The growing season is officially underway at Jones Community Gardens, including a fresh lineup of hands-on learning and community-grown produce.
The Garden Labs series returned Friday, June 6, with backyard foraging, led by Annette Naber of Emerald Mountain Sanctuary. Garden Labs are free workshops for all ages hosted at the garden starting at 6 p.m. with help from local experts. Topics range from composting and pollinator planting to herbal remedies, and garden-to-table cooking. Each lab offers practical takeaways visitors can apply at home, and participants take something useful home with them from every session. A full schedule is available online.
The weekly Market Days have resumed, offering fresh, pesticide-free produce grown right on site. The market is open Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, at the garden’s Montgomery and Peck location in Staunton. Produce is priced below market value to ensure accessibility, but two ways exist for Staunton residents to get produce completely free of charge:
Composting Program: Exchange household food scraps (like fruit peels and coffee grounds) for fresh produce. Pick up a free collection container at the Expansion Garden and return it full on Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays at 9 a.m. Learn more and sign up online.
Weekly Work Days: Lend a hand with planting, weeding or harvesting during volunteer hours and head home with fresh produce in return for your service. Work days are held Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9 a.m. Learn more about volunteering.
Jones Gardens also hosts Sample Saturday at the market. During the growing season, the team highlights an ingredient from the garden and creates mouth-watering samples on Saturdays, plus the recipe card for visitors to take home.
Jones Community Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on public support to survive and thrive. Gifts may be made to the garden online.
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Rebecca Barnabi
