Growing vegetables for free? Who would’ve thought! But that’s exactly what Valley Community Gardens is all about.
Originally launched as a garden initiative back in 2017 by Valley United Way, the 10 gardens spread across Lower Naugatuck Valley were intended to spur interest in gardening and increase the amount of fresh produce available by local food pantries.
Valley Community Gardens do not follow the traditional rent-a-plot model that many towns host space for. Rather, each garden is loosely operated by a garden leader or leaders who coordinate planting, tending and harvesting produce communally. Raised garden beds are planted with the idea of growing together, and making the harvest available to anyone interested in participating. If produce isn’t harvested by garden participants, a garden leader will harvest produce and drop produce off at the nearest food pantry.
Valley Community Gardens are located at the following locations across Lower Naugatuck Valley and were intentionally chosen for their proximity to a nearby food pantry or Little Free Pantry, as with the Skokorat location in Seymour and the Oxford Neighbor to Neighbor Pantry:
Shelton – 182 Coram Ave, behind Church of the Good Shepherd
Ansonia – 96 Central Street, across from Beaver Brook Apts
Ansonia – 26 Lester Street, at Salvation Army
Derby – 313 Elizabeth Street, behind the Derby Public Library
Derby – 130 Division Street, in front of Griffin Hospital
Derby – at the corner of 5th & Olivia Streets
Seymour – 20 Pine Street, across the field from Seymour Oxford Food Bank and Seymour Congregational Church
Seymour – 91 Church Street, across from the Seymour Public Library
Seymour – 58 Skokorat Street, at the site of Little Free Pantry on Skokorat
Oxford – 130 Bee Mountain Road, behind the Neighbor to Neighbor Free Pantry
According to the 2025 Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Connecticut, lack of access to food is on the rise in our small state, and now equal to the national average at just above 14%. Food prices continue to rise and Federal funding for support programs like SNAP is dwindling, meaning an increasing number of working families are struggling to put healthy food on the table. This includes people employed full time but whose wages can’t keep pace with the increasing costs of housing, childcare and medical insurance. But together we can make a difference!
Seeds and seedlings are often donated. The gardens have Massaro Community Farm, RealFoodCT and Jones Farm to thank for plants this spring. Additionally, Valley Community Foundation has supported several gardens with funds to renew beds and repurchase tools and supplies. Thanks to a community grant, Valley Community Gardens will be hosting a series of basic gardening workshops and get-togethers during the 2026 season for newcomers who feel intimidated by a lack of knowledge. More information on the workshop schedule will follow shortly.
Follow the gardens on Facebook and Instagram, or contact them at ValleyCommGardens@gmail.com for more information on the garden nearest you!