Despite intermittent rain, more than 300 garden enthusiasts turned out on Thursday, July 30, for Greenwich Land Trust and Greenwich Community Gardens fourth annual Tour de Veggie, making this year’s self-guided garden tour the most successful to date.
A charming Belle Haven garden. Photo Credit: Cheryl Moss
The annual event invited gardeners and garden-curious visitors to explore eight unique vegetable gardens throughout Greenwich, ranging from intimate private properties and school gardens to expansive estates. The tour showcased the many ways residents can grow food and highlighted the creativity, knowledge, and generosity of Greenwich’s gardening community.
Tour de Veggie is a collaborative effort among Greenwich Land Trust and Greenwich Community Gardens, and community partners including Green Fingers, Historic Properties of Greenwich, Greenwich Historical Society, Hortulus, and New Lebanon School gardens.
Along the route, garden hosts welcomed visitors with light bites and refreshments and shared tips and tricks on everything from keeping deer and rodents away from the harvest to the latest gardening gadgets. Some of the featured gardens—including those of Greenwich Land Trust and Greenwich Community Gardens — also regularly donate their produce to Neighbor to Neighbor’s food pantry, connecting the joy of gardening with the needs of the broader community.
The event also continued a special Tour de Veggie tradition. Greenwich Land Trust board member Bill King once again hosted seniors aboard a TAG van, making it possible for residents who do not drive to participate in the tour and enjoy the gardens.
New Lebanon School garden. Photo Credit: Cheryl Moss
New Lebanon School Garden volunteers. Photo Credit: Cheryl Moss
Elise Hillman Green of Historic Properties of Greenwich said, “We thank Greenwich Land Trust and Greenwich Community Gardens for organizing such a spectacular event. We enjoyed participating in the day—not only highlighting the vegetable garden, but also allowing us to present to the public one of the houses in the protection pipeline.”
The circa-1918 William B. Tubby, Jr. house sits on an oversized lot that could potentially be redeveloped. Historic Properties of Greenwich is partnering with the owners to guide the property through the process of receiving a Local Historic Property designation, which would protect the house in perpetuity.
“Both HPG and GLT really do share a common vision…of protection!” Green added.
Will Kies, Executive Director of Greenwich Land Trust, and Terri Browne Kutzen of Greenwich Community Gardens agreed that the event exemplifies the spirit of collaboration that makes Tour de Veggie possible.
“This is such a wonderful community event which displays the synergy among all of the organizations united by a common thread—a love of gardening, a love of nature, and a love for our most vulnerable neighbors who experience food insecurity,” Kies said.
Tour de Veggie will return for its fifth year on Thursday, July 29, 2027. Stay tuned for details.