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From 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday, May 23rd, Berks Agricultural Resource Network (B.A.R.N.) hosted a long-awaited bus tour. The locations include: Berks Nature Teaching Garden, Bog Turtle Creek Farm, City Park Greenhouse, Front Street Garden, GoggleWorks Gardens, Meditation Garden, Vegetable Garden & Aeroponic Greenhouse, and Opportunity House Community Garden. Several other community gardens were pointed out along the tour route.
Registration was free for anyone interested in attending.
Participants attending the event learned about urban farming and gardening initiatives and how they impact their local community. The intention is to raise awareness about these green spaces and the good work and community development happening in the City of Reading. These efforts are part of the Ag Literacy and Education efforts of B.A.R.N. We hope that this event positively affects residents throughout Berks County by raising awareness about these wonderful green spaces, increasing engagement and involvement with neighborhood-based food-producing sites, increasing food security in Reading and beyond, and helping to bridge the urban-rural divide. Tour-goers are encouraged to ask questions and give feedback on how the locations can develop programming and events to reach a wider audience and better meet the needs of neighbors and visitors.
In partnership with its newly formed Urban Agricultural Development Committee, B.A.R.N. will be educating people about the methods and importance of integrating urbanization and agriculture!
*This tour is MADE POSSIBLE BY THE 2026 INNOVATION FUND OF THE BERKS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION!
-----------------
El sábado 23 de mayo, de 9 a. m. a 1 p. m., Berks Agricultural Resource Network (BARN) organizó una gira en autobús muy esperada. Las ubicaciones incluyen: Berks Nature Teaching Garden, Bog Turtle Creek Farm, City Park Greenhouse, Front Street Garden, GoggleWorks Gardens, Meditation Garden, Vegetable Garden & Aeroponic Greenhouse y Opportunity House Community Garden. A lo largo de la ruta del recorrido se señalaron varios otros jardines comunitarios.
La inscripción fue gratuita para cualquier persona interesada en asistir.
Los participantes que asistieron al evento aprendieron sobre las iniciativas de agricultura y jardinería urbanas y cómo impactan a su comunidad local. La intención es crear conciencia sobre estos espacios verdes y el buen trabajo y desarrollo comunitario que se está llevando a cabo en la ciudad de Reading. Estos esfuerzos son parte de los esfuerzos de alfabetización y educación agrícola de BARN. Esperamos que este evento afecte positivamente a los residentes de todo el condado de Berks al generar conciencia sobre estos maravillosos espacios verdes, aumentar el compromiso y la participación con los sitios de producción de alimentos del vecindario, aumentar la seguridad alimentaria en Reading y más allá, y ayudar a cerrar la brecha urbano-rural. Se anima a los visitantes a hacer preguntas y dar su opinión sobre cómo las ubicaciones pueden desarrollar programación y eventos para llegar a una audiencia más amplia y satisfacer mejor las necesidades de los vecinos y visitantes.
¡En asociación con su recién formado Comité de Desarrollo Agrícola Urbano, BARN educará a la gente sobre los métodos y la importancia de integrar la urbanización y la agricultura!
*¡Este recorrido ES POSIBLE GRACIAS AL FONDO DE INNOVACIÓN 2026 DE LA FUNDACIÓN COMUNITARIA DEL CONDADO DE BERKS!
Registration was free for anyone interested in attending.
Participants attending the event learned about urban farming and gardening initiatives and how they impact their local community. The intention is to raise awareness about these green spaces and the good work and community development happening in the City of Reading. These efforts are part of the Ag Literacy and Education efforts of B.A.R.N. We hope that this event positively affects residents throughout Berks County by raising awareness about these wonderful green spaces, increasing engagement and involvement with neighborhood-based food-producing sites, increasing food security in Reading and beyond, and helping to bridge the urban-rural divide. Tour-goers are encouraged to ask questions and give feedback on how the locations can develop programming and events to reach a wider audience and better meet the needs of neighbors and visitors.
In partnership with its newly formed Urban Agricultural Development Committee, B.A.R.N. will be educating people about the methods and importance of integrating urbanization and agriculture!
