About Chinquapin Organic Gardens
Chinquapin Organic Gardens, in Alexandria, Va., is a wonderland for green-thumbed city residents. Gardeners grow a wide array of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Popular crops include tomatoes, basil, squash, sunflowers, raspberries, asparagus, onions and greens.
The community gardens are run by the City of Alexandria and are available for rent to city residents for a fee. Each plot is about 15x20 feet wide, and there are 173 plots. Rentals are available on an annual basis. The gardening season runs March 1 through Nov. 30 each year. Gardeners are required to follow all regulations or risk losing their plots.
For garden plot rental inquiries, see our registration page.
Where is Chinquapin Organic Gardens?
Chinquapin Organic Gardens is located just off King Street (near Alexandria City High School) on Chinquapin Drive in Alexandria, Va. We are located in Chinquapin Park, home of the Chinquapin Recreation Center. The gardens are located at the rear of the park, near the basketball courts and picnic pavilion. Come by and visit us! (MAP)
Chinquapin Organic Gardens Advisory Board
A volunteer group of gardeners helps the city administer the gardens through the Chinquapin Organic Gardens Advisory Board. The board, which advises the city, works to improve and maintain the gardens by developing regulations and assisting with gardening monitoring. In addition to running this website, the board and holds an annual social and potluck picnic.
On July 24, 2017, the board and City of Alexandria signed an agreement that shifts some of the responsibility for maintenance of the gardens to the board and Chinquapin’s gardeners. Read the updated 2022 PARKnership Memorandum of Understanding.
By taking on more responsibility for common area tasks, such as mowing, monitoring, removing invasive vegetation along the roadway, and working on the Dale May Memorial Grove, etc., gardeners can avoid an increase in plot rental fees.
Read the advisory board bylaws.
Attend one of our board meetings
Any gardener who has a plot at Chinquapin is welcome to join the board and attend meetings. Meetings are held bimonthly, starting at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Notices of upcoming meetings are posted on our Facebook page.
(Please note: The Chinquapin Organic Gardens Advisory Board does not handle garden plot rentals. Please contact the City of Alexandria Recreation and Parks Department to apply for a plot.)
Meeting minutes:
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
March 2024
January 2024
November 2023
September 2023
July 2023
May 2023
March 2023
January 2023
November 2022
September 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
March 2022
January 2022
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
July 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
Contact Information, City of Alexandria RPCA Representative
Tonja L. Walls
Division Chief|Park Support|Park Services
Dept. of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
City of Alexandria, 2900-A Business Center Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Office: 703.746.4642
Cell: 703-403-3405
[email protected]
Chinquapin Organic Gardens Advisory Board contacts and info:
Chairperson: Richard Dorrier
Vice Chairperson: Anne Saul
Secretary/Treasurer: Lori Hartmann
Board members: Kathryn Long, Julie Le, Elizabeth Charles, Brad Kukuk, Stacey Potosnak
Interim Volunteer Coordinators: Anne Saul and Richard Dorrier.
