Here are stories and photographs of some of the most creative and interesting community gardens in the country. From inner-city parks to raised beds at elementary schools, from mini-farms to herb gardens tucked between city buildings, these inspiring examples illustrate how people coming together to grow food also improving their communities and foster ecological awareness.

Special attention is given to garden features-everything from art installations to composting toilets-and how they contribute to successful community garden design and function. The emphasis is on gardens that can be created on an incremental basis by everyday people using renewable and readily accessible materials.

Susan Finlayson has been growing food and working with community gardens since 2004. She currently studies horticulture at the University of California-Davis. She spends her time in Salt Lake City and Davis.