WASHINGTON, May 3, 2022 – Today Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack planted a tree to announce the reopening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) People’s Garden Initiative. People’s Gardens across the country will grow fresh, healthy food and support resilient, local food systems; teach people how to garden using conservation practices; nurture habitat for pollinators and wildlife and create greenspace for neighbors. The garden at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. will be joined by 17 flagship gardens located in urban communities nationwide.   

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS** A **lock** ( Lock           A locked padlock           ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

**

Farm Service Agency

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                      - About FSA
                      - Ask USDA
                      - Contact Us
                      - Forms

- Home
- Programs & Services  - ARC/PLC Program
- Civil Rights
- Certified Mediation Program
- Climate Adaptation Plan
- Conservation Programs
- Cooperative Agreements
- Dairy Margin Coverage Program
- Disaster Assistance Programs
- Economic & Policy Analysis
- Emergency Relief
- Environmental & Cultural Resource Compliance 
- Farm Bill Home
- Farm Labor Stabilization & Protection Pilot Grants
- Farm Loan Programs
- Financial Management Information
- Increasing Land Access
- Initiatives
- Laws and Regulations
- Margin Protection Program for Dairy
- Market Facilitation Program
- MIDAS
- Organic Certification Cost Share Program
- Outreach & Education
- Payment Eligibility
- Price Support
- Rice Production Program

- State Offices
- Online Services  - LDP
- eARC/PLC
- Farmers.gov (FSA Farm+)
- FSA Online Data Resources
- Loan Assistance Tool

- Newsroom  - Fact Sheets
- News Releases
- Emergency Designations
- Stakeholder Information
- eFOIA
- Meetings & Events
- Public Service Announcements
- County Committee Elections
- Fence Post

# USDA Renews People’s Garden Initiative

Contact:FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2022 – Today Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack planted a tree to announce the reopening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) People’s Garden Initiative. People’s Gardens across the country will grow fresh, healthy food and support resilient, local food systems; teach people how to garden using conservation practices; nurture habitat for pollinators and wildlife and create greenspace for neighbors. The garden at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. will be joined by 17 flagship gardens located in urban communities nationwide.     “The simple act of planting a garden can have big impacts – from building a more diversified and resilient local food system to empowering communities to come together around healthy food access, climate change, and equity,” said Secretary Vilsack, who unveiled the upgraded garden flanking the National Mall. “We’re committed to our priorities, and we are leading by example.”   **About the Gardens   **The Washington, D.C. People’s Garden is growing plants in a variety of ways, from small containers to wheelchair accessible raised beds. Active beehives are on the rooftop of the USDA Whitten Building. In early spring, cool weather crops like peas, kale, collards, radishes, cilantro, parsley, carrots, lettuces, beets, chard and spinach are planted, followed by warm weather crops like beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, and pumpkins in late spring and early summer. Conservation practices like cover crops and pollinator plantings are being used to conserve natural resources.     The garden has new signage that provides information on local and regional food systems, urban gardening, pollinators, and food waste reduction and composting, among other topics. The People’s Garden is adjacent and visible from where the USDA Farmer’s Market is set up. The USDA Farmer’s Market is open on Fridays from May to October.     Meanwhile, USDA has plans to launch flagship gardens in urban communities. Those cities include:   
                            - Albuquerque, N.M.    
                            - Atlanta, Ga.     
                            - Chicago, Ill. 
                            - Cleveland, Ohio 
                            - Dallas, Texas    
                            - Detroit, Mich. 
                            - Grand Rapids, Mich. 
                            - Los Angeles, Calif.  
                            - Minneapolis, Minn.    
                            - New Orleans, La.     
                            - New York, N.Y.  
                            - Oakland, Calif.  
                            - Philadelphia, Pa.    
                            - Phoenix, Ariz. 
                            - Portland, Ore.    
                            - Richmond, Va.    
                            - St. Louis, Mo.      

USDA plans to expand the initiative to other communities later this year.     School gardens, community gardens, urban farms, and small-scale agriculture projects in rural and urban areas can be recognized as a “People’s Garden” if they:  
                            - Benefit the community by providing food, green space, wildlife habitat, education space.  
                            - Are a collaborative effort. This can include groups working together with USDA agencies, food banks, Girl Scouts, Master Gardeners, conservation districts, etc.   
                            - Incorporate conservation management practices, such as using native plant species, rain barrels, integrated pest management, xeriscaping.  
                            - Educate the public about sustainable gardening practices and the importance of local, diverse, and resilient food systems providing healthy food for the community. 

To watch these gardens grow, visit our People’s Garden Webpage  or follow the hashtag #PeoplesGarden on USDA’s social media channels.      **More Information   **   USDA originally launched the People’s Garden Initiative in 2009. It’s named for the “People’s Department,” former President Abraham Lincoln’s nickname for USDA, which was established during his presidency in 1862.      USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.   

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

** Return to the list of News Releases

----

                        - Placeholder   

## Recent News

                        - USDA Announces 2024 Wool and Mohair Marketing Assistance Loan Rates  
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced Marketing Assistance Loan rates for 2024-crop graded wool by micron class. Loan rates for ungraded wool and mohair are unchanged and remained the same from the prior crop year.
 
                        - USDA Appoints New Members to the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production   WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed four new members to the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The new members are replacing four members whose terms are expiring and rotating off the Committee. The Committee is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to support urban agriculture and innovative production, creating a network for feedback. 
                        - Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year   WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024. 

- Home
- Programs & Services
- State Offices
- Online Services
- Newsroom

- Farmers.gov
- USA.gov
- USDA.gov
- Whitehouse.gov

- Accessibility Statement
- Common Questions
- Freedom of Information Act

- No FEAR Report
- Information Quality
- Non-Discrimination Statement

- Policies and Links
- Privacy Policy
- Sitemap

#### Sign up for updates

**

Farm Service Agency

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Twitter

RSS