Garden Joy

A community garden located in Ripon, CA

"When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy , there is always the garden." - Minnie Aumonier

It all began with a dream…

Our Story

Located in the middle of California's Central Valley, Garden Joy is a public garden open during daylight hours to everyone.

Founded in 2016, Garden Joy was built to cultivate wellness and community through a hands-on garden program. Children who attend our program learn to garden by planting and harvesting produce to donate to local food pantries. In 2017-18 we donated over 800 pounds of produce to local food pantries in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. In 2020, we donated over 2,000 pounds of organic produce to our local community.

We offer classes for children’s garden programming and we offer our space to schools to use for their students for field trips. We will also have plans to add an outdoor kitchen that will be used for community events, classes and demonstrations.

Currently, we are open to the public during daylight hours to enjoy the beautiful garden space.

History

Garden Joy began as a small children's garden program, Oak Valley Youth Garden, in 2016.

In 2018 we had the opportunity to build a one acre public garden on Main Street in Ripon in partnership with Studio Joy.

Because we are no longer just a youth garden program, we changed the name of our organization to Garden Joy. This is a beautiful reflection of what we will offer and what we hope to inspire in all who visit Garden Joy.

Check out our PHOTO GALLERY to see how Garden Joy has grown from the very beginning…

Photo Gallery

Our Mission

We believe that by developing a peaceful and nurturing space where individuals, families, and groups may grow nutritious organic fruits and vegetables for their community at large, we are also growing joy.

We believe in improving nutritional awareness and promoting healthy eating habits by encouraging home gardening, and offering educational programs to provide positive social interaction and recreation.

We believe in nurturing curiosity and providing hands-on learning opportunities for children by providing gardening space for use by youth programs and schools.

We believe in promoting the health and well being of all participants to provide accessible space for enriching programs and events to encourage physical strength and mental balance.

We believe in building a beautiful sanctuary where people of all ages and backgrounds commune and interact in a lively pursuit.

We believe you’ll find something for your fulfillment here.

Welcome to Garden Joy!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Flowers growing in Garden Joy community garden

Box of tomatoes harvested from Garden Joy community garden

FAQs

What types of education do you provide?
We offer education for children and adults. Some classes are free, while others have a registration cost. Check out our education page for details.

Is there admission?
No! This is a free garden for all who want to visit. If you would like to donate to us, please click on the Support tab.

Do I have to sign up for events?
No! Just show up and join in the fun. RSVPing to our Facebook events does help us plan for the number of families, but isn't required. The best way to follow us is to "like" our Facebook page to receive updates.

Or sign up for our emails here! We promise not to spam you and only send updates on garden dates, work days, farmers market information and fundraising efforts.

*** Garden Joy does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

How can I volunteer?
Check out our Support page and click the volunteer link to sign up. If you have questions, contact us at gardenjoyca@gmail.com.

What do you do with the produce you grow?
We use a small portion of our produce for giving the children the opportunity to taste new vegetables and greens they may not have tried before. The majority of our produce is donated to the local non profit organizations in Ripon and the surrounding communities in Manteca, Modesto, and Stockton.

Where is the Garden Joy?
929 W Main Street, Ripon, California, behind Studio Joy Pilates.

What sort of organization is Garden Joy?
We are a 501c3, charitable organization. Our program is run by volunteers and is funded by donations from businesses and individuals. All donations are tax deductible.