News Summary
The Williamsburg Community Growers will hold a Cut-Your-Own Sunflower event on August 2, inviting locals to pick sunflowers and support community garden initiatives. Each sunflower stem is available for $1, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit’s activities. The event will also feature a free food storage workshop at 10 a.m. The garden, which promotes conservation and community engagement, produces fresh produce for local nonprofits and operates on a 10-acre plot with over 100 gardeners.
Williamsburg – The Williamsburg Community Growers will host a Cut-Your-Own Sunflower event on Saturday, August 2, from 8 to 10 a.m. at their nonprofit community garden located near Warhill High School and Warhill Sports Complex on Stadium Road. This event is designed to invite community members to pick sunflowers and take them home, while also raising funds to support the garden’s initiatives.
During the event, attendees can buy each sunflower stem for $1, with all proceeds benefitting the nonprofit garden’s activities. This initiative aligns with the garden’s broader mission to promote natural resource conservation and community engagement. Following the sunflower picking, a free workshop on food storage will take place at 10 a.m., offering attendees practical skills to maximize the use of their harvests.
The Williamsburg Community Growers operates on a 10-acre plot of land, strategically positioned beneath Dominion power lines to utilize land that would otherwise remain untouched. Originally founded 10 years ago by Charlie Morse, the garden has seen significant growth since it began with only four gardeners. Currently, it is home to over 100 community gardeners, serving as a sustainable hub for promoting gardening and agriculture.
Members of the garden can maintain their own plots for an annual fee of $65 for a 10-by-10-foot space or $130 for a 10-by-20-foot space. The garden provides essential resources such as tools, water, and compost, ensuring that all members have access to what they need for successful gardening. Open from early spring to late fall, the garden allows members to cultivate a variety of plants, including popular vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and okra.
The mission of the Williamsburg Community Growers extends beyond individual gardening, as it aims to support local food systems through community outreach. The garden produces fresh produce which is donated to local nonprofits including Grove Christian Outreach Center and St. Olaf’s Food Pantry. Since its founding, the garden has harvested a total of 13,460 pounds of food, donating 8,462 pounds to those in need. In addition to direct donations, the garden runs a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, currently serving 32 subscribers who receive a share of the farm’s produce weekly or bi-weekly from May to November.
The sunflower event will feature nearly one acre of sunflowers, specifically planted to foster community participation and enjoyment. However, attendees are advised to take special precautions due to the presence of bees in the flower fields. Importantly, no prior gardening experience or advanced registration is necessary to participate in the event.
Throughout the year, the Williamsburg Community Growers also offers free gardening workshops that cover various topics, from native plant cultivation to composting techniques, helping to educate and empower the community in sustainable practices. The organization’s operations largely depend on grant funding and donations, notably with support from the Williamsburg Health Foundation and other local partners.
Close to 400 volunteers contribute their time and skills to the organization, assisting in areas such as outreach, grant writing, and board service, highlighting the collaborative effort that sustains the garden. For individuals interested in learning more about the garden’s initiatives or upcoming events, additional information is available through the organization’s website and social media pages.
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Additional Resources
- WYDaily: Cut Your Own Sunflower Event
- Daily Press: How Does This Garden Grow
- Flat Hat News: Williamsburg Community Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary
- Williamsburg Families: Community Growers Expand
- Flat Hat News: Ideas for Entertainment in Williamsburg
- Wikipedia: Sunflower
- Google Search: Community Gardens in Williamsburg
- Google Scholar: Community Gardening
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Community Garden
- Google News: Williamsburg Community Growers
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
