The Extension Milwaukee County Garden Rental program operates eight gardening sites across Milwaukee County. Please see the tables below for more information on prices and sizes available at each garden.

Our gardening season runs from May (the exact date determined by the weather) through the end of October. Plots are rented on a year-to-year basis, with an opportunity to renew or re-lease them each spring before the season starts.

• Seasonal plots also known as ‘annual’ plots, are available for use from May through the last weekend of October. These plots are tilled with heavy equipment in the spring and plowed up in the fall.
• Year-round plots also known as ‘perennial’ plots are not tilled by Extension and are available for use year-round.  Read below to learn more on why we are transitioning some of our annual plots into a year-round plot model. 

Why have we increased prices? Learn more below.

Kohl Farm Community Gardens 8400 West County Line Rd Milwaukee, WI			Seasonal plots and Year-round plots Sizes range: 20 square feet up to 1 acre No Raised beds
Plot Type	Seasonal or Year-round	Approximate Plot size	Cost (includes water fee)	Notes
Kohl Small A	Seasonal	20 ft x 20 ft	$52
Kohl Large A	Seasonal	30 ft x 30 ft	$62
Kohl Small P	year-round	20 ft x 20 ft	$50
Kohl Large P	year-round	30 ft x 30 ft	$56
Annual MicroFarm	Seasonal	120 ft x 90 ft (0.25 acre)	$350	$0.03/square foot
Perennial MicroFarm	year-round	120 ft x 90 ft	$325	$0.03/square foot
Hmong/HMoob Heritage Large	year-round	30 ft x 30 ft	$56	Restricted to gardeners who identify as Hmong/HMoob

 

Our Common Home Garden At Our Lady of Lourdes Church S 58th St & Forest Home Ave Milwaukee, WI			Seasonal plots Sizes range: 10 square feet up to 20 square feet Limit 400 square ft per family All raised beds
Plot Type	Seasonal or Year-round	Approximate Plot size	Cost (includes water fee)	Notes
Tiny In-Ground	Seasonal	10 ft x 10 ft	$29
Small In-Ground	Seasonal	20 ft x 20 ft	$70
Raised In-Ground	Seasonal	4 ft x 10 ft	$30
ADA Raised Beds	Seasonal	4 ft x 10 ft	$30	These raised beds are 24” high

6H (Extension Green Corridor Community Garden at 6th and Howard) 6th St & the north side of Howard Ave Milwaukee, WI			Seasonal plots and Year-round plots Sizes range: 20+ square feet
Plot Type	Seasonal or Year-round	Approximate Plot size	Cost (includes water fee)	Notes
6H Small A	Seasonal	20 ft x 20 ft	$52
6H Small P	year-round	20 ft x 20 ft	$50
6H MicroFarm	year-round	120 ft x 90 ft	$325

 

Cupertino Park Garden 2000 E Iron St Milwaukee, WI, 53207			Year-round plots Sizes range: 4 ft x 8 ft in-ground raised beds Waitlist applies
Plot Type	Seasonal or Year-round	Approximate Plot size	Cost (includes water fee)	Notes
Cupertino Raised Bed	Year-round	4 ft x 8 ft	$30
Cupertino ADA Raised Bed	Year-round	4 ft x 8 ft	$30	These raised beds are 24” high

Rainbow Park Garden 736 S 199th St West Allis, WI 53214			Seasonal plots Sizes range: 14 ft x 16 ft up to20 ft x 20 ft No raised beds
Plot Type	Seasonal or Year-round	Approximate Plot size	Cost (includes water fee)	Notes
Rainbow Bitty	Seasonal	14 ft x 16 ft	$30
Rainbow Small	Seasonal	20 ft x 20 ft	$52

Forest Hill Community Garden 1800 E Forest Hill Ave Oak Creek, WI 53154			Seasonal plots Sizes range: 20 ft x 20 ft up to MicroFarms No raised beds
Plot Type	Seasonal or Year-round	Approximate Plot size	Cost (includes water fee)	Notes
Forest Hill Small A	Seasonal	20 ft x 20 ft	$52	tillage available by request only
Forest Hill Large A	Seasonal	30 ft x 30 ft	$62
Forest Hill Large P	Year-round	30 ft x 30 ft	$56

Firefly Ridge Community Garden 10305 Underwood Pkwy Wauwatosa, WI			Seasonal and year-round plots Sizes range: 20 square feet up to 30 square feet Limit 4 plots/family No Raised beds
Plot Type	Annual or Perennial	Approximate Plot size	Cost (includes water fee)	Notes
Firefly Small A	Annual	20 ft x 20 ft	$56
Firefly Small P	Year-round	20 ft x 20 ft	$54
Firefly Medium	Annual	20 ft x 25 ft	$67
Firefly Large A	Annual	30 ft x 30 ft	$83
Firefly Large P	Year-round	30 ft x 30 ft	$77

Why is the price of a seasonal/annual  plot more than the price of a year-round/ permanent plot?

This price difference is a  reflection of the fact that seasonal plot preparation and administration takes a lot more operator time, fuel, equipment hours, and administrative work than year-round plots. These costs are not completely covered by the 2023 price increase, but we do not want seasonal plots to become so pricey that gardeners are not able to offset rental costs with produce they grow. Another reason for this difference in rental cost is that we recognize that our longstanding practice of uniformly tilling all seasonal garden plots each season is out of alignment with research-based best practices in caring for the vulnerable and finite resource of topsoil. With this slight price difference, we are explicitly encouraging those who are curious about renting a year-round plot to try out a model of gardening that is less disruptive to the soil.  Also, strengthening relationships with neighboring gardeners and the land itself over multiple seasons is most easily done when people garden in the same plots year-to-year.  We hope that by creating a small but meaningful price difference between the two plot types, gardeners will consider follow their pocketbooks toward stewarding the soils in their gardens and becoming more deeply rooted members of their garden community.

Will new year-round plots become available?

Gardeners have frequently expressed frustration over the difficulty of securing a year-round plot. Limited offerings, restrictions on eligibility, and long wait lists have prevented many growers from renting year-round plots. This year we are newly offering year-round plots at 6^th and Howard, and at Kohl Farm. We are also increasing the number of year-round plots offered at FireFly Ridge community Garden. Our program requires first-time gardeners interested in year-round plots to schedule a short meeting with garden staff to review expectations and jointly create a plan for success in the garden.

Will technical assistance be available if I am interested in gardening in a year-round plot but am unsure about how to manage it?

Not only is this assistance available, it is our literal job to help gardeners achieve their gardening goals, no matter where or how they garden. If you are considering transitioning to a year-round plot this season, please reach out—we will be delighted to talk with you. On the flip side, if you are strongly committed to growing in a seasonal plot forever—we will also be totally delighted to talk with you. Even if our staff in Milwaukee County can’t answer your garden-related question, we’re willing to bet that one of our 700+ Extension colleagues around the State knows the answer.

Will annual plots still be available to rent?
Yes, of course! Although we are incentivizing gardeners to rent year-round plots as part of a conscious reduction in the amount of soil our program disturbs through tillage, we respect the choice to grow in an annual tilled plot.  We understand the importance of serving a diverse array of needs.  In part, increasing the availability of year-round plots is a response to known interest and frustration with the limited number of year-round plots at many of our gardens. However, not everyone is interested in or able to manage a year-round plot. Physical limitations, gardening style, or personal preference are all valid reasons for electing to rent a seasonal plot with soils tilled by Extension. Because of our need to group seasonal plots together for efficient tilling, staking, and weed management, some gardeners requesting seasonal plots will be asked to grow their 2025 gardens in different (but equally fertile and sunny)  areas of the garden.