Photo courtesy Alan Kotok/Flickr

The Roanoke Community Garden Association (RCGA) has announced that it has opened its registration for community garden plots for 2013.  RCGA operates three community gardens in Roanoke and will be developing a fourth garden in 2013.

Community gardens provide space for residents to grow fresh crops (fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers) of their choosing.  Gardeners register for plots that range in size from 50 to 300 square feet.  Tools, water, storage, garden space and educational support are available.  Sunshine and rain are included as well.

Community gardens are enhancing the quality of life in Roanoke neighborhoods by combining recreation, education, and social opportunities to people from all backgrounds.  Registered gardeners are offered monthly meetings, ongoing workshops, information on garden-related events and are often provided free seeds and seedlings.

Plot dues for 2013 are $15 and $20, depending on location.  No one will be excluded from the RCGA due to lack of funds.

Gardens are located in SE and SW Roanoke neighborhoods.  Addresses of the existing gardens are listed on their website, along with garden rules and registration forms.

RCGA’s mission is to promote, educate, and provide information about organic gardening principles, diet, nutrition, and food security that sustains the Roanoke region through the creation of community gardens.

RCGA meets tonight, Thursday, February 28, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Main Library in downtown Roanoke, in the downstairs auditorium.  RCGA meets the 4^th Thursday of the month.

Mark Powell, Director of RCGA, emailed me to tell me that Northwest True Value Hardware donated over $1200 worth of seeds for the use of community gardeners, and they will begin distributing these seeds at this meeting.

For more information, please email Mark at mark@roanokecommunitygarden.org or call him at 540-904-3122.