Break Away from Minimal Planting Space with a Community Garden

You like the idea of creating your own garden in the city, but you seriously don't have your own balcony, stoop or three by three patch of grass to stake your claim on... Never fear! Get on the list to plant at one of the community gardens in the Northern Virginia area.

George Mason Garden Plots The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) offer nine community garden plots around the area for community members to rent so they can truly reap what they sow in their very own garden. Rental periods run from January 1 through December 31 for the calendar year so a starved gardener should get on the waiting list. George Mason Park's waiting list was thirty people deep when I registered back in early October.

When walking the George Mason Park garden a few weeks ago, I got the sense that most gardeners were in it for the veggies! You can plant whatever you wish as long as they meet the guidelines posted in their regulations. Obviously they don't want any invasive species or plants that tend to creep. They also do not allow for trees to be planted in the community garden. You can view all of the rules on the FCPA's 2010 presentation on their website.

The idea is perfectly wonderful! If the organic gardener in you is aching to emerge from the city, this could be a fantastic way to dig right in and plant your own sustainable garden! Imagine being able to harvest your very own fresh vegetables for cooking! Check out the FCPA website.