Temple Community Gardens was conceived in 2009 as a student organization at Temple University. With a firm belief in urban agriculture and a strong desire to build a self-sufficient, environmentally-conscious community, the small group of students secured land space at 11th and Berks Street to begin their first garden, utilizing materials donated by students and the local community. Two years later, in the spring of 2011, the steadily growing organization attained two new garden sites; one space on Broad and Norris Street – where the main garden was located – and the Sonia Sanchez Garden on Diamond and Carlisle Street.

As a result of the success of their initial garden in 2009 and their subsequent expansion in 2011, the Temple Community Garden student organization began working with the Penrose Playground. This gives the group an opportunity to work with local children to promote the values of urban agriculture and environmental safety, and to allow the children of Penrose Playground access to organic, nutritious foods they may not otherwise have. The Temple Community Garden proceeded to begin working with residents of Project Home's Kairos House – a supportive housing project intended to help the impoverished and the homeless. In 2013, the Kairos House gardeners harvested up to 3 lbs of cherry tomatoes and string beans. The Temple Community Garden has also contributed to the Raymond Rosen Community Center's vegetable garden, located at 23rd and Diamond.