Conceived in 2000 by a handful of neighbors in an effort to create community greenspace in Union Hill, Jefferson Avenue Community garden has been in continuous operation since October 2003. The garden now flourishes as gathering spot in the heart of the East End, providing a place for residents to grow their own flowers and produce as well as serving as a refuge for pollinators and wildlife in the heart of the city’s East End.
In its current iteration, the garden includes 16 raised beds that are organically tended to by local gardeners. With the prominent fig tree located at the entrance now providing significant shade from the afternoon sun, the front western bed was recently converted into a children’s educational plot. With support from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay the two beds along the front of the garden are sowed with plants native to the region to serve as a BayScape (a local term indicating flora native to the Chesapeake Bay/Piedmont area).
Along with individual plots, the park also offers a Gabion bench constructed by a neighbor and two picnic tables donated by the Richmond ToolBank. Water is provided by a 1000-gallon cistern that collects rainwater from an adjacent building, supplemented by municipal water supply. While gardeners are currently taking a hiatus from composting, leaf collections are held in the fall and provide organic matter for beds. Other features of the garden include a one-of-a-kind circular shed clad in #10 cans donated by erstwhile Richmond grocers Ukrops and built over several volunteer workdays in 2005. Two years later volunteers added the paving-stone pathway and cistern with support from a grant by Aveeno and Organic Gardening.
Recently, the Capital Regional Land Conservancy has been working with stewards to have the land
placed in a conservation easement, ensuring the garden will persevere for decades to come, continuing to provide valuable green space for Union Hill residents. For more information about Jefferson Avenue Community Garden, to volunteer, or to be placed on the waiting list for a garden plot please contact semoulds@gmail.com.
Donate to Jefferson Avenue Community Garden