Explore a farm in Petersburg empowering youth to become stewards of their local food systems. Visit ReLeaf Cville and learn how planting trees to provide shade creates healthier neighborhoods.
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See how the Virginia Department of Forestry uses drones to survey forest health and help fight fires. Uncover the history of electric lawn care equipment that goes back 50 years.
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Visit a business in Northern Virginia committed to creating sustainable landscapes using local ecotypes. Tour a garden in Rappahannock County designed to restore and preserve the natural ecosystem.
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Visit the Appomattox River to learn about efforts to restore the riparian buffer and promote wildlife habitat. Meet a group in Loudoun organizing homeowner associations to remove and replace non-native species.
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Meet farmers committed to healthy soil! Learn how a Mechanicsville farmer grows heirloom tomatoes at commercial scale using worm compost. Visit a family farm in Sedalia to see the benefits of permanent bed systems for soil compaction.
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Visit a home landscape in Stanardsville designed to provide habitat for birds and insects. Tour a cut-flower microfarm in Norfolk specializing in native perennials to support pollinators.
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Visit a garden where children with specialized education needs grow together. Explore how interactions among plants, animals, and the environment not only heal ecosystems, but also people.
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Water sustains our plants, but it can do so much more! Visit a garden with a unique koi pond and tour a grist mill that has been using the power of water to process grain products for over 270 years.
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Explore the first state park to honor the legacy of indigenous tribes and visit a mine with an industry-leading environmental stewardship program to reclaim land for wildlife habitat.
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Tour a garden in Arlington featuring 30,000 daffodils and visit a farm-to-table program in Mechanicsville where residents grow vegetables for their dining center.
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Tour a garden focused on plants for tea and learn how to make a perfect cup of the world's second most popular drink after water. Discover how luffa plants are grown and processed into sponges.
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Explore the important role that native plants play in our ecosystem! Discover native fruit trees and other edible plants found in Virginia and learn how to incorporate native perennials into your home landscape to support wildlife.
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Explore efforts to conserve remarkable natural assets across the Commonwealth. Visit the State Arboretum of Virginia to learn about protecting rare plants. Tour the unique ecosystem of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
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Fresh food is one of the garden's best rewards. Visit a Mexican restaurant garden supporting sustainable foodways. Then explore a fifth-generation family farm to learn about their belief that “if you know your farmer, you know your food.”
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Take a closer look at the methods used to control runoff and conserve water. From rain gardens that beautify the landscape to flood control structures that protect communities, learn how to steward our most important natural resource.
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Visit organizations in Richmond and Charlottesville growing tons of fresh produce to share with their neighbors. Explore the work of community gardens to learn how they are inspiring new growers and advocating for food equity.
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Create a landscape that is both functional and beautiful as you achieve the goals for your yard. Meet design professionals, explore their approaches for a variety of growing conditions, and learn why success in the garden begins with planning.
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Learn about signs of spring and preparations for the growing season. Visit a garden pro to talk about plant care and pruning. Plus, explore the science of phenology, to plan your garden and ensure it grows in harmony with the rhythms of the season.
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Learn about growing indoors all year round! Visit a state-of-the art greenhouse to see how Sweet Briar College produces fresh vegetables for their dining hall in the winter, then explore indoor cannabis cultivation with a homegrower.
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Discover a park that provided native plants for a unique set of botanical watercolor paintings and tour the historic garden of a Harlem Renaissance poet.
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Edmund Frost, of Common Wealth Seed Growers, demonstrates how to harvest cucumber and tomato seeds and explains why seed saving can improve your garden. At Carter Farms, Michael Carter, Jr. displays crops from West Africa and explains how the agriculture contributions of Black farmers shape our food and culture. Amyrose Foll & Dr. Robyn Puffenbarger share gardening tips you can use at home.