Contact Us - Parks & Recreation

Address:
1209 Admiral Street 
Richmond, VA
23220 USA

Email: Ask Parks and Recreation

Phone: (804) 646-5733

Inclement Weather Line Number: (804) 646-0751

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Community Gardens

Welcome to Richmond Grows Gardens

Under the leadership of Mayor Levar M. Stoney, our City Administration recognizes that community gardens provide economic benefits, increase social equity, strengthen our community, and promote environmental stewardship.

The goals of Richmond Grows Gardens are:

  • To support the sustainability goals for the city of Richmond: improve the quality of life for residents, create a healthy environment and enhance economic development and job creation opportunities.
  • To increase the public’s understanding of the value of community gardens and the need for community gardens in the city.
  • To encourage and facilitate local urban agriculture which increases access to fresh, nutritional food for residents-particularly those in under resourced communities.
  • To transform vacant and underutilized city parcels into productive gardens.
  • We support the development of community gardens throughout Richmond. We define a community garden as: City property used in accordance with the provisions of this division to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, wood products or native or ornamental plants.
  • We offer city property for community gardens to incorporated organizations, unincorporated organizations, and governmental organizations through an online application process. These Garden Groups are encouraged to engage with individual gardeners by creating their own policies to allot garden plots or otherwise let individuals use their parcel. Additionally, garden groups are encouraged to engage with community members by providing opportunities to participate in cultivation of plants and community relationships. 
  • All garden groups and individual gardeners must follow the Richmond Grows Gardens Rules and Guidelines.
  • Richmond Grows Gardens provides city-owned parcels for community-led agriculture and horticulture projects as well as programming support in order to cultivate green spaces for growing food, community, and environmental resilience.

In order to apply for a community garden permit, first read the Rules & Guidelines Tab, then the following must be met:

  • The permit applicant must be an individual associated with an organization or unofficial association, such as a neighborhood association or grassroots organization.

  • If the applicant is not going to serve as the Garden Steward, then the group/ organization/ association applying must designate a Garden Steward to be responsible for its community garden and to serve as the primary contact for the RGG Coordinator.

  • Priority to permits will be given to Richmond residents.

  •  To apply for a Garden Permit Please fill out the permit application here.

CITY OF RICHMOND

RICHMOND GROWS GARDENS

RULES AND GUIDELINES

12/27/2023

Your Complete Guide

Get all of the information you need, right here in the Community Gardens Handbook.

Once you have completed your community garden application, please download, sign, and return your community garden group waiver to Nathaniel Martin, Community Garden Coordinator, at Nathaniel.Martin@rva.gov.

Community Garden Group Wavier

All individuals that are part of a garden group are required to fill out and sign an individual wavier. Once completed, please return a copy to Nathaniel Martin, Community Garden Coordinator, at Nathaniel.Martin@rva.gov.

Individual Waiver

 

Richmond Compost Initiative 

The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PCRF) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to receive a $90,000 grant to launch a community composting pilot program. The initiative seeks to divert food waste from the landfill by providing options for composting at convenient drop-off locations and cycle that organic waste into high-quality compost.

What is composting?

Composting is a process where food scraps, yard waste, and other various organic matter is turned into a nutrient-rich stable soil material.

Why is it important?

Almost a quarter of all waste going to landfills is food and organic matter. Composting is a way to cut down on waste entering landfills while also creating a product that can be used to grow plants and green spaces. Composting also reduces harmful gas emissions by retaining carbon instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

How Can I Participate?

Almost all food waste can be composted. Many paper products and plant-based materials can be as well. However, with the size of the Richmond Compost Initiative, there are some items we cannot accept. This list includes a breakdown of these items.