Community Crops
What we do
The Community Crops Program provides education, advocacy, and experiences to grow local food through community gardens, production greenhouses, incubator farms, and workshops.
How we do it
Community Crops secures the funding and resources needed to steward 19 acres of land in Lincoln for individuals and families to grow local food.
Through practical agricultural training, land access, and hands-on education, we equip aspiring farmers and urban gardeners with the tools to grow their own food and nourish their neighborhoods.
In 2025
Garden Program
The Community Crops Garden Program provides affordable garden plots, tools, and water access at multiple neighborhood sites across Lincoln, ensuring everyone has the space to grow their own food.
Operating on a sliding-fee scale to remain accessible to all incomes, the program brings together neighbors of all backgrounds — from novice gardeners to seasoned growers and refugee families — to cultivate everything from everyday vegetables to culturally diverse heritage crops.
Becoming a Community Gardener
Annual applications are required to participate. Because our gardens fill up quickly, applicants are placed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- New Gardeners: Applications are open from mid-January to March 31. Apply online or visit our office at 501 S. 7th St. for a paper copy. Paper applications are available by request in English, Spanish, Arabic, Karen, and Pashto.
- Returning Gardeners: Eligible gardeners who met priority deadlines receive an emailed application in November. Contact our team with any questions.
- Waitlist (After April 1): Join the waitlist for the current or next season by emailing your name and contact info. If a plot doesn’t open up, you will receive priority registration emails in mid-December.
Community Gardening Plots & Fees
Gardeners pay an annual fee based on plot size and household income (sliding scale). One standard plot is 100 sq. ft. (10′ x 10′). Due to high demand, there is a maximum limit of 4 plots per applicant.
| Plots | Total Size | Sliding Scale Fee Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Plot | 100 sq. ft. (9.3 sq. meters) | $25 – $100 |
| 2 Plots | 200 sq. ft. (18.6 sq. meters) | $50 – $200 |
| 3 Plots | 300 sq. ft. (27.9 sq. meters) | $75 – $300 |
| 4 Plots | 400 sq. ft. (37.2 sq. meters) | $100 – $400 |
Garden Locations
- 17th & F (917 S 17th St)
- Mustard Seed (2600 N 70th St)
- 14th & Hudson (2152 S 14th St)
- Antelope (35th & Sumner)
- Willard (1245 S Folsom St)
- Knyaw (2215 S 15th St)
- Southern Heights (5750 S 40th St)
- Peter Pan Park (30th & Overland Trail)
- Gere Library (2400 S 56th St)
- Alpha Kappa Alpha (1344 D St)
- Belmont (3424 N 14th St)
- Tifereth Israel (3219 Sheridan Blvd)
Farm Program
Community Crops provides training, technical assistance, and land access to beginning, immigrant, and limited-resource farmers.
Our goal is to help people create sustainable farm businesses to feed their families and their community.
Farm applications for next year will open in Quarter 4. Please check back for updated information and deadlines.
Farm Locations
Prairie Pines
4498 N 112th St
Lincoln, NE 68527
Airpark
3130 NW 39th St
Lincoln, NE 68524
14th and Lake
2442 S 14th St
Lincoln, NE 68502
Education and Classes
Come learn with us!
Classes and workshops are offered throughout the year on gardening and farming topics, cooking, and sustainable living.
Urban Grower Series
This class series focuses on teaching sustainable growing skills for gardeners and farmers. Class formats may vary between hybrid classes, lectures, demonstrations, and other alternative formats. Pre-registration is required. Using the ‘Register for Classes’ button below will link you to a different website for sign-up, where you can sign up for individual events or multiple classes at once!
We offer a sliding scale for those who need financial assistance to attend. To request assistance, email agerdes@familyservicelincoln.org.
History
Founded in 2003 with a single community garden, Community Crops was born out of a simple idea: providing people with the space and resources to grow their own food. Over more than two decades, that single plot has flourished into a vibrant, multi-faceted urban agriculture program.
Today, Community Crops operates 12 community garden sites across Lincoln, alongside three dedicated training farms, production greenhouses, and comprehensive education programs.
In 2023, Community Crops reached a milestone when it joined Family Service Lincoln. This new structure strengthens our programs and ensures our vital resources will continue to feed, educate, and support the Lincoln community for generations to come.
Community Crops Corporate Supporters
