Gardeners who keep their plots in compliance are offered renewal leases for subsequent years. Unlike many who seek community plots because their apartments or townhomes don’t have yards, Sutterfield could grow vegetables at her Fairfax house, but only in its one sunny spot—her front yard. Catherine Douglas Moran May 1, 2020 at 2:30pm People with green thumbs can now return to their rented garden plots from Fairfax County. Individual plot reservations must be renewed annually. Still, officials from all three of those sources say the waits shouldn’t cause discouragement among wannabe community gardeners. the community garden and maintaining the garden border fence and garden plot stakes. garden plot | mike mcgrath Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others. The Fairfax County Web site is being translated through "machine translation" powered by Google Translate. Size: Most plots are approximately 20' x 30'. Community Garden Plots: An Option Worth the Wait by Jo Anna Natale, Fairfax Master Gardener Tending a community garden plot is a popular pastime in Fairfax County. Still, she says, her garden provides good exercise and, as long as she is physically able, she’ll probably keep coming here. The chance to grow one’s own food or flowers is an obvious benefit of community gardening, but the chance to interact with others also appeals, says Patricia Dietly, the park authority’s garden plot coordinator. On this week’s Garden Plot, garden expert Mike McGrath urges you to drop the pruning shears. Most plots are 30'x20' rented for $85/year, 18 are 10'x20' for $60. Complete and submit the form on this page to add your name to the wait list for a garden plot. Get the best deals on Virginia Cemetery Plots when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Tending a community garden plot is a popular pastime in Fairfax County. And here’s why. Scheduled topics are listed Help Desk Year-round help for your gardening problems Volunteers from Fairfax County Master Gardeners and Green Spring Master Gardeners staff the year-round horticulture help desk to answer gardening questions and help solve gardening problems. For information regarding community gardens located outside of the City of Fairfax, please contact the Fairfax County Park Authority or visit their Community Garden Plots webpage. I’ve been gardening long enough to know that veggie gardens can get really messy.”. If you are not reachable or if you have not accepted the plot within the time frame designated in your offer (usually 4 or 5 days), the vacant plot will be given to the next person on the list and your name will be removed. "Fairfax County has community garden plots in nine locations. However, at 20'x30', the garden plot is too small for what I want to grow (fruit trees, pumpkins, etc) which all require a lot of space and due to the large waiting list, Fairfax only allows each renter one plot. These tasks must go through the Garden Plot Coordinator. Search for Virginia plat maps. To reduce the wait, some plot providers are taking steps to add more gardening spaces. • Gardeners can use organic or nonorganic methods, Reston Association Fairfax Memorial Park, serving Fairfax and all of Northern Virginia, is a family operated cemetery, established in 1957 by Cornelius H. Doherty, Sr. Our Services Whether you’ve just lost a loved one, are planning your own end-of-life care, or are continuing on your grief journey, our caring Fairfax Cemetery professionals are here for you. "A large, well kept garden with several different portions- a Korean pavilion, a lake, a hill, a duck and koi pond with gazebo- and tons of plants and flowers, including several species native to Virginia." Mulch The Fairfax County Garden Plot Program is administered by the Community Horticulture Office at: Green Spring Gardens Programs are currently underway at Pine Ridge and Nottoway Parks. Garden Plot renters are asked to file a Fairfax County Park Authority Incident Report if applicable. Please contact the Garden Plot Coordinator for additional information. “The birds are lovely,” Sutterfield says, pointing to an oriole gliding to a nearby tree. Disclaimer. Use the Garden Directory to locate a garden in your area, to connect with fellow gardening groups, to find a plot for the growing season (search under the Advanced Search: “Plots for public use”), or to generally learn more about our network of gardens. Gardeners are expected to comply with all COVID 19 health and social distancing requirements. You must be a Fairfax County resident in order to rent a garden plot. In some cases, waiting lists to get one can run as long as two years. Every year I have to put something in the dirt, or I’m not happy.”, As plot costs rise (the $125 rent for a park authority plot, for example, has doubled in the past three years), Sutterfield says she sometimes wonders whether the size of her harvest is worth the expenses. Other park amenities that are currently closed remain closed. Traditional gardening equipment should be used to maintain your plot, such as: trowels, hand fork, claw or cultivator, hoe, hand pruner, watering can, shovel or spade, wheelbarrow and gloves. In fact, some community gardeners are so keen on their rental plots that they keep them for years. 2020 Garden Plot Rules and Guidelines The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Community Garden Plot Rental Program operates in nine host parks throughout the County. Citizens may rent a 20' x 30' garden plot for the calendar year. Special Status: THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD AS OF JANUARY 2018. As long as they follow the rules, gardeners can return to the same plot year after year, investing it with “some of their own personality.”, An Oakton resident, Doski says what keeps him coming back to his plot is the fresh, healthful produce he takes out, as well as the way working in his garden makes him feel: “I grew up in the garden. Action came at the Board meeting on November 14, 2018. Dietly says she sees people making multinational connections—“We have 10 languages spoken”—as well as multigenerational ones: “I see grandparents with their grandchildren helping scoop mulch, or older parents with their adult children working together in the garden instead of watching a football game