*This tour is MADE POSSIBLE BY THE 2026 INNOVATION FUND OF THE BERKS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION!
-----------------
El sábado 23 de mayo, de 9 a. m. a 1 p. m., Berks Agricultural Resource Network (BARN) organizó una gira en autobús muy esperada. Las ubicaciones incluyen: Berks Nature Teaching Garden, Bog Turtle Creek Farm, City Park Greenhouse, Front Street Garden, GoggleWorks Gardens, Meditation Garden, Vegetable Garden & Aeroponic Greenhouse y Opportunity House Community Garden. A lo largo de la ruta del recorrido se señalaron varios otros jardines comunitarios.
La inscripción fue gratuita para cualquier persona interesada en asistir.
Los participantes que asistieron al evento aprendieron sobre las iniciativas de agricultura y jardinería urbanas y cómo impactan a su comunidad local. La intención es crear conciencia sobre estos espacios verdes y el buen trabajo y desarrollo comunitario que se está llevando a cabo en la ciudad de Reading. Estos esfuerzos son parte de los esfuerzos de alfabetización y educación agrícola de BARN. Esperamos que este evento afecte positivamente a los residentes de todo el condado de Berks al generar conciencia sobre estos maravillosos espacios verdes, aumentar el compromiso y la participación con los sitios de producción de alimentos del vecindario, aumentar la seguridad alimentaria en Reading y más allá, y ayudar a cerrar la brecha urbano-rural. Se anima a los visitantes a hacer preguntas y dar su opinión sobre cómo las ubicaciones pueden desarrollar programación y eventos para llegar a una audiencia más amplia y satisfacer mejor las necesidades de los vecinos y visitantes.
¡En asociación con su recién formado Comité de Desarrollo Agrícola Urbano, BARN educará a la gente sobre los métodos y la importancia de integrar la urbanización y la agricultura!
*¡Este recorrido ES POSIBLE GRACIAS AL FONDO DE INNOVACIÓN 2026 DE LA FUNDACIÓN COMUNITARIA DEL CONDADO DE BERKS!
2026 PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS
1
Berks Nature Teaching Garden
575 Saint Bernardine Street, Reading, PA
Berks Nature is the leading agent for the conservation of the environment in Berks County
Berks Nature manages a nature center, The Nature Place, as a place to demonstrate good environmental practices and to connect people to nature. The Berks Nature Teaching Garden at The Nature Place was established primarily to serve as a teaching area for summer Eco-camp and Nature Preschool. In this space, the youth learn about sustainable agriculture, pollinators, and native plants. The garden space was also designed to seasonally stage native trees and shrubs as part of our land stewardship efforts. We plant nearly 2000 trees and shrubs per year at numerous public and private properties.
Private
Space used for educational programming
Emma Birchak
[email protected]
484-523-9430
www.berksnature.org
Berks Nature is the leading agent for the conservation of the environment in Berks County
Berks Nature manages a nature center, The Nature Place, as a place to demonstrate good environmental practices and to connect people to nature. The Berks Nature Teaching Garden at The Nature Place was established primarily to serve as a teaching area for summer Eco-camp and Nature Preschool. In this space, the youth learn about sustainable agriculture, pollinators, and native plants. The garden space was also designed to seasonally stage native trees and shrubs as part of our land stewardship efforts. We plant nearly 2000 trees and shrubs per year at numerous public and private properties.
Private
Space used for educational programming
Emma Birchak
[email protected]
484-523-9430
www.berksnature.org
2
Bog Turtle Creek Farm
712 High Blvd, Reading, PA 19607, USA
Bog Turtle Creek Farm is a student-supported regenerative agriculture project that was created in response to a need to increase access to healthy, affordable food in the City of Reading. The farm plays a primary role in the City of Reading's farmers market program, where it sells fresh, affordable produce at multiple markets to residents most in need, who often use government assistance (e.g., SNAP, FMNP).
Founded in 2014 and officially relocated to Alvernia's EcoHouse property in 2020, Bog Turtle Creek Farm is a student-supported regenerative agricultural project within the Office of Institutional Sustainability. It was created in response to the need for greater access to healthy, affordable food in the City of Reading. The farm sells fresh produce at multiple farmers markets. As a hands-on model of food justice and environmental stewardship, it connects university learning with community impact.
