St. Anthony Park Community Garden
Garden plot information and documents for the 2026 season. Update: All gardeners are expected to attend the spring meeting via Zoom on April 11, 2026 at 9 a.m. to receive their plot assignment, meet their section manager, and sign up for volunteer tasks.
Garden Location: 2231 Robbins St, St Paul, MN 55114 • Google Maps
Questions? Email garden@sapcc.org or call Sue Conner at 651-271-9844.
2026 New Gardener Applications Are Closed
Applications for the 2026 season closed on March 2, 2026. No further applications are being accepted at this time. If you submitted an application and are not awarded a plot through the 2026 lottery, any rental fees paid will be refunded.
Questions? Email garden@sapcc.org or call 651-271-9844.
New Gardeners – Applications Closed for 2026
Applications for new gardeners are now closed for the 2026 season. Returning gardeners renew first each year, and new gardener applications are put into a lottery to fill any plots that become available.
If you already submitted an application, you are included in the 2026 lottery process. If we are not able to award you a plot, your rental fee will be refunded.
2026 New Gardener Application (Closed)
Garden Documents
The links below are the most current posted materials for this season.
Pay Online
Online payments are available for the Community Garden. Please only submit payment after receiving instructions through the application and plot assignment process. If you pay online and you are not offered a plot through the lottery, your rental fee will be refunded. Note: There is a $2 charge for making the payment online via PayPal.
Plot Availability
Garden plots often fill up quickly each season. Final availability varies year to year because returning gardeners from past years have the opportunity to rent the same plot again. Plots that are not rented by the middle of February are available to new gardeners, and a lottery is used to determine which new gardener applicants receive a plot.
New gardeners who are offered a plot will be notified by email. All gardeners are expected to attend the spring meeting via Zoom on April 11, 2026 at 9 a.m. to receive their plot assignment, meet their section manager, and sign up for volunteer tasks. Plots must be at least partially planted by June 7, 2026.
If you submitted an application and are not awarded a plot through the 2026 lottery, any rental fees paid will be refunded.
Questions about availability? Email garden@sapcc.org or call Sue Conner at 651-271-9844.
Garden Details
The SAP Community Garden is located on the north side of Robbins Street, between Raymond Avenue and Highway 280. Garden plots are approximately 15 x 20 feet. Only one application per household should be filed. When plots are available, a lottery is used to determine who will be able to rent the available plots.
Individuals can rent garden plots annually. There are 95 plots, which are approximately 15 x 20 feet. Water is available at the garden. About two-thirds of the plots are seasonal plots that are tilled in the spring. The remaining plots are perennial plots that are not tilled.
How the Process Works
- Returning gardeners renew their plots first.
- Plots that are not rented by the middle of February are available to new gardeners.
- A lottery is used to determine which new gardener applicants receive a plot.
- All gardeners attend a spring meeting where they receive their plot assignment, meet their section manager, and sign up for volunteer tasks.
Garden Address: 2231 Robbins St, St Paul, MN 55114 • Google Maps
Community Garden History
The St. Anthony Park Community garden began in 1981 and has operated continuously since then. It was started by volunteers as a project of the Community Council. Located on an edge of the neighborhood that borders the railroad tracks, it provides an attractive screen between the railroad activity and the neighborhood. Gardeners plant flowers along the fence to bring more color and beauty to the area. It benefits the gardeners who rent plots, the neighborhood, and the myriad of folks who walk or drive by at all hours of the day – both residents and those who work nearby. Each year the garden donates hundreds of pounds of produce to food shelves and local low-income residents as a commitment to food justice and sustainability in our community.
Bordered by the railroad, Highway 280, and the University busway, located near many industrial enterprises and within a few blocks of the light rail, the St. Anthony Park Community Garden is a true oasis in the midst of an intensely urban area.
St. Anthony Park is grateful to those early volunteers who began this project with a compost site and a few plots back in 1981. Among them were Joe Keleher, Bob Bacon and Council Director, Ann Copeland. Without them and all the volunteers who followed and who continue to keep it going, this marvelous asset to our neighborhood would not exist.
What the Garden Provides
- A welcoming place for neighbors to grow food and flowers.
- A greener corridor along the railroad edge of the neighborhood.
- A strong volunteer-led community tradition spanning decades.
- Food donations each year in support of local food access.
A SAPCC-Owned, Volunteer-Run Community Garden
The garden property is owned by the St. Anthony Park Community Council and is managed totally by volunteers as a project of the Community Council. All gardeners are expected to help with operating the community garden. The steering committee, selected at the spring meeting, provides oversight, organization, communication, and guidance throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a garden plot?
Applications for the 2026 season closed on March 2, 2026. If you submitted an application, you will be notified by email if you are awarded a plot through the lottery. If you are not awarded a plot, any rental fees paid will be refunded. All gardeners who are awarded a plot are expected to attend the spring meeting via Zoom on April 11, 2026 at 9 a.m. to receive their plot assignment, meet their section manager, and sign up for volunteer tasks. Plots must be at least partially planted by June 7, 2026.
When is the spring meeting and what happens there?
The spring meeting will be held via Zoom on April 11, 2026 at 9 a.m. All gardeners (new and returning) are required to attend to receive their plot assignment, meet their section manager, and sign up for volunteer tasks.
How many plots are available?
The number of plots available depends on the year because gardeners from past years get to renew their plots if they want to continue for another year.
How much does it cost to rent a garden plot?
Gardeners will pay $40 per year (2026) to rent their plot. Donations and grants also supplement the operations of the garden.
If you have other questions, please email Sue Conner here.