Three decades of growing together.
Spiral Gardens is located on Sacramento and Oregon Streets in southwest Berkeley, on two plots of public land that were formerly a railroad right-of-way.
Neighbors, growers & advocates.
Spiral Gardens strives to model and enable a healthy alternative to our current food economy.
We’re part of the ever-growing movement to recreate a resilient, local food system that ties people directly to their sources of sustenance. Our nursery funds our programs, our farm feeds our neighbors, and our education helps everyone grow.
The land itself is a community achievement: our garden center exists because hundreds of neighbors, local organizations, merchants, the Parks & Recreation Commission, the Planning Department and the City Council all said yes.
From vacant lots to urban oasis.
Spiral Gardens is founded
A handful of individuals dedicated to urban greening, innovative organic farming, food security and environmental justice.
Joining forces with BOSS
Melded with the Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) Urban Gardening Institute through 2004.
A model urban garden center
Two vacant city-owned lots on the former Santa Fe Railroad line are transformed — after a door-to-door survey of hundreds of neighbors and a unanimous vote by the Berkeley City Council.
An independent nonprofit
Officially incorporated as the Spiral Gardens Community Food Security Project, a 501(c)(3).
UC Berkeley spotlight
Graduate School of Journalism students produce “Spiral Gardens, Urban Oasis,” a multimedia feature with video vignettes.
Still growing
A thriving nursery, a shared community farm and free education for the whole East Bay.
What visitors say.
“As a professional gardener this is my favorite nursery to buy plants from for my own garden. No other nursery comes close to their variety of herbs & vegetables.”
Jeanna Mielcarek · Google“The best neighborhood nursery hands down. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They ask how’s your garden coming along — and will help you transport items to your car.”
Nefertiti Scott · Google“Great plant starts especially fruits, veggies and natives! Fair pricing and supports a good cause.”
Angelica Sullam · Google“Spiral Gardens never fails to lift my spirits, blow my mind and engage my heart with all that is right and wonderful with life in the East Bay.”
A.R., Oakland“Really great community nonprofit — and they have a retail nursery with a lot of variety of edible plants, including some really unique ones.”
Matthew Ostrowski · Google“Daniel was so helpful with information about starting an autumn and winter garden. I’ll be back for more seedlings!”
M.D., Berkeley“Spiral Gardens, Urban Oasis.”
Students from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism made a lovely interactive multimedia feature about Spiral Gardens — with three video vignettes, including our Produce Stand with Ecology Center partners, and an interactive map.
Watch the feature
Come grow with us.
Browse the nursery Friday through Sunday, or join us on the Community Farm on clear-weather Sundays from 1–5pm.