Private
Space used for educational programming
Alicia Sprow and AK Kabrich
[email protected], [email protected]
610-334-8290
FB: Bog Turtle Creek Farm
Instagram: Bog_Turtlers
https://www.alvernia.edu/sustainability-alvernia/bog-turtle-creek-farm
Bog Turtle Creek Farm is a student-supported regenerative agriculture project that was created in response to a need to increase access to healthy, affordable food in the City of Reading. The farm plays a primary role in the City of Reading's farmers market program, where it sells fresh, affordable produce at multiple markets to residents most in need, who often use government assistance (e.g., SNAP, FMNP).
Founded in 2014 and officially relocated to Alvernia's EcoHouse property in 2020, Bog Turtle Creek Farm is a student-supported regenerative agricultural project within the Office of Institutional Sustainability. It was created in response to the need for greater access to healthy, affordable food in the City of Reading. The farm sells fresh produce at multiple farmers markets. As a hands-on model of food justice and environmental stewardship, it connects university learning with community impact.
Private
Space used for educational programming
Alicia Sprow and AK Kabrich
[email protected], [email protected]
610-334-8290
FB: Bog Turtle Creek Farm
Instagram: Bog_Turtlers
https://www.alvernia.edu/sustainability-alvernia/bog-turtle-creek-farm
3
City Park Greenhouse
125 Constitution Blvd
The City Park Greenhouse has historically been used for city beautification projects. After many years of underutilization, the City of Reading made much-needed upgrades and repairs to the greenhouse in 2025. The Environmental Advisory Council and Keep Reading Beautiful hosted a "Seeds of Change" Martin Luther King, Jr. Day seed starting project for the community gardens, beautification projects, and neighbors. Public Works is working to include a greenhouse coordinator position in the budget to support expanded programming and neighbor access.
City Park dates to 1748, when Reading was founded. Gifted to the people of Reading in perpetuity for the public good. The earliest greenhouse (1860s) was part of the County Fairgrounds. This greenhouse was replaced in the 1890s and was operated by the Parks Department (now Public Works) to raise plants for public garden spaces. Major renovations in the 1920s, 1990s, and 2025 reflect new technologies. Public Works is hoping to add a greenhouse coordinator to its staff to facilitate coordination among residents and groups to utilize this amazing community asset.
Space used for educational programming
Special programming only at this time
Bethany Ayers Fisher
[email protected]
484-631-6378
Facebook @ReadingPublicWorks and @KeepReadingBeautiful
The City Park Greenhouse has historically been used for city beautification projects. After many years of underutilization, the City of Reading made much-needed upgrades and repairs to the greenhouse in 2025. The Environmental Advisory Council and Keep Reading Beautiful hosted a "Seeds of Change" Martin Luther King, Jr. Day seed starting project for the community gardens, beautification projects, and neighbors. Public Works is working to include a greenhouse coordinator position in the budget to support expanded programming and neighbor access.
City Park dates to 1748, when Reading was founded. Gifted to the people of Reading in perpetuity for the public good. The earliest greenhouse (1860s) was part of the County Fairgrounds. This greenhouse was replaced in the 1890s and was operated by the Parks Department (now Public Works) to raise plants for public garden spaces. Major renovations in the 1920s, 1990s, and 2025 reflect new technologies. Public Works is hoping to add a greenhouse coordinator to its staff to facilitate coordination among residents and groups to utilize this amazing community asset.
Space used for educational programming
Special programming only at this time
Bethany Ayers Fisher
[email protected]
484-631-6378
Facebook @ReadingPublicWorks and @KeepReadingBeautiful
4
Cultivating Community Garden
1040 Liggett Avenue, Reading, PA 19611
The main purpose of the Cultivating Community Garden is to provide a safe, welcoming space where Reading residents can grow fresh food, build community, and learn practical gardening skills. The site strengthens neighborhood resilience by turning unused land into a productive, beautiful, and educational green space.
