Community gardens reopen

The Bo White Gardens at Pine Ridge Park in Annandale.

The Fairfax County community gardens have reopened, as of Wednesday, April 29. The garden plots will be available seven days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., weather permitting.

“Since only the garden plots will be open and not the other park amenities, such as fields, shelters, dog parks, etc., the entrance to the parks with garden plots will be monitored by staff,” states an email from Patricia Dietly, garden plot coordinator with the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Gardeners had criticized the county’s previous policy to keep the community gardens closed to minimize social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among their complaints: It’s healthier to grow fresh produce than risk going to a grocery store; closing the gardens unfairly penalized apartment dwellers; and some gardeners donate vegetables to food banks.

Related story: Gardeners urge Park Authority to reopen community garden plots

Dietly asks gardeners returning to their plats to follow these social distancing and sanitation guidelines:

• Stay at least six feet away from other gardeners. 
• Wipe the handles of the water hydrant after using it. 
• Do not share garden tools with gardeners in other plots. 
• Wear gloves and a mask when interacting with others. 
• Begin wrapping up gardening activities by 5:45 p.m., so staff can close the gates and barricades by 6. 

In the event of bad weather, gardeners are urged to call 703-324-9782 to hear a message about whether the parks will be open for gardeners.

The deadline for getting garden plots cleaned up and planted has been extended to July 15. Because of the lost gardening time, the Park Authority will credit one-twelfth of the 2020 fee on next year’s fee if gardeners paid their 2020 fee by March 21.