DO YOU LOVE OUR NORTHERN NECK PLANTS, PLACES & PEOPLE?
WANT TO HELP CREATE A PLACE THAT CELEBRATES AND HELPS SUSTAIN ALL 3?
THEN PLEASE JOIN US AS WE GROW RIVER ROOTS DISCOVERY GARDENS INTO SOMEPLACE SPECIAL!
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Are you curious?
Do questions like ‘I wonder what happened here’ energize you?
Do you enjoy demographic and/or market analysis?
Work with River Roots Discovery Gardens founders and other volunteers to uncover our garden site’s story—its natural and cultural history, and current dynamics.
DESCRIPTION
Well designed landscapes listen to what the land reveals about a place and its people. We need help collecting this ‘context research’ to inform the design of our garden spaces so they reflect and respect the past, speak to the present, and anticipate the future.
- Use online and/or other resources, independently or with others, to research one or more of the questions below:
o How did the land our site sits on evolve geologically and ecologically?
o How did people impact the site over time?
o What are past and current demographics of communities surrounding our site?
o What regional activities, amenities or programs exist that might compete or complement our public garden? - Organize findings of your research so they can provide input to the design process by telling the stories you uncover, e.g. summaries, tables, photos, narratives
TIMING/DURATION
Minimum 5 hours/month for 4 months; longer term volunteers welcome!
QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong interest in the landscapes and people of the Northern Neck
- Basic research skills
- Strong written and communication skills
- Ability to work independently
- Computer skills helpful
LOCATIONS
- Research may be done virtually, at the garden site*, and/or at historic record sites depending upon research pursued.
- Regular check-in meetings to rotate between in-person (at gathering spots in the Irvington/Kilmarnock area) and virtual.
TRAINING/SUPPORT
- Introduction to context research as it relates to design of public garden will be provided.
- Access to the garden development team by email and phone for questions and concerns.
- A mix of in-person and virtual monthly check-in gatherings with research volunteers and the garden development team to share progress and ideas, and connect with others with shared interests.
BENEFITS
- Commit those deep local research dives you love to a legacy—your findings will help ground River Roots in a true sense of place to benefit our environment and community.
- Meet others with similar or complementary interests.
- Help shape a brand-new public space.
- Make sure this new garden space remembers its past and reflects its present.
* NOTE ABOUT GARDEN SITE
The site to be developed as River Roots Discovery Gardens is in Lancaster County, VA, on 14 acres of land behind the under-construction Lancaster County Middle/High School on Irvington Road.
All are welcome to visit the site which is access via Old St John's Road, the northernmost entrance road to the Hills Quarter Community. Turn onto Old St John's Road. The site is on the left just beyond the pond behind the high school. Park across Old St John's Road in the gravel parking lot by the small yellow building.
