In past years, some of you may have bought a Christmas tree at the Old City garden retail center at 9th and N St. NW.
Well, the urban garden center was recently reborn as a nonprofit called Old City Farm and Guild. It has a new home at 925 Rhode Island Ave., NW in front of the unused Shaw Jr. High School.
The new space has allowed the center to expand its offerings to include perennials and drought-tolerant native plants.
“They’re better for the soil and last longer,” explains garden farm director Frank Asher.
The garden farm is also expanding its mission to provide a range of educational programs and community activities focused on gardening, nutrition and sustaining the environment.
In an additional bit of good news Asher said he is interested in training homeless individuals who would be interested in learning more about gardening which could lead to possible a permanent position in the future.
Old City sells a variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs and is open from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Old City also has an on-call arborist who is on duty from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
The store sells an assortment of soil that includes compost, compost mixes with top soil, and four types of mulch. In addition, you can buy a range of rocks or pebbles, natural bug repellents, hanging flower baskets and beautiful pottery. In the past they have rented out their space for an assortment of events and hope to expand to host weddings.
Old City also holds community events. On June 23, it hosted a fundraiser to support a program to promote skateboarding for children who have been victimized by war.
If you happen to be in the area or are looking in starting a garden or up grading you garden Old City Farm & Guild is a great place in getting started. They have a variety of herbs, Indian grasses and fruiting and flowering bushes.
And with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner this is a perfect place to pick up any additional items you might need. Nature isn’t just here providing live for all of us who live on this planet. Keep in mind that nature is also here to teach those who are willing to learning just how incredible it really is.. Remember, if we don’t take care of this planet we’ll all be homelessness. So whatever your garden needs stop by Old City Farm & Guild today, you’ll find the staff friendly and very knowledgeable and the surroundings sublime! Check it out for yourself, Happy Spring, Summer, Fall and winter too you all ….Perhaps I’ll see you there!!!!