inside.”, Another plus, Dietly says, is continuity. You will be offered the first plot available in your chosen parks. The date you submit your request will be kept in our database. We cannot answer any questions you may have … “And if I stay late into the evening, I get the fireflies.”, Fairfax County Park Authority Please supply a valid email address as your primary point of contact to receive time-sensitive offers and other plot-related notices, including non-compliance notices. Training program **The 2021 Training Program Contact the Garden Plot Coordinator at any time to find out approximately when a plot might become available. The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved a … If you are a current garden plot renter and would like to be part of a volunteer effort to monitor and remove encroaching vegetation from your park, please contact the Garden Plot Coordinator. The Fairfax County community gardens have reopened, as of Wednesday, April 29. To change the language of this website, click the drop-down list and select the desired language. Community Garden beds provide the fresh flowers that brighten the Fairfax Library. • Must be a City of Fairfax resident to obtain a plot The Fairfax County Park Authority, which maintains a 500-person waiting list for its 671 spaces, is considering more plots, while The City of Fairfax is holding steady at 38 plots. by Jo Anna Natale, Fairfax Master Gardener • 38 plots in two locations • Annual rental fee is .30 per square foot Virtual Plant Clinics Continue The schedule of Virtual Plant Clinics are scheduled to continue through February. Please report theft or other illegal activity at garden plot sites to the Fairfax County Police at the police non-emergency number, 703-691-2131, or the Fairfax County Police Department's online Citizen Reporting System. All garden plot renters are obligated to meet established deadlines, to actively garden in the plot during the season, and to keep weeds under control. Plat maps include information on property lines, lots, plot boundaries, streets, flood zones, public access, parcel numbers, lot dimensions, and easements. Mike McGrath was editor-in-chief of ORGANIC GARDENING magazine from 1990 through 1997. Thank you for your support and your patience. • Must be an association member to obtain a plot Fairfax County, Virginia - Addresses of the garden plot locations in Green Spring's garden plot program Unused spaces can be put to use through renting out garden plots. Please note that front desk staff at Green Spring Gardens cannot process garden plot payments or assign plots. • Annual rental fee is $125 You may choose more than one park. Funeral and Cremation Services. For example, gardeners must sanitize water hydrants after using them, and no tools may be shared. “By being here instead,” she says, “I’m doing my neighbors a favor. The annual rental cost of most garden plots is $130, which includes access to a … This loyalty, however, along with a growing general interest in raising one’s own food, has contributed to a shortage of garden plots available in the county. Parking is available nearby. During the growing season (April through October) we are on duty five mornings a week, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Fairfax Memorial Gardens current price: $4,100 for one Plot $3,900 for multiple. The county’s Park Authority reopened its … No longer living in Virginia. 4603 Green Spring Road Those who have plots will tell you they love them for the fresh harvests they yield, the plant-minded people Cost: The annual rental fee is $130, which includes a shared water supply. Read the Garden Plot Rules and Guidelines before signing up for a garden plot so that you fully understand the commitment you are making. In the event of non-renewed plots, a waiting list is maintained. • Plots are between 90 and 600 square feet Join the Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association, Inc, a nonprofit organization of volunteers. The parking lots are staffed and will open only to accommodate gardeners. It's done all the time all over the world, both by private land owners and by governments. Join Us Master Gardeners -- part of Virginia Cooperative Extension If you love gardening and want to learn more about it, why not become a Master Gardener? Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home. • Three of four locations require organic methods, City of Fairfax Log in for a Q&A session and for advice from our Master Gardeners. City of Fairfax Garden Plots, ©Copyright Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association, Inc | All Rights Reserved. • 330 plots in four locations Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible. An exception is Eakin Park, where there is no water supply and plots rent for $125 per year. Fairfax County Park Authority garden plots have reopened. Fortunately, there is an alternative, and it makes a great gift. Utilize the resource of previous Garden Plots Garden problems must still be solved without poisons in my absence, so when you are unsure what to do, go the Garden Plot section of WTOP.com . There are 650 garden plots in nine parks, rented on an annual basis. Community Garden Plots Coming to Bruin Park in Herndon November 20, 2018 The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved a Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program request from the Herndon Environmental Network (HEN) for $20,000 to develop community garden plots at Bruin Park. The Fairfax County Park Authority rents more than 650 garden plots in nine county parks on an annual basis to Fairfax County residents. Residents participating in the program enjoy nature, plant flowers, grow fruits and vegetables for food, and get exercise from the practice of gardening. Only one plot is permitted per household. Contact the Garden Plot Coordinator, Patricia Dietly, at $150 transfer fee is to be assumed by the buyer. