Meet the folks that operate the day-to-day of South Austin Community Garden!
Cynthia Good
Plot Rentals and Sustainable Food Center Liaison
Bob Hoffnar
Treasurer
Philip Koske
Workday, Maintenance, and Compost
Jana Thibodeaux
Community Hours
Kim Lanzillotti
Plot Upkeep and Orchard
Zane Bligh
Tool Maintenance
Blathana Zimmerman
Communications & Website
John Nicles
Communications & Website
FAQs
The SACG is a collection of over 30 individual plots with an orchard, rainwater cisterns, a storage shed, and houses for birds and beneficial insects.
Members get hands-on experience with organic gardening in the local environment, share information, harvest delicious vegetables, and enjoy each other’s company.
The garden is totally organic with a focus on building healthy soil and learning to garden in harmony with the environment.
As the name implies, it is most importantly a channel in which members can interact with the community through several projects such as organic recycling, herb and plant sales, and contributions of vegetables grown by members to the greater Austin Texas community.
E-mail the Plot Rental Coordinator at southatxgarden@gmail.com to schedule a tour and inquire about plot availability.
More information about becoming a member is here: Become a Member
South Austin Community Garden (SACG) was founded in January 1994 under the leadership of Renee Fuqua in the Galindo neighborhood of South Austin, Texas.
For the first 18 years, the garden was sponsored by The Salvation Army at its original location on the corner of South 5th Street and Cumberland Road.
In 2012, the Salvation property was sold to Denizen Properties. Luckily, the developer saw the value of having a community green space and took on the work to preserve it by moving the plots just south of the condo development. After a brief hiatus during construction, the gardeners got back to work in the new location in 2013.
Around the time the gardens were moved, the gardeners also organized to obtain new sponsorship through the Sustainable Food Center (SFC). SFC is a non-profit organization whose goal is to cultivate a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food.
Day to day operations are run by a team of enthusiastic volunteers.
Gardening organically means focusing on building healthy soil which leads to healthy plants that resist disease and insect damage.
Instead of using synthetic fertilizers which can burn the plants, pollute the water, and don’t improve the soil in the long term, organic gardeners build fertile soil with nutritious homemade compost and other organic amendments. This feeds the soil that feeds the plants.
Instead of using harmful pesticides that also kill beneficial organisms, organic gardeners attract beneficial insects to prey upon pest insects that cause damage.
Growing plants that are native or well adapted to the local environment will lead to a healthier, more productive garden. And, organically grown food is more nutritious and healthier too!
If you have any additional questions, or would like to arrange a tour of the gardens, you can send an e-mail to the Plot Rental Coordinator at southatxgarden@gmail.com.
Interested in Joining?
Read more about how to become a member, or contact southatxgarden@gmail.com to inquire about availability and arrange a tour.
