Faces of Green Spring
by Ivy Sinaiko
Did you know that the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) owns 721 garden plots in 11 different locations? I didn’t until I sat down recently with Patricia Dietly, the FCPA’s Garden Plot Coordinator. Patricia, who has worked at Green Spring Gardens since 2012, manages the county’s garden plot rental program. In addition to being a fountain of information about the program, she is a true advocate for it.
Patricia Dietly. Photo by David DietlyMost of the FCPA plots are 20 by 30 feet and rent for $140 per year. They are renewable on a year-to-year basis, with payment due each February. There is a long waitlist at many of the locations. At most “host” parks, the county provides water, leaf mulch, and maintenance of common areas (pathways, gravel roads, parking areas, etc.). The gardener of record for each plot provides any fencing, gates, and locks for the plot. The plots are rented by individuals, who can invite friends or relatives to participate; organizations of faith and other groups; and food pantries. Often the renters use what they need and give any surplus away.
In addition to managing the rental process, Patricia gets involved when something goes amiss at one of the garden sites. For example, she checks out reports of weeds not being under control or a plot not being actively gardened (2/3 of the plot area not under cultivation).
Because Fairfax County has such a diverse population, a great variety of crops is raised in its rented garden plots. Patricia is enthusiastic about expanding social media reporting about unusual crops and interesting happenings at the garden sites.
Last year FCPA opened two new, innovative garden plot locations: Hogge Park in the Culmore/Bailey’s Crossroads area and Laurel Hill in Lorton. Both have been very popular.
Hogge Park has 34 plots that consist of raised beds measuring six by nine feet. They are ADA accessible, and the water supply for them is ADA compliant. The plots in Hogge Park are available for one year only with no renewals. No perennials or woody plants are allowed.
The goal of this difference from other locations is to introduce more people to the gardening experience.
At Laurel Hill, each plot is 20 by 30 feet and consists of three ADA accessible raised beds with access to an ADA compliant water supply. Unlike those at Hogge Park, these plots are renewable on a year-to-year basis.
A biology major with an emphasis on botany, Patricia worked for several years in the environmental department of a civil engineering firm. Her job included doing environmental site assessments for a variety of building projects. One aspect of this job that she found particularly fascinating and informative was the study of old aerial photographs of a site.
Before coming to Green Spring, she worked at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens leading tours and conducting classes. She is a certified interpretive guide and trainer.
Not surprisingly, one of her favorite activities when she is not working is traveling to botanical gardens.
I have never interviewed anyone with more devotion to a program than Patricia. She is sincerely dedicated to urban gardening and considers FCPA’s garden plot program, which is open to anyone who is a resident of Fairfax County, one of the most valuable benefits the county has to offer.
