Healthy, Local Food Systems

As a City, we want everyone to have access to healthy foods. We have partnered with community groups and City and County departments to help residents access healthy food close to where they live.

Projects & Policies for Citizens:

  • Common Ground Community Garden Program: Common Ground is a community gardening and urban agriculture program. The City provides residents underutilized City properties for use as community gardens for minimal cost in order to eliminate land ownership as a barrier to growing fresh produce. The program promotes access for all community members to fresh and locally grown food, and it establishes and sustains a healthy urban ecosystem.
  • Urban Agriculture: The City passed an Urban Agriculture Ordinance that expands access to healthy food and allows for some commercial production. Residents can now have larger home gardens and gardens in front yards. They can also raise small animals at home.
  • Food System Plan: The Douglas County Food Policy Council spearheaded a Food System Plan which was adopted by the City and County Commissions in 2017. The plan recommends how the local food system should develop and how to enhance agriculture in Douglas County.
  • Double Up Food Bucks: Double Up Food Bucks matches SNAP (food stamps) dollar-for-dollar at regional farmers’ markets. This means that residents who use SNAP can double the amount of local fruits and vegetables they can buy.
  • Culinary Commons: Culinary Commons is a kitchen that anyone in the community can use for a small fee. The kitchen is clean and quiet. It can be used to cook for large groups, help launch a food business, or innovate to perfect products.
Garden Incubator
Gardeners gather at the Garden Incubator at John Taylor Park, one of the many community gardens that make up the City’s Common Ground program.
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