Temple Community Garden

Temple Community Garden is located on the grounds of the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple at 15th & S St NW, in Ward 2.  The Temple Garden consists of 72 plots, most of which are about 9′ x 5′.  A Temple Gardener said, “A handful are grandfathered as “full plots” which are twice that size but the demand is so great that all new gardeners only get a “half plot,” 9 x 5 one.  Our waitlist has about 40 people on it. The minimum wait is generally 3 years to get a plot.” Temple Gardeners must live in 20009, 20005, or 20036.  Also they are not allowed to have another plot of land that they may garden in elsewhere (i.e. no big backyard). Most Temple Gardeners are apartment dwellers.

Temple Garden is organized by having a president, a listkeeper, quadrant leaders, a treasurer and a Temple “liaison” who communicates with our landowners, the Masonic Temple. They have annual elections for these jobs, which are done by volunteers.  The garden has 4 pages of rules outlining expectations of all gardeners, and enforcement is done by Quadrant Leaders throughout the growing season.  All gardeners must use organic techniques and participate in community upkeep of common areas like pathways.

Ms. Vikki Frank currently serves as the Temple Garden list-keeper, and can be reached at vikki@lanierplace.com

Temple Garden just built a new website!

Photo credit: Lolly Walsh