About Us
“Enrichment through hands-on gardening”
Sustainable+Ardmore is a community-funded, 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to enrich the community through hands-on gardening.
Through our ongoing projects and raised bed rentals at the Ardmore Gateway Garden, we’re exploring the many ways that neighbors can come together to create pollinator-friendly green space and learn about gardening.
The original garden, prior to demolition of structures in 2017.
In early 2017, the hospital demolished the property’s existing structures and leveled the lots. This eliminated some of our original work, including a beautiful pollinator garden we’d built toward the back of the lots.
Through the generosity of donors, we were able to replace our toolshed, re-establish our garden beds, and embark on a new adventure. In addition to adding more rental plots each year, we have created a new pollinator garden and shade garden with a focus on native plantings to create a haven for bees, birds and butterflies in our urban landscape.The garden is guided by Sustainable+Ardmore and its board of dedicated gardeners. Each year, we offer rental plots to the community – those interested can apply by completing this application. In addition, we’re always happy to accept donations, which are used to pay our bills, buy seeds, plants and tools, and fund projects like the pollinator garden mentioned above.
Our Story
In July, 2012, Sustainable+Ardmore partnered with the Ardmore Neighborhood Association and Wake Forest Baptist Health to create a garden on three former residential lots at 426 S Hawthorne Road. In the beginning, we cleared brush and rubble, constructed raised rental beds and installed a water line and compost bays. Over the next few years, we add an information kiosk and a Little Library. Next we constructed a grape arbor along the front of the property, raised in the memory of one of our founding board members, Kevin Brown, who passed away in 2014.
Coneflowers in the new pollinator garden
Want to know more? Feel free to contact us at sustainableardmore@gmail.com.
Cardinal Flower and Goldenrod in the Pollinator Garden
Peppers are always a success in late summer
Purple Coneflower in stages
Fall vegetables just getting underway
Anise Hyssop, a favorite with the Bumblebees
Our herb garden includes basils, mints, lavender and medicinal herbs like horehound and pennyroyal
Midsummer lushness with the hospital in the background
Trellising is a great way to grow a lot of veggies in a small space!