Derbyshire Community Garden

In addition to providing a weekly harvest of produce to our neighborhood food pantry at Welborne UMC, the Derbyshire Community Garden offers growing space in one of our 42 raised beds to neighborhood families and individuals. Under the leadership of our Garden Manager, volunteers are invited to assist with watering, weeding, and harvesting in the dedicated food pantry beds. All are invited to be involved in the work of nourishing our neighbors, right here in our own backyard.

Reserving and Renewing A Garden Plot

Garden Plots have all been adopted for the 2025 growing season. Applications for next year will open in early 2026. Check back here for the link to the application in Feb/March 2026.

  1. We request a donation of $30 dollars for the use of a garden bed, which includes access to water, tools, the seed library, and gardening support.

  2. Plots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

  3. Please apply for only one plot per household.

  4. Please let us know by Labor Day if you would like to continue using your plot in the Fall and Winter seasons.

  5. Sub-letting of plots is not permitted. Please contact Alice asap if you wish to return your plot.

Volunteer in the Garden

Help put the "Community" in "Community Garden" by volunteering as an individual or a group!

Individual Volunteer Opportunities: 

Sign-up HERE for the opportunities below!

  1. Harvest Helpers: Assist with harvesting, rinsing, and bagging produce for food pantry distribution

    • Skills required: a willingness to learn best practices for harvesting a variety of produce.

    • Time requirements: Harvest happens every Sunday throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Sign up to help weekly, monthly, or as often as you are able! 

  2. Weeding the Food Pantry Beds: Keeping the weeds at bay in the rows dedicated to the Food Pantry takes a great deal of help from the community and is essential to a hearty harvest. 

    • Skills required: None! 

    • Time requirements: (almost) none! After a brief conversation to establish what areas you'll be working in, you are free to get the job done on your own schedule. Contact Alice to get started today!

  3. Mowing inside the Fenced area: We provide the mower; you provide the muscle!

    • Skills required: able to operate a gas-powered push-mower and pay attention to hoses and other potential obstacles.

    • Time requirements: Can be done on your own schedule. Sign up to mow weekly, monthly or as often as you are able!

  4. Mower and Tool Maintenance: Annually, we’ll need someone handy to help maintain our community tools and mower.

    1. Skills required: knowledge about small engines and basic tool maintenance.

    2. Time requirements: Can be done on your own schedule. Contact Alice to help!

  5. Weed Trimming: Have a weed whacker and some time to lend? Volunteers needed to provide their own weed whacker and trim around the pergola and shed. 

    1. Skills/tools required: must have your own weed whacker and be able to operate it.

    2. Time Requirements: Can be done on your own schedule. Sign up to come out when it’s convenient for you!  

Group Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome all types of groups from Scout troops to homeschool co-ops, corporate teams to church groups to spend a few hours working together in the garden. Email Alice to discuss group size, time frame, and any special skills your team may have, and she will work with you to put together a project that benefits the garden and suits the needs of your group! 

Scouting Projects 

We welcome Scouts to the garden for Gold Award and Eagle Scout projects! Contact Alice with your idea or to brainstorm together. Examples of past Scout projects include:

  • Building two taller raised beds for community use so that individuals who are not able to get down on their knees can access growing space (Henry Holsten, Eagle Scout Project 2023)

  • Building two "bug hotels" to encourage pollinators to make their homes in the garden, and writing/illustrating a children's book about the importance of pollinators (Aubrey Tuck, Gold Award Project 2024)

Volunteer FAQs:

  1. Is there an age requirement for volunteering? 

    We welcome volunteers of all ages to the garden, but ask that a parent or other adult supervisor accompany anyone under the age of 15. 

  2. Can I earn community service for school or court-mandated requirements?

    Yes! While those seeking community service hours are welcome, we cannot guarantee supervision. This means that volunteers are required to keep track of their hours and work accomplished. We will sign off on logged hours once work is completed on previously approved projects. 

  3. How do I get started volunteering?

    Email Alice Cates Clarke at acatesclarke@dbcrichmond.org or contact the church office at 804-740-7238


Contact Alice Cates Clarke for more information and to get plugged in!

Plot Maintenance

  1. Our goal is to nurture healthy soil and environment. Chemical herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers are not allowed.

  2. Gardeners are welcome to use tools and seeds from the shed. Please rinse soiled tools and return materials back where you found them.

  3. Gardeners are expected to water their own plots. A water hose will be available for your use.  

  4. Weeds must be kept under control.

  5. If a garden bed is not maintained (unwatered, out-of-control weeds, overgrown plants), a notice will be sent to the plot holder. If the plot remains untended after the notice has been sent, we will assume that the plot holder is finished with their plot, and it will given to the next person on the waiting list.

  6. Please keep all walkways clear.

  7. Garden waste that is compostable should be placed in the compost area, located in the back of the garden. Diseased plants should be disposed of in the trash (not the compost bin).

  8. Take all trash and plant debris that you do not compost within your plot to your home, or to a trash collection location.

  9. Simple, non-permanent structures, such as trellises are allowed.

Garden Use Policies

  1. The garden is open dawn to dusk, seven days a week.

  2. Children, friends, and family are welcome in the garden. Gardeners are expected to ensure that any guests they invite to the garden also abide by garden policies.

  3. Pets must remain outside of the garden fence.

  4. Crops harvested from the food pantry beds will be donated to the Welbourne food pantry every Monday afternoon.

  5. Donated produce can be put in the donation crate in the shed OR you can let the garden manager (Amanda) know that she may harvest your produce on donation day.

Community Behavior and Non-discrimination

We encourage a welcoming community. Disrespectful or abusive language, harassment, discrimination, illegal activities, activities that endanger others, or destructive behavior (including vandalism and theft) are not permitted, and may result in the immediate loss of all gardening privileges.