Founded in 1971 during a time of back-to-the-land movements and growing environmental consciousness, The National Gardening Association has evolved into one of America’s most trusted and comprehensive resources for gardeners.
The National Gardening Association operates on the belief that gardening enriches lives and communities. The organization’s comprehensive approach addresses gardening from multiple angles:
- Promoting food gardening
- Providing practical how-to information
- Supporting youth education
- Fostering community connections
- Celebrating diverse ways people engage with plants and soil
Mission
The National Gardening Association’s mission is to lead, inspire, and build community for all people to enjoy the benefits of gardening. This involves:
- Setting standards for quality gardening information
- Identifying and promoting best practices
- Staying current with horticultural research and sustainable techniques
- Serving as an authoritative voice on home and community gardening issues
NGA views gardening not as a mere hobby or leisure activity but as a meaningful practice that addresses real needs.
Services
The National Gardening Association delivers an array of services designed to support gardeners, build community, educate youth, and promote gardening broadly. These services span:
- Digital resources
- Grant programs
- Educational Content
- Community platforms
- Research
Comprehensive Website and Plant Database:
NGA’s website functions as one of the internet’s most extensive free gardening resources. The site features:
- Detailed plant databases covering thousands of vegetables, flowers, herbs, trees, and shrubs with growing information, photos, and user reviews
- Regional growing calendars help gardeners time plantings appropriately
- Troubleshooting guides address common problems
- How-to videos demonstrate techniques visually
Online Gardening Community:
NGA hosts vibrant online forums and community features where gardeners connect, ask questions, share experiences, post photos, exchange seeds, and build relationships.
Youth Garden Grant Program:
One of NGA’s signature services is its youth garden grant program providing funding, seeds, and resources to schools, youth organizations, and community programs establishing or enhancing gardens for children.
Garden Grant Programs for Communities:
Beyond youth grants, NGA administers grant programs supporting:
- Community gardens
- Therapeutic gardens
- Gardens serving special populations
Educational Publications and Guides:
NGA produces comprehensive educational content including:
- Detailed growing guides for specific crops
- Season-by-season garden planning guidance
- Regional gardening information
- Pest and disease management strategies
- Organic and sustainable gardening practices
- Container and small-space gardening teachniques
- Food preservation methods
Garden Planning Tools:
NGA provides digital tools helping gardeners plan and track their gardens:
- Garden journals for recording plantings and observations
- Vegetable variety selectors
- Companion planting guides
- Succession planting guides
- Harvest tracking tools
Research and Surveys:
NGA conducts research on home gardening trends, practices, and impacts.
The organization’s periodic surveys—like the Garden to Table Survey examining food gardening practices, or studies on community garden participation.
Gardening Resources for Educators:
NGA provides specific resources for educators using gardens as teaching tools:
- Lesson plans aligned with educational standards
- Curriculum integration ideas
- Classroom management strategies for outdoor learning
- Assessment tools
- Professional development guidance
Special Focus Initiatives:
NGA periodically focuses on specific gardening topics through campaigns, special content series, or themed programs. Focused initiatives provide deep dives into specific topics while responding to current interests and needs.
Collaborations and Partnerships
The National Gardening Association’s reach depens on collaborative relationships spanning:
- Nonprofit organizations
- Educational institutions
- Government agencies
- Corporations
- Grassroots garden groups
Youth Organizations:
NGA collaborates with organizations serving young people to support youth gardening initiatives:
- 4-H
- Scouts
- Boys & Girls Clubs
- YMCA
- Faith-based youth programs
Community Garden Networks:
NGA partners with local and national community garden organizations like:
- The American Community Gardening Association
- Urban agricultural nonprofits
- Municipal programs supporting community gardens
Cooperative Extension Services:
Relationships with Cooperative Extension offices nationwide connect NGA with research-based local horticultural expertise.
Agricultural and Food Security Organizations:
NGA collaborates with organizations focused on food security, local food systems, and sustainable agriculture. Organizations like:
- Feeding America affiliates
- Food banks with garden programs
- Urban agriculture nonprofits with NGA on overlapping goals of increasing fresh food access through home and community food production
Environmental and Conservation Organizations:
Given gardening’s environmental dimensions—habitat creation, water conservation, organic practices, native plants—NGA partners with environmental nonprofits focused on pollinators, wildlife, water quality, or climate.
Corporate Partners and Sponsors:
NGA receives support from corporations in the gardening and food industries—seed companies, tool manufacturers, garden retailers, food brands.
Foundation Funders:
Philanthropic foundations interested in food security, youth development, environmental conservation, or community development support NGA’s work through grants.
Government Agencies:
NGA sometimes partners with government agencies on initiatives related to gardening:
- USDA programs promoting home food production
- EPA programs addressing water quality or stormwater mangement through gardens
- State agricultural departments supporting local food
Health Organizations:
Recognizing gardening’s health benefits—physical activity, fresh produce access, stress reduction—NGA partners with public health organizations, healthcare providers, and wellness programs. Partnerships might involve:
- Promoting gardening through health channels
- Collaborating on research examing health outcomes
- Integrating gardens into healthcare settings
- Organizations focused on childhood obesity
- Senior wellness
- Mental health organizations
Horticultural Organizations:
NGA maintains relationships with organizations like:
- The American Horticultural Society
- Specialty plant societies
- Professional horticultural associations
Outreach Services
Expanding gardening participation and reaching diverse audiences requires strategic outreach across multiple channels and to various demographics:
- Experienced gardeners seeking advanced information
- Beginners needing encouragement and basic guidance
- Youth and families interested in garden-based learning
- Communities seeking garden-based solutions to local challenges
Grant Program Promotion:
Outreach specifically promoting grant opportunities uses targeted channels reaching potential applicants:
- Announcements through youth organization channels
- Social media campaigns with application information
- Partnerships with organizations working in underserved communities
- Announcements through educational email lists and teacher networks
- Webinars explaining the application processes
Conference Presentations and Speaking Engagements:
NGA staff present at:
- Education conferences
- Community development events
- Gardening symposia
- Organizational meetings
Presentations introduce NGA resources to educators, community leaders, garden program managers, and others who might utilize resources themselves or share them with constituents.
Webinars and Virtual Events:
By offering free educational webinars on popular topics, NGA attracts participants from across the country who might not otherwise engage, eliminating geographic barriers and expanding access beyond people who could attend in-person programming.
Transparency Links
- The National Gardening Association is not listed at Charity Navigator
- The National Gardening Association at Candid
- The National Gardening Association at Propublica’s Non-Profit Explorer
Visit garden.org
For nearly fifty years, NGA has served as gardening’s advocate, educator, community builder, and champion, supporting millions of Americans in planting seeds, nurturing growth, and harvesting rewards.
Visit NGA’s YouTube Channel for brief tutorials on a wide range of techniques.
Visit garden.org to explore plant databases, access growing guides, join community forums, apply for grants, read success stories, or simply immerse yourself in celebration of growing things.
