Leicester Library Giving Garden
A giving garden with an educational focus, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.
The Leicester Library Giving Garden aims to connect and strengthen our community through growing and sharing food.
OUR VISION
A permaculture design team created a vision to transform the Leicester Library grounds into a productive and beautiful edible landscape. A multi-phase installation will see perennial tree and nut crops, pollinator habitat, and annual gardens integrated into the landscape. The gardens will be accessible to the community gathering areas, peaceful seating, and in-garden educational areas.
In 2021 we implemented Phase One, building garden rows and installing wheelchair-accessible cedar raised beds. Fruit & nut trees were planted along the fence line.
This year we plan to continue to expand the garden thanks to members of our community. Come grow with us!

Upcoming Events

April 9th, 2022
Potato Planting & Sharing!
We received a very generous donation of seed potatoes from New Sprout Organics Farm (10 different organic varieties!) and anyone who turns up to help plant them can definitely take some home for their own gardens. Everyone is welcome, just note that it could be on the cooler side so dress warm and bring gloves if you have them.

April – May
Garden Work Days
Latest from the Garden Journal
Follow along with our community garden journey to see what we grow and how we grow it. Learn about educational and community events, as well as other opportunities to get involved and grow!
Building & Growing in 2021
Grew & harvested lots of corn, okra, collards, salad greens, herbs, and squash to give to our community…And saved enough seeds to plant again next season with plenty of extra to share with our neighbors!
A note from Leicester Library Branch Manager, Sarah Gransee
Terrific news for the Leicester Library! Plans are in place for groundbreaking and first planting in spring 2020 for the Leicester Community Garden. The Leicester Community Garden, organized by the Garden Committee of the Friends of Leicester Library, will be the...
A Permaculture Design for Leicester Library Community Garden
We were lucky enough to connect with Laura Ruby of Abundant Permaculture, who was leading a Permaculture Design Course just as we were thinking about creating a design. A team of her students surveyed the Leicester Library site and created a multiphase edible...