​Big Bear Community Gardens 

The Big Bear Valley Community Gardens Project is ready to grow vegetables and fruit again, and you can help!

Now there are two locations in Big Bear. The first garden located on Fox Farm Road, across from K Mart, is called China Gardens , named after the original vegetable gardens in this area maintained by the Chinese during Big Bear Valley’s Gold-rush Days. This half acre garden offers individual raised beds and a large food pantry bed for supplying fresh food for several Big Bear Valley food pantry programs. To sign up for an individual bed or be a volunteer at the Garden, call Robbie Bos at 909-486-8736. Beginning in mid-July, volunteers harvest crops every Tuesday at 8:00 A.M. Volunteers are welcome to come join in the harvest!   

The second Big Bear Valley garden is now open in the East Valley gardeners  to grow their vegetables.  The Parks & Recreation District’s old soccer field at The Ranch in Erwin Lake has been repurposed into a huge community garden called the Ranch Community Garden.   In its infancy, the Ranch Community Garden needs some help to reach its full potential. This five-acre site currently has 48 individual raised beds that can be rented for the season directly through San Bernardino County Parks & Recreation District Office located in Big Bear Lake on the west end of Meadow Park.  



Workshop Topics

June 11, 10:00 A.M.   Seeds & Plants, Proper Planting and Care

July 9, 10:00 A.M.  Bugs, Health, & Harvest

August 13, 10:00 A.M.   Harvest, Mulching, Soil Nutrition

September 10, 10:00 A.M.      Preserving Your Harvest

October 8, 10:00 A.M.   Winterizing Your Veggie Bed 


The Big Bear Valley Community Gardens Project was created by a committee of dedicated valley residents and city officials who worked hard to create and design a model community garden here in the Big Bear Valley.“Thank You!" to all of the individuals and organizations involved along the way that made these two community gardens a reality including The Lighthouse Project, our local nurseries Hunters and Emingers, San Bernardino County Parks & Recreation District, Nativescapes, Butcher’s Block and dozens of other businesses and individuals that donated and supported the mission of providing locally grow food, education, and a place where people can grow their own food, here in the valley.  


Calls  YOU!  ​​ ​




The bigger vision is to include fruit trees, corn, berries, melons, beans, a pumpkin patch, and herbs. To accomplish this, volunteers are needed. The Big Bear Valley Community Gardens are looking for: dedicated students, past farmers, gardeners, new growers, retirees, anyone with a few extra hours and a desire to grow the vision. This garden is in the beginning stages of development.

To volunteer contact Robbie Bos at 909-486-8736. To register for a raised bed for your garden, contact Parks & Rec at 909-866-9700 or visit the Parks & Recreation District Office, at 41220 Park Avenue, Big Bear Lake.

The educational Workshops/Classes are back at China Gardens! The workshops are designed to educate those who have rented raised beds at the gardens, but are open to anyone interested in growing food in raised beds in Big Bear Valley. All workshops are FREE and are held at China Gardens, 42050 Fox Farm Road, Big Bear Lake. These workshops are on the second Saturday of each month, May through October, at 10:00 A.M.