Team of volunteers at BCG | March 2024
Volunteers from AmeriCorps, Blue Sky Fund, and the Randolph community planting the first spring vegetables in new raised beds | March 2023
In 2022, after many delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Birdhouse Community Garden (BCG) broke ground! Shortly after, in the Summer of 2023, BCG began implementing monthly community garden workdays (running March - November) to educate the community and provide hands-on gardening experience to our neighbors. The monthly work days were so well attended in 2023-2024 that we decided to shift our model in the 2025 season to a weekly, Saturday garden work day with a community potluck happening on the first Saturday of each month. These weekly work days have allowed our neighbors to strengthen their gardening skills while also getting to know each other and the surrounding community in a more intentional and deeper way. Our goal is to provide for anyone interested, a space to grow healthy food, learn about gardening and cooking, and have fun!
The garden is located adjacent to the Birdhouse Farmers Market area in Petronius Jones Park on the Idlewood Ave side of the brick gazebo. Look for the Big Blue Garden Shed and the elevated greenhouse behind the berry patch.
Three additional raised beds were placed in Spring 2025 to create a space for the RCC Youth Gardening Program.
Our little garden has grown so much since 2022! We currently have nine ground-level raised beds and three elevated, trough style beds adjacent to the sidewalk for our community seniors. Additionally, there is a cane berry patch (raspberries and blackberries), a perennial plantings patch/shade garden, an herb circle, many perennial, pollinator focused flowers planted, two young fig trees, one young peach tree, and new in 2025, Blueberry Hill adjacent to the pickleball courts. In August of 2024, 30+ volunteers helped to install the BCG Greenhouse over three weekends thanks to the Virginia Green Grants program. And last but not least, in late 2024, Richmond Grows Gardens installed a water catchment system on the side of the Big Blue Shed demonstrating the principles of water conservation while providing water for the garden, year-round.
Above, garden volunteer Jade H. teaches a group of volunteers about young fruit tree irrigation. | Spring 2025
In 2026, we expect to expand on existing, garden programming and education, invite more neighbors into the space to grow and eat healthy, local foods together, and learn as a community what works and what doesn’t work in our tiny, yet feisty community garden space.
You can find information about BCG happenings on the community posting board that faces Idlewood Ave in the garden. The most up to date garden information can be found on our social media platforms and through our BCG Email list (linked below!).
Instagram: @Birdhousefarmersmarket / Facebook Page: Birdhouse Farmers Market
A group of volunteers harvesting sweet potatoes | October 2025
Birdhouse Community Garden is the latest example of Birdhouse Farmers Market’s steadfast commitment to strengthening our local food system and improving the health and well-being of our community by making healthy food accessible to all.
Want to get involved with the Birdhouse Community Garden? Want to share with us what YOU would like to see growing in the space? Complete the form on the link below to join the BCG Email list and tell us what you want to see growing in Randolph!
