Now that spring has sprung, we’re here to herb your enthusiasm with a roundup of community gardens to cultivate your green thumb.
Whether you’re looking to work with a group and share the fruit or grow your harvest solo, these local spots are tilled and ready to turnip this growing season. Many community gardens offer seed share programs and community shared tool sheds, but check with each garden for specifics.
🍅 Fan, Museum District, Maymont
Maymont Community Garden, 1907 Texas Ave.
This garden has free beds available to Maymont residents. Find the garden at Riverview Community Park next to the skate park.
Get involved: Reserve a bed by sending them an email.
Humphrey Calder Community Garden, 3621 Kensington Ave.
There are 32 plots at this community center off Patterson Avenue.
Get involved: Get in touch to volunteer or make a donation.
Uptown Community Garden, 2201 Parkwood Ave.
There are private and community plots at this Fan garden.
Get involved: Reach out to coordinator Marlene Sehen.
🍅 Church Hill
Chimborazo Playground Community Garden, East Grace and North 31st Streets
With 30 plots, two children’s gardens, and a butterfly berm, the Chimborazo Playground Community Garden has been growing food for community members for over a decade.
Get involved: Add your name to the waiting list for a plot by contacting the garden steward.
Van Lew Community Garden, 2301 E. Grace St.
Named for abolitionist and Union spy Elizabeth Van Lew, this garden is filled with native trees and flowers. Head behind Bellevue Elementary School between Franklin and Grace Streets to find the plot.
Get involved: Help out with planting and maintenance by contacting Verdant Richmond.
Roots of Woodville Community Garden, 1901 N. 28th St.
This long-running community project welcomes volunteers from in and out of its neighborhood to work and grow together.
Get involved: To find out more, email Nathan Fleming.
🍅 Northside, Highland Park
Six Points Community Garden, 3rd Avenue, Dill Avenue, and Rady Street
Established in 2022 in North Highland Park, Six Points was designed to serve as a park and community growing space.
Get involved: RSVP for the planting or find out how you can help by contacting Verdant Richmond.
Charles S. Gilpin Garden Farm, 1420 St. Peter St.
A community greenspace, the Gilpin Community Farm is part of the Food Justice Corridor, a stretch of four local community gardens in areas with limited access to fresh food. Volunteer crews work on the space every Tuesday afternoon.
Get involved: Contact Kinfolk Community RVA for information on how you can help.
🍅 Southside
Alice Fitz Community Garden, 1301 Perry St.
This Manchester garden hosts community workdays in addition to renting plots. Bonus: They have peach, pear, and mulberry trees, plus blueberry and raspberry bushes.
Get involved: Send an email to ask about the availability of plots.
Fonticello Food Forest, 2715 Bainbridge St.
Located in Carter Jones Park, Fonticello also hosts free farmstands.
Get involved: Reach out to Laney Sullivan.
McDonough Community Garden, 3300 McDonough St.
The garden also hosts seed swaps and plant trades.
Get involved: Help build up the garden by reaching out to organizer Duron Chavis.
Broad Rock Community Garden, 404 E. Broad Rock Rd.
Keep up with this Southside garden on Instagram, where they announce community workdays and events.
Get involved: Send Nikiya Ellis an email.
The city has an interactive map with information on all of these, as well as several more. If you want to start your own community garden, head to Richmond Grows Gardens. There are several garden sites waiting for go-getting growers. You can also search for gardens we didn’t mention this time around.
Or if you’re looking to spruce up your own yard, shop trees, shrubs, and more that are perfect for growing right here in Zone 7 all shipped right to your front door.*
Ready to get your hands dirty? Search the Community Foundation page for garden activities, or read our conversation with local master gardener Don Moore to learn how to start a garden of your own.
Add to our list by letting us know the community gardens where you volunteer.