The Cultivating Community Garden was created by 18th Wonder residents who transformed an underused neighborhood space into a vibrant hub for growing food, learning, and connecting. Built through volunteer leadership and steady community involvement, the garden has grown season by season, reflecting the energy and needs of the 18th Ward. Today it provides fresh produce, hands‑on education, and a welcoming place where families, youth, and neighbors come together to strengthen their community.
Open to the public, paid plots
Space used for educational programming
Run mostly by volunteers
Tanya Melendez
[email protected]
610-823-1599
https://www.18thwonder.org/community-gardens
https://www.facebook.com/urbangardenoakbrook
The main purpose of the Cultivating Community Garden is to provide a safe, welcoming space where Reading residents can grow fresh food, build community, and learn practical gardening skills. The site strengthens neighborhood resilience by turning unused land into a productive, beautiful, and educational green space.
The Cultivating Community Garden was created by 18th Wonder residents who transformed an underused neighborhood space into a vibrant hub for growing food, learning, and connecting. Built through volunteer leadership and steady community involvement, the garden has grown season by season, reflecting the energy and needs of the 18th Ward. Today it provides fresh produce, hands‑on education, and a welcoming place where families, youth, and neighbors come together to strengthen their community.
Open to the public, paid plots
Space used for educational programming
Run mostly by volunteers
Tanya Melendez
[email protected]
610-823-1599
https://www.18thwonder.org/community-gardens
https://www.facebook.com/urbangardenoakbrook
5
Front Street Garden
628 N. Front Street, Readinglocalfresh
Secure local, fresh food for a pay-what-you-can cafe serving the local community.
The Front Street garden sits on what was once a vacant lot. Hope Lutheran Church found value in the lot and purchased it, along with the lot next to it. A community member later used a small portion of the lot to create several wooden raised beds. The small amount of produce was grown and harvested by those community members for personal use.
The Berks County Conservation District applied for a USDA Urban Agriculture grant in 2024. The District recognized that the organization had the ability, with proper funding sources, to assist with finding and developing green spaces in the City of Reading that would later be used as garden spaces to provide fresh, locally grown produce to the community.
Today, the Front Street Garden contains 24 raised garden beds. Food grown in the garden goes directly next door to Cafe Esperanza, a pay-what-you-can cafe. Produce is not only prepared for use in dishes but also given to community members.
Run mostly by volunteers, the food goes directly to Cafe Esperanza.
Extra produce goes to the community.
Jennifer Brooks and Josh Hanna
[email protected], [email protected]
610-763-9030
Berks County Conservation District FB and Instagram
Secure local, fresh food for a pay-what-you-can cafe serving the local community.
The Front Street garden sits on what was once a vacant lot. Hope Lutheran Church found value in the lot and purchased it, along with the lot next to it. A community member later used a small portion of the lot to create several wooden raised beds. The small amount of produce was grown and harvested by those community members for personal use.
The Berks County Conservation District applied for a USDA Urban Agriculture grant in 2024. The District recognized that the organization had the ability, with proper funding sources, to assist with finding and developing green spaces in the City of Reading that would later be used as garden spaces to provide fresh, locally grown produce to the community.
Today, the Front Street Garden contains 24 raised garden beds. Food grown in the garden goes directly next door to Cafe Esperanza, a pay-what-you-can cafe. Produce is not only prepared for use in dishes but also given to community members.
Run mostly by volunteers, the food goes directly to Cafe Esperanza.
Extra produce goes to the community.
Jennifer Brooks and Josh Hanna
[email protected], [email protected]
610-763-9030
Berks County Conservation District FB and Instagram
6
GoggleWorks Gardens
247 Walnut Street
Using a “farm-to-classroom-to-table" approach, we host several educational programs and provide nutrient-rich locally grown food to the community through monthly market events with our local farmers' market, Penn Street Market. We also have an ongoing “pick-and-take” garden on North 2nd Street that is free and accessible to the local community.
Re-vitalized in 2021 with the support and planning of a local coalition of organizations, residents, artists, and a volunteer task force facilitated by the Wyomissing Foundation, GoggleWorks and Lauer’s Park developed “GoggleWorks Gardens at Lauer’s Park.”
