Sent on Mar 30, 2023 at 04:29 pm
Greetings Richmond Gardeners!
Spring is in the air! We’re looking ahead to April and have gathered up some of the great volunteer opportunities that you may be interested in (below).
Our first seed re-packaging day was great success, thank you again to everyone who joined us! We are planning our next re-packaging day soon (hopefully on a warmer and less windy day) so stay tuned for updates on that.
Have you ordered your free seeds for the season yet?
Put in your order for free seeds:
https://forms.gle/nw9v5MrEpn8kXamL7
Please note that the timing on getting your seeds to you may be a bit slower this coming month, I am due to have a baby in the next 2 weeks so I’m hoping to get as much as possible distributed before then!
Wondering what to do with the seeds you received?
Each packet is labeled with the name of the seed and the seed company (when possible) – for the specific growing advice for that seed, search on the web for the seed company and the seed name to find out more information about the seed you received.
For general planting dates, we love Southern Exposure Seed Exchange’s Recommended Planting Dates calendar (find that PDF here). We have this resource and more listed on our website on our Growing Resources blog post: https://richmondplanthub.com/2023/02/06/growing-resources/
Looking to volunteer around the city?
Here are just a few of the great plant-related volunteer opportunities that we’ve seen lately…
Fonticello Food Forest Spring Garden Planting! Lend a hand in adding new garden beds, filling them with soil, and planting seedlings. 2715 Bainbridge St, Richmond (Southside)
Thursday, March 30th (today!) from 4-6pm
and Friday, March 31st from 4-6pm
*At 6pm on Friday, volunteers are also desired to help with setting up for Fonticello Park’s playground dedication in honor of Markiya Dickson. See “Friends of Fonticello” for more info on the Community Picnic and playground dedication this Saturday, April 1st from noon to 2pm.
Cornerstone Community Farm is looking for volunteers Mondays 4-6pm and Wednesdays 9am-12noon, they do ask that you reach out first before showing up (email cfc@henrico.k12.va.us to join). The farm is located at Fairfield Middle School off Nine Mile Road in Henrico’s East End. Cornerstone is also looking for support from community leaders, board members, sponsors and are hiring right now for community outreach / education coordinator and a year round farm steward.
Real Roots Food Systems is accepting applications for their 2023 Collective Workforce Program. On Thursdays from 9am-2pm join them in growing, tending, and learning on the farm. The program begins April 13th. They also have an option for more casual volunteering and host workdays and learning events throughout the year. Real Roots Food Systems is located on the same farm as Hazel Witch Flower Farm and Shine Farms (4366 Sledd Ln, Mechanicsville).
Speaking of Hazel Witch Farm they also host regular volunteering hours (they do ask you to save your space on their website so they can prepare accordingly). About their volunteering opportunities they share: “We invite folks to join us on the farm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and select Saturdays March- November. Wednesdays are best if you’d like to pop in and join the cultivation team, you’ll work alongside crew members on weeding and bed management in a team. Thursdays are best if you’re interested in a longer form commitment- please join us for at least 4 weeks, so you can learn and develop skillsets. Thursdays are a work share position- you’ll be taught how to harvest medicinal herbs, wash/pack or put up into the dryer, and garble/screen dry herbs, in exchange for a fresh herb share. The shift is partially independent work. Saturdays are a grab bag of larger bed prep tasks as well as cultivation. They’ll often include more heavy lifting like wheelbarrowing compost and clearing beds.”
Dirt Therapy with Duron Chavis and Happily Natural Day are doing great things all around the city and beyond. They have a text update service you can join too: 1 (409) 248-2541
Join in to keep their various community gardens, farms, and orchards buzzing with weekly planting and garden maintenance activities at any of their locations:
- Sankofa Community Orchard
309 Covington Rd, Richmond (Southside)
Thursdays 11am-2pm and Sundays 1-3pm
- Broad Rock Community Garden
404 E Broad Rock Rd, Richmond (Southside)
Sundays starting at 5pm
- Petersburg Oasis Community Youth Farm
535 Beech Street, Petersburg
Tuesdays from 9-11am
*Petersburg Oasis Community Youth Farm also has some extra volunteer days planned to get things started for the season: April 2nd 11am-3pm and April 5th 5pm-7pm.
*On Saturday, April 8th from 12:30-3pm they will also be hosting a Sow & Grow Spring Social with a farm tour, sowing sessions session, food/juicing demonstrations and more! A beautiful place to bring the family.
- Brook Road Youth Farm
3513 Brook Road, Richmond (Northside)
(Starting on April 6th) Thursdays from 5-7pm
- McDonough Community Garden
3300 McDonough Street, Richmond (Southside)
(Starting on April 16th) Sundays from 11am-2pm
More plant-related events…
Shenandoah Permaculture & Shirefolk Farm are hosting a potluck and seed swap in Palmyra, VA this Saturday, April 1st at 6:00pm.
Sending best wishes for strong seedlings and a real Spring this year!
Eryn at Richmond Plant Hub
P.S. Yes, that’s some bloodroot blooming in a small raised bed here in Richmond in the header of the email. If you’re interested, I will be collecting seeds from them later this Spring. They are a beautiful Spring ephemeral for shade gardens.
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Update: TinyLetter cancelled their Newsletter Service – if you were previously signed up for our newsletter, please an email to richmondplanthub@gmail.com to be added to our new newsletter list or with any questions about seeds, seedlings or volunteering!
Richmond Plant Hub 