Growing Together: How Our Community Garden in Portland, Oregon, Builds Resilience One Plant at a Time

At Rosewood Initiative, we believe resilience grows best when it’s rooted in community. That’s why we’re transforming our outdoor space into something beautiful and purposeful: a thriving community garden and food forest designed by and for East Portland neighbors.

This garden is more than just a place to grow food; it’s part of our broader Community Resilience work. We’re building systems of support that reflect the wisdom and needs of our community, whether that means access to nutritious food, green space to gather and heal, or simply more opportunities to connect. Learn more about our approach to resilience here »

What makes this community garden special?

Located in the heart of East Portland, our community garden isn’t a traditional plot system. It’s a shared, evolving space where local residents can reserve planting areas, attend workshops, participate in volunteer days, and benefit from fresh, locally grown food. From medicinal herbs to fruit-bearing trees, every element has been selected with care, equity, and long-term sustainability in mind.

At our most recent large-scale volunteer day, 250 plants were added to the garden, including:

• 14 fruit trees

• 32 perennial fruit-producing shrubs and trees

• 14 medicinal plant species

• 28 native species that support biodiversity and pollinators

This incredible day resulted in a 6x increase in biodiversity compared to just two years ago. It’s a major step toward our goal of creating a full food forest that feeds and sustains our community.

Why a community garden matters in Portland, Oregon

Portland is known for its greenery, but access to safe, amenity-rich green spaces isn’t equal across the city. In East Portland, systemic disinvestment has made access to healthy food and community resources harder to come by.

That’s where the garden comes in.

When neighbors come together to grow food, they’re doing more than tending plants; they’re building relationships, skills, and networks of mutual support. They’re reclaiming space. They’re cultivating resilience.

Volunteer with us, grow with us

This garden was made possible by people like you. Local volunteers have been essential to every stage of this transformation, from hauling compost to planting fruit trees to dreaming up what’s next. Whether you’re a master gardener or just someone who likes to get your hands in the dirt, there’s a place for you here.

And when you volunteer, the impact is immediate. You help create a green sanctuary in a part of the city that needs it most. You help feed families. You help your neighbors learn new skills and connect to nature.

So if you’ve been looking for a community garden in Portland, Oregon, where your time and effort will truly matter, this is it.

👉 Sign up to volunteer today and be part of something that grows deeper roots every season.