Golden Hill Community Garden

I took my Girl Scouts on a mini field trip to this beautiful garden. Although it is small, sometimes small places like this is what makes our city great. The two wonderful ladies, that gave my girls the tour, had a lot of knowledge of the garden and what is planted in it. Only bad thing, that has been stated already, is that parking is no bueno. If you’re lucky, you’ll find parking outside of the alley. That’s about it. :)

My review is more the one of visitor than the one of urban gardener. I would definitively try to get a plot here to cultivate my heirloom tomatoes and zucchinis, this is my favorite urban garden so far. The atmosphere is fantastic, I have been several times just because, one to visit a friend who has a plot there, and a couple more to check out the sales of goodies (not only veggies and fruits but homemade cookies, etc). It is a lovely atmosphere of camaraderie and community. I found everybody to be super friendly and even got some goodies for free, just to be visiting. I think it makes a nice stop if you like to walk the streets of Golden Hill and see nature giving its fruits and see butterflies and smelling earth and freshness. It is a piece of San Diego that makes me happy every occasion I go.

There more then just this… Nice garden just ahead. It’s small but as we know somethings are good just the way they are. This community area is not just for recreation. couples spend a lot of time here just relaxing and mostly having a picnic together.
Just to walk along the garden is a good experience.

The Golden Hill Community Garden is a little bit of country in the city. Juxtaposed between Golden Hill Park and the downtown skyline, the garden is composed of 28 or so plots measuring about 3 by 12 feet. For $ 30, you can plants potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet peas, foxgloves, sunflowers, swiss chard, strawberries – anything, save illegal substances– for 6 months.
This is a great place to make friends, develop a hobby, destress at the end of the day, and appreciate what it takes to put food on the table. The garden is organic, meaning no synthetic pesticides.
The garden has monthly meeting, which members are required to attend at least half of the time (6 meetings per year is the minimun). In addition, members have to maintain the garden as a whole (fruit trees, shrubbery, weeding outside plots) as well as their individual plots.
Like any group, this one has its arguments and past drama, which comes out at meetings and can be intimidating for newcomers. But as long as you focus on your plot, this is a great way to kick back at the end of a work day, either tending your plot, chatting with fellow gardeners, or enjoying the serenity (often broken by a low-​flying airplane.) There is nothing like the satisfaction of eating your own watermelon, putting your own flowers in a vase, and seasoning a dish with your own oregano.
Parking is tough around the garden, so I avoid driving there. If you do drive, I suggest parking in the park or on 24^th between A and Russ.
From 25^th and Broadway, go North on 25^th and left on the alley one block past A St., I believe it’s called Russ. The garden will be on the right.