On National Gardening Day, the Carlsbad City Council joined community members to officially open the Stagecoach Park Community Garden — the first of its kind in south Carlsbad.
This new garden will serve as a place to bring people together and promote sustainable living. With 35 raised planting beds, the garden was designed to support healthy plant growth while conserving water. Additional features include a shared picnic area, information kiosk, composting stations and tool storage to support community use.
During community outreach for the city’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan update, which the City Council approved in late 2023, residents shared feedback about what they wanted to see more of in Carlsbad. Among the top priorities were more community gardens to grow food and connect with neighbors.
City staff saw an opportunity to address that need at Stagecoach Park, converting a section of the park previously used as a maintenance yard, with storage for landscaping equipment, into a place for connection and sustainability. Stagecoach Community Garden is the city’s fourth community garden.
Dig into gardening with these simple tips
Whether you have a plot in a community garden, in your backyard or just a sunny windowsill at home, here are some tips to help your plants thrive:
- Start with healthy soil. Compost helps add nutrients and structure, making it easier for plants to thrive.
- Choose plants that fit your space. Herbs like basil and parsley are great for containers and small spaces.
- Water in the morning. This helps reduce evaporation and allows plants to soak up moisture before the heat of the day.
If you’re looking to improve your gardening skills or add new plants to your collection, the Carlsbad City Library’s Grow Your Garden Program can help – with workshops held the second Saturday of each month through September for local gardeners to connect. You can also pick up free seeds through the Seed Library program, available at the public service desks at all three Carlsbad library branches.
