City Blossoms’ five programs create a pathway through which children can engage with nature from early childhood to young adulthood. Our programs incorporate free and affordable in-school and out-of-school activities, community engagement opportunities, resources, and educator trainings.
Community Green Spaces
We create Community Green Spaces to act as hubs for community organizations, schools, businesses, and neighbors to share common, safe, green spaces. The Community Green Spaces are interactive, communal, and children-focused gardens that transform unused and under-used land into green spaces where youth and adults can interact with their natural environment and explore their creativity. At Open Times, participants learn about the environment, urban agriculture, nutritious food, and participate in the creation of public art. We also provide customized Field Trips for classrooms of all ages.
Click the button below to view our Community Green Spaces One Pager about upcoming community events and volunteer opportunities. To learn more about Community Green Spaces, email kendra@cityblossoms.org.
Join Us for Open Times
Open Times are scheduled sessions at our Community Green Spaces that include FREE staff-led activities for children, families, neighbors, volunteers, and anyone who wants to drop by. Open Times are a chance for visitors (especially kids) to experience the garden through a variety of activities, such as cooking, art, and maintenance. Anyone who comes to lend a hand is welcome to take home some garden goodies as part of our "you help, you harvest" policy. Open Times occur five days a week between April and October. Open Times are cancelled during inclement weather, including heavy rain or temperatures over 100 degrees.
Visit our COVID-19 Safety page to learn more about our current guidelines for in-person programming. Please note, our staff will primarily be working with children and families during Open Time hours. If you are interested in volunteering as an individual, please visit our volunteer page to learn more.
Spring Open Times start back up the first week of April. Visit our calendar to view all programming dates.
GIRARD CHILDREN'S Community GARDEN
Built in 2008, Girard Children’s Community Garden is our oldest Community Green Space. This garden is located within Girard Park, in Columbia Heights, and serves as a space for free Open Time programming, service-learning opportunities, community celebrations, and so much more! Girard demonstrates our unique style as an organization by prioritizing natural exploration areas, kid-friendly plants, and lots of creativity, inspired by the local community.
1480 Girard St. NW Washington, DC 20009
Wednesdays + Fridays, 4-6pm
THE FARM AT KELLY MILLER’s YOUTH GARDEN
Established in 2018, the Farm at Kelly Miller is a collaborative space located in Lincoln Heights. This space functions as both a production farm and community space for all ages. Our team provides free, weekly drop-in programming for children in the farm’s Youth Garden. This land is provided by DC’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and the production farm and food hub is managed by Dreaming Out Loud.
301 49th Street NE, Washington, DC 20019
Wednesdays + Fridays, 3-5pm
MARION STreet INTERGENERATIONAL GARDEN
Located on a residential street in Shaw, Marion is home to a number of free activities, such as Open Time programming with local children, low-cost field trips, and community celebrations. Participants at Marion regularly help out with small produce donations to Bread for the City. This space is always open and, similar to all of our gardens, has a “you help, you harvest” policy.
1519 Marion St. NW Washington, DC 20001
Tuesdays + Thursdays, 4-6pm
THE FARM AT FORT STANTON’S YOUTH GARDEN
The Farm at Fort Stanton is a collaborative space located in Fort Stanton, adjacent to the Anacostia and Barry Farm neighborhoods in Ward 8, Washington DC. This space functions as both a production farm and community space for all ages. The City Blossoms team provides free, weekly drop-in garden-based programming for children and youth in the farm’s Youth Garden. The production farm, composed of three hoop-houses, is managed by Dreaming Out Loud. This land is provided by DC’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
1812 Erie St SE, Washington, DC 20020
Tuesdays 3-5pm
CITY BLOSSOMS STUDIO GARDEN
The Studio Garden was completed in 2018 and is located behind our Studio building in Brightwood Park. This garden serves as a home to our Early Growers program,
Professional Development Trainings, and so much more! The Studio Garden demonstrates our kid-driven approach by prioritizing natural exploration areas, kid-friendly plants, and, of course, creativity.
516 Kennedy St. NW Washington, DC 20011
Join the Compost Cooperative
City Blossoms Community Green Spaces are host sites for DC’s Community Compost Cooperative Network, operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Interested in getting your hands dirty and learning about compost? New neighbors are always welcome to join! Learn more about network here.