Community Garden Opens at Lincoln University

Participants take part in a guided plant identification activity, using sight, smell and taste while learning how native plants can support soil health before clearing and preparing their plots in the coming weeks.

A new community garden is taking root on the edge of Lincoln University of Missouri’s (LU) campus, giving students, staff and community members a place to grow food, learn and connect. Located at 1204 Chestnut Street, the space is part of LU Cooperative Extension’s Native and Specialty Crops Program.

The community garden is housed at the Finca EcoFarm, a hands-on learning site used for workshops, demonstrations and community education. Resources are offered throughout the season, with staff on-site during business hours to answer questions.

Fourteen raised beds are available for public and student use. Community members can rent a plot for $15 per year with the option to renew, while LU students can participate at no cost. 

For Gift Chidiogo Nwozor, a junior nursing major, the opportunity connects both personal and academic goals. She enjoys learning about nutrition and plans to grow vegetables while exploring her interest in health care.

“I’m interested in nutrition, but I like to eat, too,” Nwozor joked.

Nadia Navarrete-Tindall shares information on how native plants and pollinators support vegetable gardens.

During the community garden’s grand opening on April 15, participants received planting guides and USDA plant hardiness zone maps to help determine which crops grow best in the region. Organizers also walked through planting timelines, including when to plant cool- and warm-season crops.

The event introduced participants to the garden space and set expectations for the season. Attendees learned about plot care, watering, available resources and how to get started with their raised beds.

“We’re promoting food for people, but also conservation practices,” said Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, who leads the Native and Specialty Crops Program.

Tiffany Dixon, extension educator with Lincoln University’s Native and Specialty Crops Program, kneels beside a raised bed while giving guidance to participants during the April 15 community garden opening.

This focus carries across the Finca EcoFarm, where the community garden is surrounded by native plants used for education and demonstration. These plants attract pollinators, which can increase fruit and vegetable production. Additionally, their root systems help improve soil structure and overall soil health.

“Pollinators and people can work together, and that’s what we want to show in the community garden,” Navarrete-Tindall said.

Through the Native and Specialty Crops Program, LU Cooperative Extension connects food production with education, conservation and outreach. As the growing season continues, the community garden puts those ideas into practice.

For more information on the community garden, contact Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, state extension specialist, at Navarrete-TindallN@lincolnu.edu.