Turning dirt into delight

When Jeff Schneider was a kid, he, his brothers and his mom spent every weekend during the growing season in the family garden.

“My mom and dad had a huge garden,” he recalled. “My mom canned everything. We had our whole supply of summer vegetables all winter long.”

According to Schneider, it was a lot of backbreaking work. “I swore when I left home, I was never, ever going to have another garden,” he said. But years later, he started to miss it.  

When a couple of Schneider’s co-workers started gardening a plot at one of Eden Prairie’s community gardens, he offered to help. A couple of years later, after they stopped gardening, he took over their plot and eventually upgraded to a bigger one.

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Schneider now finds gardening relaxing and enjoys seeing the results of his labor. “There’s nothing better than to go one day and see a small cucumber, and three days later, it’s 10 times the size that it was,” he said.

He also appreciates the tasty results of his work. “There’s nothing like what comes out of those gardens from a taste perspective,” Schneider said. “My tomatoes are absolutely amazing. Tomatoes you buy at the store don’t even compare.”

City offers three community garden locations

The City of Eden Prairie has 145 community garden plots spread over three locations:

• Pioneer Trail Gardens, 13180 Pioneer Trail
• Duck Lake Trail Gardens, 16591 Duck Lake Trail
• Pioneer Park Gardens, 8940 Sutton Drive

Community garden plots are available to residents and those who work in Eden Prairie. Plots are available for planting from May through October.

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The city rents garden plots based on three sizes:

• $60 for 20-by-30 feet (all gardens)
• $80 for 20-by-40 feet (Pioneer Park Gardens only)
• $120 for 20-by-60 feet (Pioneer Trail Gardens only)

Residents 55 years and older can get a senior discount.

“The plots have been extremely popular for a number of years and sell out fast,” said Matthew Bourne, the city’s parks and natural resources manager.

Pioneer Park Gardens also has 3-foot-high raised garden beds with six 5-by-7-foot plots, offering access for individuals who use wheelchairs or prefer to sit while gardening. Bourne noted that the city has seen an increase in demand for raised garden beds. Each raised 5-by-7-foot plot costs $10 for the gardening season.

Community gardens foster community and sustainability

According to Schneider, the community garden “brings together a lot of people.” Fellow gardeners often share gardening tips and ask each other questions.

In addition to bringing residents together, “community gardens have several benefits that help promote sustainability in Eden Prairie,” said Jennifer Fierce, the city’s sustainability coordinator.

“Residents have access to fresh fruits and vegetables while also helping to increase biodiversity and improving air, water and soil quality. Gardeners also use food scraps as compost to keep the soil healthy, which also keeps it out of landfills.”

Garden plot registration opens March 6

Garden plot registration for 2025 opens at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 6, and continues until all plots are rented.

Registration can be done online, in person at the Eden Prairie Community Center, or via mail using the form available on the Community Gardens webpage. The webpage also lists Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and several tip sheets for gardeners.

Editor’s note: This story is the first in an ongoing series called “Sustainability in Action.” The series spotlights sustainability efforts in Eden Prairie at various levels, from local government and businesses to community groups and residents. It includes a page dedicated to local, state, and national sustainability resources. This series has received support from a grant from the Eden Prairie Community Foundation.

If you have an idea for this series, contact the editors.