Horticulture in Fairfax County: Fresh, Vibrant, and Growing Community Garden Plots
The Master Gardener Program
The Fairfax County Park Authority provides Fairfax County residents the opportunity to participate in a positive community gardening experience through the Community Garden Plot program. There are 676 garden plots in nine parks rented on an annual basis. Most plots are 30’x20’; 18 plots at Grist Mill Park are 10’x20’. Large plots rent for $65 and smaller plots rent for $60.
Green Spring Gardens established a Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program in 2001. The site’s horticultural resources and its mission to advance the awareness and practice of responsible horticulture make it an ideal location to host a VCE Master Gardener Volunteer Program.
Participants often plant flowers, grow fruits and vegetables for food and get healthful exercise as they work the garden plot. Garden plots are to be maintained with planting, harvesting and weeding from May 1 until November 15. Inspections will be conducted to ensure compliance. Wait lists for Franconia Park in Springfield, Lewinsville Park in McLean and Bo White Gardens located in Pine Ridge Park in Annandale are now open. All other garden plot locations are closed to new sign ups due to the length of the wait list. There are 415 names on our wait lists to date. In 2010, Park Authority staff members worked closely to accomplish important tasks such as: • Revised Rules and Guidelines became effective January 1, 2010 • 35 plots were reclaimed in 2010 • Gleaning programs were underway at two parks, with one at Bo White Gardens and a second, The Gardeners’ Share at Lewinsville Park. This program continues to expand. In 2010, 8,000 pounds of food was provided to charitable organizations. Key issues were explored including: • Abandoned plots • Trees and encroaching growth • Clean-up days • Youth volunteers
Program created 10 years ago 137 volunteers 5,745 service hours provided in 2010 6627 citizen contacts
The VCE Master Gardener Program began in 1972 when Washington State Cooperative Extension trained interested volunteers to serve as a community resource for reliable horticulture information. Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Programs are now active in 48 states and provide an invaluable service to their communities. To become a Green Spring Master Gardener Volunteer requires a commitment of 100 hours in the first year. This time commitment is divided between 50 hours of specialized training in environmental horticulture and 50 hours of internship volunteering in approved horticulture education projects in the community. After the first year, VCE Master Gardener status is maintained by remaining active in the program as a volunteer educator for 20 hours per year and participating in eight hours of continuing education in horticulture. The Green Spring VCE Master Gardener Volunteer training is held each fall beginning in September and ending in late November. The training generally requires two three-hour classes per week and two Saturday classes. For more information visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/gsgp/mastergardener.htm. 31