Who We Are

The Learning Gardens Laboratory is part of a 12-acre green space known as the Green Thumb site in the heart of the diverse, working-class Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood. Established in 2005, LGL’s vibrant gardens provide learning for all ages in regenerative agriculture, ecological stewardship, community engagement, and hands-on experiential learning. We provide a space for K-12 students, university students, educators, and community members to connect with nature, learn regenerative land practices, and cultivate a deeper understanding of our local food systems.

Vision Statement: Learning Gardens Lab envisions thriving communities where regenerative practices and joyful learning create lasting connections between people and the planet.

Mission Statement: LGL fosters sustainable leadership and lifelong learning for people of all ages through garden-based education, reciprocal relationships with the land, and collaborative engagement in regenerative food systems.

At the heart of the LGL’s mission is the belief that gardens are powerful tools for education and social change. We offer a wide range of programs and activities designed to engage learners of all ages and backgrounds. School groups participate in field trips where they engage in experiential garden-based science and sustainability education, university students take courses in regenerative agriculture, ecological design, and environmental education while gaining hands-on experience in the garden, and community members participate in workshops, volunteer opportunities, and our community garden plots.

For over two decades, programs at LGL were coordinated by graduate students in the Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) program at Portland State University (PSU). In April of 2023, LGL began the process of becoming an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in partnership with PSU. This new organizational structure allows more flexibility and stability while still providing PSU students with rich community engaged learning opportunities.

Read about The Land, What We Do, & the Beings of LGL