daughter and Vice Chair of the Green Belt Movement (GBM) Board visited the Gardens for the first time… Wanjira said about her visit to the gardens: ’It was a very inspiring day to see how a community is building links and friendships one garden at a time.’”–The Green Belt Movement
“…a good example of the kinds of roller coasters scrappy new community gardens often face — and the power of persistence.” –Grist
“Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo, paid tribute to the late Prof Maathai at a ceremony in late September at which the 1.2-hectare property was formally given the name ‘Wangari Gardens.’”–Daily Nation (Kenya)
“Sandwiched between four lanes of bustling cars, under a sky buzzing with helicopter traffic from the nearby hospital center, Wangari Gardens is an oasis at the crossroads of Irving Street, Kenyon Street and Park Place NE.”–Ward 5 Heartbeat
“Well this is freaking awesome.”–PoPville
Want to see more articles about Wangari Gardens?
I can’t wait to help out! This is very exciting. I’ll spread the word.
Are there going to be plots available for vegetable gardening? Is there a waiting list? Is there a fee?
There is currently 58 plots built for renting, but they are all booked for this year. We plan on building more every season so if you would like to get on our waiting list send us an email request at wangarigardens@gmail.com. Also we have constructed 2 HUGE zigzag plots open to all the public for gardening. We’re going to plant these plots this Sunday and have workshops and fieldtrips with these plots. Feel free to help grow things in these plots and enjoy the harvest with us. If you want more info come out 11-8pm this Sunday for our opening day.
We are moving into the area and are very excited about the potential for a dog park. What can I do to help? What is needed?