DEC 11 – 12: CHRISTMAS TREE SALE & HOLIDAY MARKET

Wow! The 2021 season was eventful. We were so thankful to welcome back more staff, volunteers, and even the periodic group passing through the garden this year. With a robust crop plan in place, the leadership of our garden team, and the support of regular volunteers, staff and green ambassadors, we grew, harvested, and donated 5,745 pounds of food this year. With gratitude, we head into quieter months, and you'll see some more throwback posts and posts about our school garden programs in the winter months. We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thank you to everyone who's connected with us this season!

FONA, our parent organization, wants to help you have a hassle-free holiday this year. Join us December 11 and 12 at the #USNationalArboretum for our first-ever Christmas Tree Sale & Holiday Market! Christmas Tree Sale: December 11 & 12, 10AM - 4PM Pre-order your Christmas tree, wreath, or garland for pickup or delivery. Pick them up (1) at the National Arboretum during our sale on December 11-12, (2) at our partner site in Alexandria, VA before the sale, or (3) have it delivered to your home. Procrastinator's Holiday Market: December 11 ONLY, 10AM - 4PM Saturday only! Featuring gifts and goodies from local vendors, family-friendly arts and crafts, and holiday train rides! We're partnering with @bladensburgroad and @riamainstreet to bring you all the best vendors for last-minute shopping. Give the gift of FONA this holiday — purchase a FONA membership, Washington Youth Garden honey, or a one-of-a-kind Arboretum Christmas ornament! (Hint: give a swipe to see what they look like) Want more info? Check out @fonarboretum to learn more!

This Saturday, Washington Youth Garden hosts its annual Garlic Planting Party. If you are a volunteer, teacher, or friend who's grown, learned with, or supported WYG over the last few years, we would love to welcome you out to the garden! Highlights for the day include: -Garden-fresh and seasonal snacks -Garlic planting -Sweet potato harvesting -Leaf art -Herbal tarot cards -Seed saving -Seeing mock ups of our new signage designs -Check out and provide feedback on design ideas for the garden - Celebrating over 5,000 lbs grown and donated, 2,000 Grow@Home kits distributed, hundreds of virtual AND in-person garden- based classes Whether you've been involved this year, or more in the past, we welcome you and your families/ friends. The low-key celebration is free, but we do ask that you RSVP at the link in our bio. This event will run with a little rain.

Malabar spinach appreciation post ✨ During DC summers, it is difficult to grow leafy greens because most varieties like cooler weather. However, Malabar spinach likes warm weather and so we grow it during the summer in order to have some greens for the community! Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is native to the tropical regions of India, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea. We got our last harvest for the season for the leaves — but what’s super cool is that the berries (which have a seed inside if you wanted to save them to plant next year!) have a deep purple color and make an excellent dye for painting!! Here you can see some beautiful art made by some regular visitors 💜 #malabarspinach #plantart #youthgarden #urbangarden #WYG #nationalarboretum @fonarboretum