Open to the public
Run mostly by volunteers
Tiana Zabala
[email protected]
484-340-9196
https://goggleworks.org/studios/goggleworks-gardens-at-lauers-park/
Using a “farm-to-classroom-to-table" approach, we host several educational programs and provide nutrient-rich locally grown food to the community through monthly market events with our local farmers' market, Penn Street Market. We also have an ongoing “pick-and-take” garden on North 2nd Street that is free and accessible to the local community.
Re-vitalized in 2021 with the support and planning of a local coalition of organizations, residents, artists, and a volunteer task force facilitated by the Wyomissing Foundation, GoggleWorks and Lauer’s Park developed “GoggleWorks Gardens at Lauer’s Park.”
Open to the public
Run mostly by volunteers
Tiana Zabala
[email protected]
484-340-9196
https://goggleworks.org/studios/goggleworks-gardens-at-lauers-park/
7
Kennedy Towers Community Garden
300 South Fourth Street, Reading, PA 19602
Kennedy Towers Community Garden is one of 5 community gardens in locations for the residents of our Reading Housing Authority public housing communities. The gardens were established through Berks Conservancy’s Berks Urban Greening (BUG) Community Garden Program in the City of Reading. The first garden at RHA was started in Glenside/Hensler Homes in 2007 to promote wellness and a healthier lifestyle!
In 2009, funding through this BUG brought our second garden to RHA with 29 garden spaces, including 5 raised gardens, to Kennedy Towers. Additional community gardens followed in 2013 and 2014 at Rhodes, Eisenhower Apartments, and Hubert Apartments.
The gardens would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship and funding of Berks Conservancy, now Berks Nature, the City of Reading, Reading Area Water Authority, Wyomissing Foundation, Friends of Reading Hospital, Giorgi Mushroom Co., and others, including Albert and Eunice Boscov.
Over the years, gardeners have received support and additional funding from organizations such as Alvernia University’s Holleran Center, VoiceUp, and The Food Trust, to name a few, not to mention continued support and leadership from Berks Nature and RHA’s Resident Services Department and resident council groups! We have received tremendous support in 2026 from Berks Nature and the Reading Conservation Corp to add 6 additional raised gardens made of durable powder-coated steel, which are now at the Eisenhower and Rhodes Apartments community gardens.
Kennedy Community Garden has fourteen resident gardeners, and we are proud to recognize the fact that three of the original Kennedy gardeners from 2009 continue to be part of the Kennedy Garden!
Over the years, we have made some changes to our gardens. Originally having 20 raised gardens for easier access to the garden, with the 6 additional raised beds from 2026, we have now added 32 raised gardens to meet the needs of residents who might find some difficulty gardening in a traditional garden plot. Total of 84 community gardens at RHA communities with 45 gardeners!
Open to Residents Only
Jack Knockstead and Laura Renovales
[email protected]
484-955-5159 or 610-376-8413
www.readingha.org
Kennedy Towers Community Garden is one of 5 community gardens in locations for the residents of our Reading Housing Authority public housing communities. The gardens were established through Berks Conservancy’s Berks Urban Greening (BUG) Community Garden Program in the City of Reading. The first garden at RHA was started in Glenside/Hensler Homes in 2007 to promote wellness and a healthier lifestyle!
In 2009, funding through this BUG brought our second garden to RHA with 29 garden spaces, including 5 raised gardens, to Kennedy Towers. Additional community gardens followed in 2013 and 2014 at Rhodes, Eisenhower Apartments, and Hubert Apartments.
The gardens would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship and funding of Berks Conservancy, now Berks Nature, the City of Reading, Reading Area Water Authority, Wyomissing Foundation, Friends of Reading Hospital, Giorgi Mushroom Co., and others, including Albert and Eunice Boscov.
Over the years, gardeners have received support and additional funding from organizations such as Alvernia University’s Holleran Center, VoiceUp, and The Food Trust, to name a few, not to mention continued support and leadership from Berks Nature and RHA’s Resident Services Department and resident council groups! We have received tremendous support in 2026 from Berks Nature and the Reading Conservation Corp to add 6 additional raised gardens made of durable powder-coated steel, which are now at the Eisenhower and Rhodes Apartments community gardens.
