Washington – In a special outdoor summer exhibit, the U.S. Botanic Garden is spotlighting four local organizations enriching their communities through plants, urban agriculture, and food growing. From June to October 2024, “Cultivate: Growing Food in Urban Gardens” shares the stories of a diverse tapestry of urban agriculture through local gardens and greenspaces supported by Washington D.C. community groups through special outdoor installations on the USBG Terrace. Organizations showcased include Building Bridges Across the River, City Blossoms, The Green Scheme, and Washington Parks & People.
Explore the organizations’ significance through the lenses of culture, history, and workforce development. Displays feature marquee visuals such as a 30-foot replica of the future 11th Street Bridge Park, a recreation of the D.C. stream and park that inspired Marvin Gaye’s music, a function-meets-art colorful installation of gardening tools and solar dehydrator, and vibrant garden art created by local children, with gardenscapes and food plants throughout.
About the four organizations showcased:
- City Blossoms creates opportunities for children and youth in Washington, D.C. to access nature–in and out of school–and engage with environmental education, food, culture, entrepreneurship, community, and art using green spaces.
- Building Bridges Across the River provides residents east of the Anacostia River with programs in arts, culture, education, health, and more. They manage greenspaces such as Building Bridges Farms—urban farms that grow and distribute organic produce to help address food injustice—and the future 11th Street Bridge Park.
- The Green Scheme unites Black urban growers and environmentalists, forging connections and making strides towards a healthier, more sustainable community.
- Washington Parks & People revitalizes historically underserved areas through outdoor initiatives, bringing positive change to the neighborhood by rejuvenating D.C.’s outdoor spaces with arts, play, resilience, and wonder, uniting people with nature.
The special outdoor summer exhibit is connected with the Garden’s current agriculture exhibit “Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World,” on display in the Conservatory through August 2024. Each organization will lead on-site programs throughout the summer. See www.USBG.gov/Programs for upcoming programs.
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Online folder of exhibit photos
Media contact: Devin Dotson, devin.dotson@aoc.gov, 202-306-6743
About United States Botanic Garden
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is the oldest continuously operating public garden in the United States, established by Congress in 1820. The U.S. Botanic Garden inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally. With over a million visitors annually, the USBG strives to demonstrate and promote sustainable practices. It is a living plant museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and Botanic Gardens Conservation International. www.USBG.gov
