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ARPA Backyard Garden Program

The ARPA-funded Backyard Garden Program empowered residents to grow healthy food in their own backyards to improve health, promote physical activity, decrease food insecurity and hunger, and help reduce their food costs. Gardeners received one of three gardening systems of their choice, in addition to materials, labor, training, and individualized support.

Phoenix Backyard Garden Program Documentary

This documentary highlights the impact of the Office of Environmental Programs’ Backyard Garden Program, which helps increase residents’ access to fresh produce by empowering them to grow food at home. Between 2022 – 2024, 248 home gardens were installed through the Backyard Garden Program, serving 776 Phoenix residents who grew over 4,600 pounds of food.

Image of a quote from a program participant that reads, "This is a great program! It's not only great for people like me, I'm an older person. I wanted to learn gardening, I want to be able to grow and harvest my own food. I want to teach my grandkids. This program allows people like me to do that. I want to thank the City of Phoenix for this opportunity and thank them for helping me to help myself."

About the Backyard Gardens

    Lehr

    L​​ehr ​is a Phoenix-based organization founded by Ed Williams, who invented the LEHR Gardens system as a sustainable, regenerative agriculture method for busy urban lifestyles. 

    A program participant stands behind their Lehr garden system, which was planted in the spring
    Lehr Garden - Planted in the spring.
    The same program participant stands behind their Lehr garden system, which is now fully bloomed.
    Lehr garden - One month of growth.

    Lehr Resources:

    NxT Horizon

    NxT is a Phoenix-based organization founded by Dr. George Brooks Jr., a nationally recognized Aquaponics expert​.

      A newly planted aquaponic system
      A newly planted aquaponic system.
      A fully blooming aquapoic system.
      A thriving aquaponic system.

      NxT Resources:​

      TigerMountain Foundation(TMF)

      TMFis a Phoenix-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower communities to better themselves through cultivating gardens.  ​

       

      A little boy proudly displays his harvest while standing in front of a TMF garden bed.
      Gardening is an activity to be shared with family!
      A woman harvest turnips from her TMF garden bed.
      Each harvest is a rewarding experience.

      TMF Resources:

      Materials for Reference:

      Contact Us

      For any inquiries, please contact phxfood@phoenix.gov or call 602-262-6347.

      Note when you submit an email it falls under the city's policy which states that the email message is: (1) subject to public disclosure under the Public Records Law, (2) not private or confidential and (3) retained for 90 days.