Garden in A Box Program

The Garden in a Box Program seeks to increase access to healthy food for low-income residents living in Fulton and Dekalb county, through installing custom-raised bed gardens and providing one on one garden support at family homes, local schools, community centers, housing facilities, apartment complexes, and religious institutions. Program participants are provided free garden beds, along with seedlings, seeds, and other necessary tools and supplies. We want to help participants’ garden dreams come true, and are here to support you on your path to growing your own fresh fruits and vegetables! In addition to the materials, we offer each gardener a mid-season visit from our team to check on your progress and troubleshoot any garden issues.

Gardens provide participants with opportunities to build resiliency through increased community engagement, opportunities for inter-generational experiences, and improvements in their health from exercise and increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

What can you expect from DFG from this program? 

  • Installation of custom wooden garden beds or containers (for those households that do not have a yard for raised beds).

  • Compost & soil to fill all the beds

  • Free seedling distribution for spring, summer, and fall crops. This includes vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings and
    seed packets of your choice

  • Hand-outs on gardening, and access to our lending library of gardening books

  • A mid-season visit to your garden from DFG staff to answer garden related questions and troubleshoot any issues

  • Free monthly hands-on gardening workshops at the DFG urban farm

  • Access to our growing network of fellow gardeners

What does DFG expect from you?

  • Attend the program orientation and registration event in the Spring

  • Participation in the garden installation process to the best of your physical ability

  • Pick up your plants and seeds during the distribution dates

  • Complete and return all surveys and evaluations in a timely manner

  • Be a resident of Dekalb or Fulton County

  • Have an understanding that it is your responsibility to care for your garden; we are happy to offer advice if you
    encounter challenges, you will need to make time for regular garden maintenance and care

REGISTRATION FOR SPRING 2022 WILL OPEN ON MARCH 1, 2022

Garden in a Box Program Basic Timeline

  • February- DFG starts growing seedlings

  • March- New Gardener Registration Open

  • March- New Gardener Orientations

  • April- Garden Installations

  • April- Spring seedling distribution

  • May- Summer seedling distribution

  • July- Fall seedling distributions

  • July- Summer visits to gardens by DFG Staff and Youth Interns

  • April-October- Free monthly garden workshops

  • October- End of Season celebration & Evaluation Event