Kennedy Community Garden has fourteen resident gardeners, and we are proud to recognize the fact that three of the original Kennedy gardeners from 2009 continue to be part of the Kennedy Garden!
Over the years, we have made some changes to our gardens. Originally having 20 raised gardens for easier access to the garden, with the 6 additional raised beds from 2026, we have now added 32 raised gardens to meet the needs of residents who might find some difficulty gardening in a traditional garden plot. Total of 84 community gardens at RHA communities with 45 gardeners!
Open to Residents Only
Jack Knockstead and Laura Renovales
[email protected]
484-955-5159 or 610-376-8413
www.readingha.org
8
Meditation Garden, Vegetable Garden & Aeroponic Greenhouse
715 N. 6th St., Reading, PA 19601
The meditation garden was created so that HRM residents and staff could use the space for meditation, reflection, and serenity and to find peace, solace, and happiness in nature.
The vegetable garden and greenhouse provide lettuce and vegetables for meals and salad bars that are served daily to guests of The Mission and LightHouse Women and Children's Center. There is enough left over to share with other organizations in the city.
The greenhouse was built in 2020 with funds from an anonymous donor, and the meditation garden was built in 2025. The vegetable garden, meditation garden and greenhouse are wonderful areas for local volunteers to serve guests staying at Hope Rescue Mission.
Private
Sheri Golembiewski
[email protected]
484-955-4291 (Sheri)
610-375-224 (Ron Nolan - Aeroponics)
www.hopeforreading.org
The meditation garden was created so that HRM residents and staff could use the space for meditation, reflection, and serenity and to find peace, solace, and happiness in nature.
The vegetable garden and greenhouse provide lettuce and vegetables for meals and salad bars that are served daily to guests of The Mission and LightHouse Women and Children's Center. There is enough left over to share with other organizations in the city.
The greenhouse was built in 2020 with funds from an anonymous donor, and the meditation garden was built in 2025. The vegetable garden, meditation garden and greenhouse are wonderful areas for local volunteers to serve guests staying at Hope Rescue Mission.
Private
Sheri Golembiewski
[email protected]
484-955-4291 (Sheri)
610-375-224 (Ron Nolan - Aeroponics)
www.hopeforreading.org
9
Opportunity House Community Garden
425 Pear St (Main Building is 430 N 2nd St), Reading, PA 19601
Opportunity House Community Garden serves both as a recreational refuge for Opportunity House shelter residents and permanent housing tenants and as a pillar of outdoor education for our Second Street Learning Center students, shelter residents, and Berks County Treatment Court participants.
After acquiring several blighted properties from the City of Reading, Opportunity House created its Community Garden at the corners of Pear and Beech St atop the foundation of what used to be row homes. Since then, it has been a recreational refuge and pillar of outdoor education for Opportunity House clients, community members, and more. It features an agricultural section, which is lovingly stewarded by volunteer Master Gardeners from the Penn State Agricultural Extension, Berks County Treatment Court participants, and shelter residents, an outdoor classroom dubbed the Playscape, used mostly by our Second Street Learning Center students, and a recreational area, which is enjoyed by all.
Open to Residents Only
Space used for events
Space used for educational programming
Run mostly by volunteers
Kris Batista
[email protected]
484-890-2159
Opportunity House Community Garden serves both as a recreational refuge for Opportunity House shelter residents and permanent housing tenants and as a pillar of outdoor education for our Second Street Learning Center students, shelter residents, and Berks County Treatment Court participants.
After acquiring several blighted properties from the City of Reading, Opportunity House created its Community Garden at the corners of Pear and Beech St atop the foundation of what used to be row homes. Since then, it has been a recreational refuge and pillar of outdoor education for Opportunity House clients, community members, and more. It features an agricultural section, which is lovingly stewarded by volunteer Master Gardeners from the Penn State Agricultural Extension, Berks County Treatment Court participants, and shelter residents, an outdoor classroom dubbed the Playscape, used mostly by our Second Street Learning Center students, and a recreational area, which is enjoyed by all.
Open to Residents Only
Space used for events
Space used for educational programming
Run mostly by volunteers
Kris Batista
[email protected]
484-890-2159