Community Gardens

Welcome to the Acton Community Gardens! 

The Town of Acton Community Gardens are managed by the Department of Public Works and aided by the Conservation Division. 

All Acton Community Gardens are organically managed. 

Renting a Plot

For renting a plot at any of the community gardens, please fill out the 2025 - 2026 Acton Community Garden Agreement & Application (Click Here to Access). 

Completed Agreement & Application forms and payment can be submitted by email, mail, or dropped off in person. 

Email: communitygarden@actonma.gov

Mail/Drop off In Person Address: Town of Acton DPW 14 Forest Road, Acton, MA  01720

Rules and Expectations

If you plan to visit or rent a plot, please view the 2025 - 2026 Acton Community Garden Rules and Expectations (Click Here to Access)

Locations

There are three community gardens within the Town of Acton. Please view the garden plot maps below:

  1. North Acton Community Garden, 845 Main Street (Click to View Map)
  2. Morrison Farm, 116 Concord Road (Click to View Map)
  3. Hebert Farm Community Garden, 88 Prospect Street (Click Here to View Map)

Acton Community Garden Schedule 

Event

Day 

Month

Existing Gardens

Request period for Post-Season Gardening

2nd Wednesday

October

End of Season – Cleanout plots

2nd Monday

November

Renewal Period Opens – Applications released

2nd Wednesday

November

Renewal Period Closes

/Deadline to Renew/Submit applications

1st Wednesday

December

First-time Gardeners

First-time Application Submission Period Opens

1st Wednesday

December

First-time Applications Due for submission– Deadline/Period Closes

3rd Wednesday

January

New Garden Plot Announcements

Late

January

Growing Organically

The Acton Community Gardens are organically managed which the University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment defines as "Organic gardening rejects the use of all artificial agricultural chemicals, including pesticides used to control insects, diseases and weeds. Organic gardeners differ concerning which, if any, naturally derived pesticides are permissible and when and how they may be used." (Click here for Umass Amherst Organic Gardening website)

The Acton Community Garden Rules and Expectations ask gardeners to use the Organic Materials Review Institute's list of approved soil amendments such as fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides. 

Click Here to View 2024 OMRI Approved Soil Amendments By Product

Click Here to View 2024 OMRI Approved Soil Amendments By Category

Click Here to View 2024 OMRI Approved Soil Amendments By Company

Contact

Email: communitygarden@actonma.gov

Mailing Address: Town of Acton DPW 14 Forest Road, Acton, MA  01720

Phone: (978) 929-7740

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  • There are no early bird registrations or holds on plots. 
  • Plots are paid only by check payable to "Town of Acton."  
  • All users must adhere to the Acton Water District watering guidelines (Click Here to View) and Acton Water District Outdoor Watering Restrictions (Click Here to View)
  • All users and visitors must adhere to the Acton Community Gardner Rules and Expectations. 
  • Plot sizes vary depending on the Community Garden location. 
  • Current plot holders are required to renew their plots by the renewal deadline or their plot is forfeited for the next growing season.  

Helpful Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there new rules? 

As we reviewed the prior program, we noticed separate forms and rules for the garden locations.  We’re consolidating the paperwork to simplify the program 

Is the Town planning any major work at the Community Garden locations over this winter 2024 season?

There is no major work planned that will involve the individual garden plots.  We’re only planning our typical pathway and perimeter cleanup and winterization.

The application requires the fee to be paid “in-person” at the DPW Office (14 Forest Road).  Can we mail the application and check to the office?  

We didn’t notice this requirement in the previous rules.  We changed it to allow gardeners to be able to submit their payment by mail or in-person.  

How do we officially submit requests related to my garden plot?

If you’re submitting your application or any other request such as post-season garden-use, we’re ok with receiving it via mail or email.  We believe it's best to submit these requests in writing so there is a written record of it.  

Can the Town till my garden plots?

The previous rules indicated that the Town does not till the garden plots.  We kept this condition in the new rules.  

Eventually, we would like to establish an approach to maintain the garden locations on some sort of a multi-year re-occurring basis.  However, this will take a lot more planning and outreach to develop the project and convey this to the gardeners in a timely manner so everyone can plan accordingly.  

Several questions were raised about the new watering guidelines.

We did not change the rules related to water use.  

However, we’re willing to improve upon them for clarification.  

Can gardeners use their garden plots beyond the growing season for winter gardening, soil prep, and garden material storage?

We included a provision in the program allowing gardeners to continue using their plots through the winter.  As part of the Garden Schedule (excerpt below from the application), we established a timeline to notify the Town.