The Green Valley Gardeners

The Mission of the Green Valley Gardeners shall be to promote gardening education and related environmental issues to its membership and the gardening public through educational and charitable means.

Our Objectives:

1. To develop and continue educational seminars, demonstrations and projects for the gardening public, including the promotion of the use of arid land plants and the conservation of water.
2. To develop and encourage friendship among gardeners.
3. To introduce children to the technique of Southwest gardening and the virtues of nature conservation.
4. To carry out projects of civic beautification for the benefit of all citizens.
5. To introduce the elderly and the handicapped to the therapeutic values of gardening.

A Brief History

The Men's Garden Club of Green Valley was begun in 1980 by a newspaper ad bringing in 40 men with their own chairs to a local shopping plaza for discussion of desert gardening. It was decided that this organization would be viewed as one offering community service through the theme of gardening. Founder and first president, Allen J Ogden, remained a member of the club until his passing in 2010.

Early club members helped landscape around the Pima County Government Center, the Lions Recycling Center, and the major medians in "downtown" Green Valley. Through the 1980's, the Garden Tour, Youth Gardening and Plant Sales projects were begun. In 1986, the Arid Garden was planned for an acre of unused common area belonging to two local homeowner associations.

In 1983, Neil Johnson of Sahuarita offered the club a parcel of his land to use as the Allen J. Ogden Community Garden where it continues today. There are 20 plots, each 10’ x 40’ plots, and 8 raised beds. The club financed costs of water lines installation, fencing around the area, storage sheds, tilling equipment, a gazebo for shade, a patio area, composting bins, garden art, and a handicap accessible "portable potty". We publish The Ogden Beet, which was launched as a monthly e-newsletter in November 2013. We have special projects like cleaning up the Dent Caton Greenhouse at the Continental School and our annual onion sale. The produce harvested by the gardeners is often more than they can use. Over 2,000 pounds of fresh vegetables have been donated annually to the local community food banks from these plots! A copy of the Allen J. Ogden Community Garden brochure, including pictures, projects, and a map, may be downloaded by clicking Brochure.

Visit our website at The Allen J. Ogden Garden or click here to visit us on Facebook.

Our demonstration garden, The Arid Garden is currently maintained by 14 volunteers. Plants, trees and shrubs are primarily low-water, native and desert adapted. The object is to show how lovely desert gardens can be, and assist newcomers with plant selections and care. Recent non-plant additions have been a new entry and fencing to discourage Javelina visits. Most of the garden paths are disabled accessible, and there is a raised cactus bed for those sight-challenged. Volunteers work in the garden each Friday from early morning until noon & can answer visitor questions. Conducted tours of the 1-acre garden are offered for groups by making arrangements on Friday morning, or calling 648-7959. A copy of the Arid Garden brochure, including a plant list and map, may be downloaded by clicking Brochure.

From the women's auxiliary, women were accepted as members in 1989, though the name was not changed to The Green Valley Gardeners for another ten years. All projects are operated by member volunteers. We currently have over 550 members, nearly equally men and women.