Dirty Hands Gardens
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Dirty Hands Project maintains two demonstration gardens on the Goochland campus of Reynolds Community College.
Herb Garden
The Herb Garden demonstrates the wide variety of herbs that can be grown in our area and proper techniques for keeping perennial herbs healthy and coming back year after year. In addition to familiar herbs, the garden contains a variety of lesser-known herbs such as the Chocolate Daisy which fills the morning garden with the scent of hot chocolate.
Herb Garden
The Herb Garden demonstrates the wide variety of herbs that can be grown in our area and proper techniques for keeping perennial herbs healthy and coming back year after year. In addition to familiar herbs, the garden contains a variety of lesser-known herbs such as the Chocolate Daisy which fills the morning garden with the scent of hot chocolate.
RAIN GARDEN
The Rain Garden encourages the use of this type of garden to capture rainwater runoff and filter out contaminates before they enter our waterways. The garden is planted primarily with native plants that can withstand the wet-dry cycles found in this type of garden. Both gardens are maintained using sustainable garden practices.
When not “getting their hands dirty” in the demonstration gardens, you will find the Master Gardener volunteers helping with the maintenance of the extensive campus landscaping.
The project also offers community outreach programs throughout the growing season in the form of classes, hands-on workshops, and garden tours.
Why grow herbs?
In addition to enriching our lives with delightful fragrances and flavors, herbs are easy to grow. Give them neutral, well-drained soil and sunlight and they will thrive with little care other than watering as needed and an occasional pruning. Herbs are also great for attracting pollinators. Most herbs have an interesting history and folklore associated with them. For example, a cup of beer flavored with thyme was supposed to cure shyness. Many herbs have been used historically to treat various ailments. For example, turmeric has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Why consider a rain garden?
During a rain event or heavy snow melt, water runs off our landscapes carrying with it whatever is lying loose on the landscape, including fertilizers, pesticides, petroleum products, pet waste, and loose soils. As this contaminated runoff enters our waterways it can have detrimental impacts on the wildlife and plants in and around the waterways. This in turn, can have a negative impact on the livelihoods of those who make their living from the waterways. A rain garden (or bioretention area) is a specially engineered shallow ponding area that collects runoff and removes pollutants allowing cleaner water to enter our waterways. When not collecting and filtering runoff, a rain garden looks like any other beautiful garden.
Visiting the gardens
You can visit the campus gardens every day from dawn to dusk. The Master Gardener volunteers work in the gardens every Wednesday morning (except for the first Wednesday of each month) throughout the growing season and are happy to answer questions or give a short tour of the gardens. They generally can be found in and around the gardens and greenhouses on the far-left side of the college’s main building.
The Goochland campus of Reynolds Community College is located at 1851 Dickinson Rd, Goochland, VA 23063.
Got a question?
Contact the Dirty Hands Team to learn more!