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. Renting a Plot * The rental period is from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004. Gardening in the same spot for nearly a quarter century, Sutterfield has come to know some of her fellow gardeners well, such as the man to the left, who mostly grows beans and tomatoes, and the woman two plots over, whose space bursts with purple phlox, Shasta daisies, and grapevines. There is a waiting list for most locations. For information on availability of leaf or wood mulch, call the Fairfax County Mulch Hotline at 703-324-5995. • 671 plots in nine county parks Community garden plots are limited to one (1) plot per household, regardless of garden location. • One-time $50 deposit, then annual rent of $60 for a full plot, $30 for a half plot At the moment, her patch grows neat rows of radishes, lettuces, carrots and dill, with peppers, squash and raspberries on the way. Individual plots are available as well as common planting areas. District and Regional Parks Although abundant throughout Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia area, there are no district parks by local park standards (see Table PRO-2) located in the City. Those who have plots will tell you they love them for the fresh harvests they yield, the plant-minded people they attract, and the open-air exercise they afford. Fairfax Memorial Gardens Four Burial Plots in Good Shepherd 61B Section 2, Plots 3, 4. • Must be Fairfax County resident to obtain a plot Fairfax, VA 22035, Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program, Recreation Services for Customers with Disabilities ♿, Read the Garden Plot Rules and Guidelines. We operate under the auspices of the Virginia Cooperative Extension office of Fairfax County. The Fairfax County Park Authority rents more than 650 garden plots in nine county parks on an annual basis to Fairfax County residents. Renewal contracts are sent each year by U.S. Mail to verify continued Fairfax County residence. All 671 garden are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Fabric of the Community Fairfax County Park Authority Biennial Report: 2009 and 2010 in Review When a plot becomes available, you will be emailed in turn (first on the list, first notified). Title: Garden Plots: Baron Cameron Park Author: FCPA Subject: Garden Plots: Baron Cameron Park Created Date: 20040817150420Z Carolyn Sutterfield prepares a bed in her community garden plot in Vienna’s Nottoway Park, Carolyn Sutterfield, a retired editor, has been a community gardener in Vienna’s Nottoway Park for 23 years. • Plots are 10 x 10 feet (full), 5 x 10 feet (half) Learn about care for growing indoor and holiday plants this month. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out directly to Pam Smith at 703-642-5173 or via email at Pamela.Smith2@fairfaxcounty.gov or at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. He has been the host of the nationally syndicated public radio show “You Bet Your Garden… Gardeners are not required to have a fence, however, if they choose to have one, it is the gardener's responsibility to supply and maintain the fence and gate according to the Rules and Guidelines. Catherine Douglas Moran April 30, 2020 at 3:15pm People with green thumbs can now return to their rented garden plots from Fairfax County. Alexandria, VA 22312. The best time to check plot availability is February through April. I moved to a condo in Fairfax about a year ago and recently acquired a garden plot in one of the Fairfax County parks. Anyone who notices suspicious behavior should contact the Fairfax County Police … The garden plots will be available seven days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., weather permitting. Motion-activated sprinklers are a great deer deterrent — but not in the winter, when they can freeze up. • All plots require organic methods, Resources Fairfax VA Buy Sell Plots Lots Graves Burial Spaces Crypts Niches Cemetery Property for Sale. Fairfax County Garden Plots The Prominent Nationwide Cemetery Property Listing Service THE CEMETERY EXCHANGE LLC Hours of Operation - Monday thru Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm EST Friday 9:00am - 2:00pm EST 1-866-754-6573 Fairfax Virginia **Please Note: We are a listing service. Patricia.Dietly@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-642-0128 (TTY VA Relay 711). Fall and winter crops are encouraged. Gardeners who keep their plots in compliance are offered renewal leases for subsequent years. For time limitations on the use of gasoline powered or mechanized equipment please refer to the Fairfax County … An environment-focused nonprofit has raked in funding for long-awaited community garden plots at Bruin Park. The county’s Park Authority reopened its 671 garden plots yesterday, according to Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust’s newsletter. Each gardener is responsible for the activity within his/her plot. Reverts to original layout including graphics and images. All garden plot rules apply except for active gardening deadlines. Visit Site These guidelines are intended to protect both gardeners and our staff. After all, being outdoors in nature bestows its own pleasures. 12000 Government Center Pkwy To rent a garden plot in Fairfax, you must be a resident of the county with a valid mailing address and email address. The mailing address of your residence is required. Fairfax County does not supply community tools or equipment. An example is Fairfax County, Virgina. Residents can sign up for a waitlist for multiple parks, but only one plot is permitted per household. 9902 Braddock Road Fairfax, VA 22032. Asking price: 1- Plot $2,000 2- Plots $3,500. • Most plots are 20 x 30 feet Use the form above to sign up to rent a garden plot through the Fairfax County Park Authority. The Reston Association, for example, recently increased to 330 the number of garden plots available to its members. If you meet the criteria for renting (see “Community Gardening Facts and Figures” below) and want to give gardening among others a go, get on the list. Site checks are conducted throughout the year to ensure compliance. Complete and submit the form on this page to add your name to the wait list for a garden plot. Once you’ve located a garden you want to connect with, reach out to libby (at) vcgn.org for contact information, if needed. , officials from all three of those sources say the waits shouldn ’ t cause discouragement among community. Currently closed remain closed plot renters are asked to file a Fairfax County, which includes a shared water and... 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