Gardening Resources
Local organizations offering resources and education on gardening and sustainable growing practices.
City of Lawrence Compost Facility, opens a new window: Anyone can self-load compost and woodchips or drop off yard waste at The Wood Recovery and Compost Facility, located at 1420 E 11th St. The site is open to the public Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from March until December, or until materials run out. See the website, opens a new window for pricing guidelines (cash only). Contact the Compost Facility at 785-832-3026 or recycling@lawrenceks.org.
City of Lawrence Solid Waste, opens a new window: The Solid Waste Division offers classes, presentations, and tours of both the Composting Facility and Household Hazardous Waste Facility. They are Lawrence's go-to source for all recycling and waste management questions. Contact the Solid Waste division at 785-832-3032.
Clinton Parkway Nursery, opens a new window: Clinton Parkway offers free workshops and seminars on a variety of gardening topics throughout the spring, starting in February each year. Check out their website, opens a new window or call 785-842-3081 to learn more and reserve your spot.
Common Ground Program, opens a new window: Common Ground is a community gardening and urban agriculture program created by the City of Lawrence in 2012. The Common Ground Program’s goal is to transform vacant or under-utilized city properties into vibrant sites of healthy food production for our citizens. Contact commonground@lawrenceks.org or call 785-330-2873 for more information.
Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners, opens a new window: Extension Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who educate the public about horticulture. The Master Gardeners offer classes and workshops on a variety of horticulture-related topics throughout the year, as well as a hotline for gardening questions (April through October; 1-4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). Contact 785-843-7058 or dgcogardenhotline@gmail.com for more information, or stop by the office at 2110 Harper St. in Lawrence.
Food Policy Council, opens a new window: The Douglas County Food Policy Council seeks to identify the benefits, challenges, and opportunities for a successful, sustainable local food system in Douglas County. The Douglas County Food Policy Council meets every month at various locations. All meetings are open to the public. To learn more, check the website, opens a new window or contact dcfpc@douglascountyks.org.
Grassland Heritage Foundation, opens a new window: Grassland Heritage Foundation preserves prairies in eastern Kansas through education, stewardship, and land protection. Contact: info@grasslandheritage.org
Haskell Greenhouse:, opens a new window Indigenous land stewards from Haskell Indian Nations University focused on conservation, preservation and restoration. Haskell Greenhouse is engaged in multiple projects, including woodland and wetland prairie restoration, Haskell cemetery restoration, and cultural center restoration. Anyone wanting to volunteer can email at hinugreenhouse@gmail.com to learn more.
Kansas Land Trust:, opens a new window The Kansas Land Trust works to conserve and protect lands of ecological, agricultural, scenic, or historic significance in Kansas. Check out their website, opens a new window for free events each spring and summer.
Kansas Native Plant Society: The Kansas Native Plant Society encourages awareness and appreciation of the native plants of Kansas in their habitats and in our landscapes by promoting education, stewardship, and scientific knowledge. For more information, contact email@ksnps.org.Native Lands Restoration Collaborative, opens a new window: Native Lands is a nonprofit organization that empowers diverse land stewards to protect and restore resilient native ecosystems through community education. For more information, check out their website, opens a new window or email nativelandsks@gmail.com.
Monarch Watch:, opens a new window This organization works in education, conservation, and research as it relates to Monarch butterflies. Their website, opens a new window offers a wealth of information including plant lists to support Monarchs and other butterflies, educational materials for the classroom, and curated reading lists. To apply for free Milkweed plugs or to learn more about seed collecting and donating to support the project, visit their website, opens a new window or Facebook page, opens a new window.
Sunrise Project: The Sunrise Project serves our community by providing space and opportunity for everyone to help build an equitable community through education, good food, and social connection. Among their offerings are a 24/7 porch pantry and free community meals. Sunrise hosts Gardening days at their gardens starting in February each year. Everyone is welcome to take part in planting and learn as they go! Visit their website, opens a new window or Facebook page, opens a new window for more information.
Further afield
Botanical Belonging: Based out of Leavenworth County, Botanical Belonging is an educational nonprofit providing native plant education through access to and encouragement of hands on interaction with a wide variety of plant species native to our region.
Cultivate Kansas City: Cultivate Kansas City is a locally-grown nonprofit working to grow food, farms, and community in support of a sustainable and healthy local food system for all. We believe that growing and sharing local food nurtures our ability to care for each other and the world in which we live. For more information, contact info@cultivatekc.org or 913-831-2444.
Deep Roots KC, opens a new window: Deep Roots is a collective impact organization of partners working to encourage appreciation, conservation and use of native plants in the heartland. An archive of educational webinars, opens a new window can be found on their website. For more information, call or email: 816-301-7545 hello@deeprootskc.org.
Kansas City Community Gardens: For over thirty years, KCCG staff have assisted community and backyard gardeners throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area to improve nutrition, reduce food costs, combat obesity, increase physical activity, encourage neighborhood leadership, and promote locally grown and sustainable food. To learn more, contact contact@kccg.org or 816-931-3877.
New Roots for Refugees, opens a new window: Based in downtown Kansas City, KS, New Roots for Refugees is a four year training program which aims to empower families from the refugee community to start farm businesses by growing and selling produce through farmer’s markets, wholesale, and the New Roots Farm Share. For questions not found on their website, contact newrootskc@gmail.com.
Resilient Activist: The Resilient Activist provides community-building programs that offer inspiration, self-care, and mental health support. Their programs are immersed in deep nature-connection and designed to nourish positive ecological change.
