Visit the Organic Vegetable Garden!
2845 N. Marcey Road
Arlington, VA 22207 United States
(Park in the lot and walk past the Nature Center to the garden.)
One of the best ways to learn about vegetable gardening is to see long established gardens in action. Make time this year to visit the Organic Vegetable Garden in north Arlington at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, one of the eight demonstration gardens operated by MGNV.
Organic Vegetable Garden Pepper Fest 2023
September 17 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Explore the beautiful pepper beds, filled with mild to hot varieties.
- Sample fresh peppers: Anaheim, Shishito, Lunch Box, Mad Hatter, Jalapeño, and many more.
- Taste dishes prepared with peppers grown in our garden.
- Consult with Extension Master Gardeners on growing and caring for peppers, vegetables, and cover crops.
- See our new vegetable beds, including our edible and square foot gardens.
- Enjoy the flora of Potomac Overlook Regional Park.
Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture: Events & More . . .
FOUA’s Plot Against Hunger Produce Bagging Center Is Now Open on Mondays AND Thursdays!
Donate your home grown produce to your Arlington neighbors in need. Our Produce Bagging center is located at Rock Spring Church, 5010 Little Falls Road. Regular drop off days are MONDAYS and THURSDAYS from August through October from 1-3 pm. On Mondays that are federal holidays, drop off days will be Tuesday.
For more information, visit: https://arlingtonurbanag.org/plot-against-hunger/
Visit FOUA at the Arlington County Fair
The Arlington County Fair is back August 16-20, 2023 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center! Rides, food, vendors, competitive exhibits, and more. This year’s theme is “There You Are.” Visit FOUA’s booth in the Virginia Cooperative Extension area and learn more about urban agriculture in Arlington County. We’ll see you there!
For more information, visit: https://www.arlingtoncountyfair.us/
Historic Gardening Methods at Arlington House
Re-enactor and Friends of Urban Agriculture volunteer gardener at Arlington House, Sandy Newton, will discuss the historic gardening methods in use at the National Park Service’s Plot Against Hunger. Sandy will cover the history of Arlington House, focusing on two enslaved individuals who tended the garden, Ephraim Derricks and George Clark. She’ll also talk about the role of the garden in the life of the house and the Lee girls contributions to it. Finally, she’ll describe the garden as a Plot Against Hunger and the historic gardening methods in use today to produce and donate fresh foods to local pantries.
Thursday, August 10, 2023. 7-8:30 pm. This program is free and open to the public. You can attend via Zoom or in-person.
For more information, visit: https://arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/events/historic-gardening-methods-at-arlington-house/
Come gleaning with Plot Against Hunger in 2023!
Each Tuesday through October, head out to local farms to pick produce and deliver it back to Arlington area feeding programs. Our mornings usually begin by 8 am at a designated farm (which can change based on the crop). Each location will be within an hour of Arlington. We have a limited number of volunteer spaces available on each trip. These mornings are always a fun way to connect with the land and do good. We can also help arrange a limited number of carpools.
To join us, sign in to our volunteer system and click on “schedule.”
Why glean?. Today, if commercial farmers aren’t able to pick all of the produce on their fields due to weather, harvest or labor schedules, or other environmental concerns, volunteers step in. Unpicked produce represents wasted time, money, and labor, and has the potential to attract pests or even spread disease! Instead of having a field go to waste, gleaners are invited to pick healthy produce for donation. Everyone wins with this arrangement; neighbors in need receive delicious fresh locally grown produce, volunteers have a fun and meaningful day, and farmers have their fields cleaned and make a great contribution to the community.
2023 Garden Talks
Weekly garden talks are in full swing at Central Library (1015 N Quincy St). Each Wednesday evening, we’ll bring you a new topic about gardening, vegetables, pollinators, flowers, and more. This FREE program is brought to you by Friends of Urban Agriculture and Extension Master Gardeners. With a new topic every week through September, you’ll learn a lot and meet other Arlington gardeners.
May – August Garden Talks start at 7:00 p.m.
Meet in front of the Plot Against Hunger garden at the Library’s surface parking lot. All Garden Talks are free, no registration required!
- August 2 Vegetables for Fall & Winter Harvest – You can grow vegetables nearly year-round. Learn what to plant to enjoy this fall; and even through to the spring.
- August 9 Cover Crops for Healthy Soil – Cover crops protect, nurture and add structure to your soil. Learn the what, when and how of using cover crops to bring your garden to a whole new level.
- August 16 Extend Your Growing Season – Protect your crops from the chill with hot caps, cold frames, row covers and other techniques.
- August 23 Foraging for Wild Edibles – There are good things to eat all around you. Learn to identify and prepare safe edibles found in our wild (and not so wild) areas.
- August 30 Garden Tool Clinic – Your garden tools work better, last longer and are safer with proper care. Learn how from an experienced gardener.