Denver Urban Gardens

In 2015, DUG underwent a strategic planning process and decided on our “north star" goals:

Goal One: Empower every interested and in-need individual in Metro Denver with access to a community garden, and the complementary resources that promote food security and community self-determination
Goal Two: Compellingly model how to empower communities to create transformative, food- producing community gardens, community farms, and school-based community gardens
Goal Three: Cultivate and promote community-driven food systems

Goal One: DUG has assessed and mapped potential communities with garden sites, and have begun to shift our focus on being more targeted with our expansion, as opposed to reactive. We also want to ensure that existing gardens remain an institutional priority, and that we continue to provide excellent support to our current gardeners and garden leaders.

Goal Two: DUG provides technical assistance to partners across the United States and internationally. In order to best support the field and model best practices, we are documenting our successes more intentionally, such as gathering narratives and success stories from our gardeners and working with more university partners to assess our programs.

Goal Three: DUG has intentionally remained involved in policy because we understand that policy change is crucial to supporting pro-health behaviors in that it reduces the burden on individuals and instead creates supportive environment. Currently, DUG staff are involved in the Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council, Produce for Pantries, and LiveWell's Double Up Food Bucks Ambassador program.

Beyond a dedicated staff of nine full time employees and three contract employees, we have an incredible Board of Directors and volunteer community.

DUG's Board of Directors was heavily involved with our recent strategic planning process and works closely with the Executive Director to oversee organizational direction and operations. They meet monthly, with each member actively involved in either the fundraising or finance working groups. One hundred percent of DUG's Board of Directors contribute annually to the organization with their financial resources, as well as in-kind with their extensive professional expertise in the areas of: public policy, non-profit fiscal management and investment, marketing and brand management, business operations, city planning, and community organizing.

Additionally, DUG's dedicated volunteers make it possible to for us to operate more than 165 community gardens, a community farm, and numerous education and community support programs with a small staff. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds assist through garden leadership, garden construction and maintenance, office tasks, education and outreach, and youth curriculum facilitation. In 2017, 5,471 volunteers were engaged in DUG gardens and programs, giving a total of 205,553 volunteer hours.

For over 30 years, Denver Urban Gardens has cultivated gardeners, grown food, and nourished community. DUG knows that in order to make lasting change, the community needs to drive it. That's why every one of our urban gardens and farms has been initiated and led by local residents. We currently operate a network of 165 community gardens and an educational community farm in the Denver Metro Area, 49 of which are located on school grounds. Our programs serve over 50,000 people in the Denver Metro area and grow over 2 million pounds of food.

DUG puts down deep roots, providing the on­going resources, training, and support needed to establish enduring gardens and farms that become valuable assets to neighborhoods.

DUG educates our garden leaders in horticulture, community organizing, and composting, as well as gardening and nutrition education in schools.