A quick tutorial on how to use a barrel to grow loads of potatoes. i would do this but with tires so that you can just add more soil as the potatoes grow upward.

McDonough Community Garden to  Enhance Local Community Garden with Support from a ScottsMiracle-Gro GRO1000 Grassroots Grant

Grant program to help local communities through garden and green space development

Richmond, VA March 30, 2013 – Friends of McDonough Community Garden today announced the improvement of its community garden at the intersection of 33rd St and Forest Hill Ave.  The garden is part of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s GRO1000 initiative, designed to create 1,000 gardens and green spaces throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe by 2018, the Company’s 150th anniversary.

McDonough Community Garden received a GRO1000 Grassroots Grant award to  build an additional 12 raised beds at the garden. It was one of more than 100 organizations across the U.S. to receive funding for a garden or green space build.

Once the project is complete, volunteers will grow fresh organic produce for local pantries and food banks.

According to Duron Chavis, Coordinator of McDonough Community Garden, “We were thrilled to receive the grant support for the McDonough Community Garden. It is our hope that through the development of this space, we can bring our community even closer together, while educating our residents about the benefits of gardening.”

Community gardens and public green spaces play an important role in towns and cities. The garden in Richmond, Virginia will provide a place for the community to gather and work together to grow fresh produce. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Americans throw away more than 11 billion pounds of produce each year. Despite that surplus, 4.1 percent of U.S. households experience hunger, 2.9 million of whom are children. Through this garden, residents will be encouraged to eat healthier through cost-effective means.

Community members are invited to the McDonough Community Garden Love Day at 3300 McDonough Street, Richmond VA 23224 on Saturday, April 27th from 2pm to 5pm for food, planting, music and networking as we celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the community garden.

To learn more about the Richmond community garden, visit http://mcdonoughgarden.com/.
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Contact:
Duron Chavis
Friends of McDonough Community Garden
(804) 397-1465
mcdonoughgarden@gmail.com

Please help the organizers of Happily Natural Day win $10,000 to start an urban farm in RVA by voting online for #RVAFARMS today and for the next two days. If you ever appreciated Happily Natural Day, or the work that we do in the community please show your support today by voting and inspiring your friends to vote for us – as we seek to help mitigate the negative effects of food deserts for low income communities in RVA.

Vote Here: http://www.ie-rva.org/vote/?vote=2474

RVA Farms will operate an urban farm in the city of Richmond, Virginia that sells fresh organic fruits and vegetables in food deserts. Our urban farm will feature hoop houses, an outdoor demonstration garden and learning pavilion. We will be Richmond’s first urban farm B-Corporation.

Ro and Rishi from localblu explain how to build a self-watering container using two 5-gallon buckets, a wicking basket, a pipe, and soil. It’s easy to make and maintain – a great way for anyone to get started with growing their own food!

David Stover from the East Richmond Beekeepers Association talked about beekeeping.

For more information about this educational series, facebook.com/events/403986199684915/

For more info on beekeeping in Richmond,
eastrichmondbees.org/
richmondbeekeepers.wordpress.com/
facebook.com/pages/Richmond-Beekeepers-Association/277165262333848

John Lewis from Renew Richmond spoke about his experience with community engagement around urban agriculture. For more information about this educational series, facebook.com/events/403986199684915/ For more about Renew Richmond, facebook.com/pages/Renew-Richmond/194322143919656

James and Rishi from TheGrowingHome.net demonstrate how to make Biochar at home. Biochar is a nutrient-infused charcoal that is used as a soil amendment. The biochar technique was developed by the pre-Columbian cultures of the Amazon. It is said to be the reason for the incredible soil fertility of the Amazon Basin.

Bruno Welsh from Compost RVA explained composting.
For more information about this educational series, facebook.com/events/403986199684915/