Heather Bell
RADFORD – The Jim Graham Community Garden in Radford will be opening for the 2026 season after closing for 2025 due to significant flooding damage from Hurricane Helene.
The garden will be in its seventeenth year this growing season. Sign-ups to get a plot in the garden begin Mar. 23.
The garden is located near the Radford Pump Station and the Radford Animal shelter on Pulaski Street, overlooking the New River. The site has a six-foot fence enclosing it, has a gate that is locked at all times, and includes 42 plots.
“Many of the same gardeners have been in the Community Garden for years and a comradery exists as they all have a common interest,” said garden organizers in a statement. “A variety of vegetables is grown each year with tomatoes, green beans, squash and various greens being the most popular.”
Sign up for the 2026 gardening season will begin Mar. 23, 2026 in the Radford Administration Office, located at 10 Robertson St. Plots are assigned in the order of sign up with priority given to those who previously had a plot. The plots cost $30 for the 20 x 20-foot size and $15 for the 20 x 10-foot size with the income providing for plowing in the fall, tilling just before the planting season, and any necessary clean up after the growing season.
“Gardeners who sign up for a plot are given a rules and regulations document which defines their responsibilities in great detail, as is necessary in such an undertaking,” the statement reads.
Radford Vice Mayor Seth Gillespie recently thanked Ameriprise Radford for helping to repair the garden’s sign.
“I want to extend a big thank you to Keith Weltens, Mark Tapp, Josh Smith and the whole team at Ameriprise in Radford for stepping up and covering the cost to have the fence repaired,” said Gillespie. “The community garden is used and loved by many in this community and I know how appreciative I am for their efforts to help us bring this back.”
