Friendship Farms & Gardens: Get Involved

Here's how to get involved

Interested in volunteering in the garden?

The garden needs experienced and non-experienced volunteers of all ages.

We invite you to join us at GOT Garden? (Gathering On Thursdays @ the Garden) every Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at the Friendship Garden.

This is a weekly work time at which we will water, harvest, plant, compost – really, do whatever is needed.

No reservation or RSVP needed. Just show up ready to work and enjoy the garden. All are welcome.

The garden is at 2401 Distribution Street. Park your vehicle behind building; garden adjoins parking lot.

Keep up with garden activities by e-mail

To be added to our mailing list and receive e-mails about upcoming volunteer projects and program updates, please send an e-mail to garden coordinator Henry Owen at r.henry.owen@gmail.com.

Bring your group to the garden

We often host volunteer work groups (schools, church groups, business staff, youth groups) in the garden for service learning. You will hear about our mission, get a tour of the garden, and participate in garden work.

To schedule a working visit, please contact Friendship Trays Volunteer Coordinator Lani Lawrence at llawrence@friendshiptrays.org or 704-333-9229.

Garden project featured in BioCycle Magazine

BioCycle Magazine featured the collaborative work going on in the Friendship Garden in the regional roundup section of its April edition. Download a copy here. Below is a picture of the story.

– Published in Regional Roundup of BioCycle Magazine, April 2010. Posted with permission

Supplies needed

We love to reuse tools and materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill. If you have some old tools or materials that are still useful, please consider donating them to this project. While we will accept well-loved tools, we won’t turn away new ones either, so feel free to bring them as well.

Donations can be dropped off at Friendship Trays during business hours, or contact Henry Owen by e-mail at r.henry.owen@gmail.com, to set up a pick-up. Thank you for your donation to Friendship Farms & Gardens.

Building materials for a shed:

12 – 4x8 sheets plywood

6 – 4x4 x 12 ft posts

4 – 2x4 x 16 ft boards

8 – 2x4 in x 8 ft boards

1 door with hinges

1 padlock

6 bags Quickcrete concrete

200 sq ft of roofing shingles

Roofing nails

Garden tools: Hand tools, hoes, pitchforks, rakes, shovels,

Supplies: Cinder blocks, compost, fencing to enclose garden, roll wire fencing for compost bins, gloves, lumber, pallets, old tires, wire.

Equipment: Can-o-worms worm composting system, soaker hoses, trellises for climbing plants, watering cans.

Woodworking tools for more building projects: Circular saw, drill, screws, etc.

Yard care tools (sure, we're focused on growing food, but we can't let the other plants take over): Chipper, hedge clippers, push mower, soil tiller, weed eater.

Donate to support this community project

We encourage you to make a donation to support the operations of Friendship Farms & Gardens and Friendship Trays.

Click on the Donate Now watering can at right and follow the appropriate links.

Undesignated donations will support the overall work of this meals-on-wheels program serving Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Friendship Farms & Gardens is a project of Friendship Trays Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Checks should be mailed to Friendship Trays, 2401-A Distribution St., Charlotte, NC 28203.

If you wish to designate your donation for support of the garden project, please mark your check or online donation with "Gardens" or "Friendship Farms & Gardens" or "FFG." Friendship Trays will use such donations in support of the Friendship Farms & Gardens project.

We welcome your comments and suggestions, along with your active participation. Message Lucy Bush Carter.

Friendship Trays, 2401-A Distribution St. Charlotte, NC 28203 voice 704-333-9229 fax 704-333-5947
Meals-on-wheels in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC

Delivering, in a caring and friendly manner, balanced meals to individuals in this community
who are unable, because of age or infirmity, to obtain and prepare their own meal
Friendship Trays is a 501(c)(3) organization. Employer ID #56-1201496. Financial information about this organization
and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-807-2000.
The license is not an endorsement by the State.