The Ladue Garden Club Documents the Bell Garden
in the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens
The Bell Garden, located at 3871 Bell Avenue in St. Louis City, was the first community garden in St. Louis. The vacant lot was acquired by Gateway Greening, now renamed as Seed St. Louis, in 1986 for $1 through a program created by St. Louis Land Reutilization Program and Gateway Greening.
Collaborating with The Garden Club of America, members of Ladue Garden Club completed the extensive process of documenting the history, creation, and community impact of the Bell Garden so it could be included in the Archives of American Gardens (AAG) at the Smithsonian. The Archives of American Gardens (AAG) collects, preserves, and provides access to documentation related to the history of gardens in America. The Archives inspires new ways of interpreting garden history and design so that America’s rich garden heritage can be better understood, appreciated, and enjoyed today and in the future.
Today, the Bell Garden is St. Louis’ largest community garden, with over 40 families using or maintaining the garden. It has 55 raised beds, a water source, a composting station, and a vegetable prepping station. Community members can ‘rent’ a raised bed for $40 to raise produce. It is an active part of the neighborhood, bringing people together year-round.
