Venture Richmond Enews
Green Initiatives Expand in City’s Downtown
Downtown Recycling, Composting Program and Shockoe Community Garden
Downtown Recycling
Venture Richmond and the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s Downtown Recycling program have added two new community recycling dumpsters to the River District. They are located at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market in the parking lot on the northwest corner of 17th and Franklin streets and in the La Difference parking lot at 15th and Dock Street (on the south side of Dock Street).
Venture Richmond, 17th Street Farmers’ Market, Shockoe Bottom and Shockoe Slip restaurants and businesses encourage more residents and businesses in the area to use the community recycling dumpsters. There is also an opportunity to add additional community recycling dumpsters, which Venture Richmond is funding for the first year, in the following ways:
- Offer a community recycling dumpster location on your property
- A business currently has two dumpsters and converts one to a community recycling dumpster
Downtown Recycling decals will be given to the participating businesses for display on their front doors/windows. Venture Richmond will work with participating businesses to market and promote the program.
To host a community recycling dumpster on your property, contact Lucy Meade, Director of Marketing and Development for Venture Richmond, at (804) 788-6458; or Dave Petrine, Account Manager for TFC Recycling, at (804) 640-0112.
Composting/Food Waste Recycling Program
The 17th Street Farmers’ Market has developed a composting/food waste recycling program, which is sponsored by Venture Richmond. Area restaurants along with Whole Foods of Glen Allen are already segregating their food and coffee waste as fuel for the 17th Street Farmers’ Market’s composting program.
The market has purchased 10 seven-bushel heat activated composter barrels, which can produce 15 to 20 bushels of renewable compost every 12 to 16 days. Along with the compost, the market will be able to manufacture 15 gallons of “tea,” which will produce 150 gallons of organic fertilizer. Twelve 60 gallon rain barrels will also be used as part of this program.
Jack’s Solar Composter is the manufacturer of the 60 gallon composters and rain barrels, which are made of recycled plastic. The composters require an internal temperature of 85-105 degrees in order to grow bacteria and break down the vegetable byproducts. In proper conditions, the composter will make seven bushels every 15-20 days of compost. The rain barrels have overflow valves used to prevent overfill of the barrels. The spigot is placed at the bottom of the barrel and uses centrifugal force to feed the garden hose. Both are available for purchase. The rain barrel is $119 and the composter is $129.
To participate in this composting program or to purchase a composter or rain barrel, contact George Bolos, Market Manager, 17th Street Farmers’ Market,at(804) 646-0477 or (804) 929-8165.
Shockoe Community Garden
Venture Richmond and the 17th Street Farmers’ Market, in conjunction with Lovings Produce, LLC, are also constructing the Shockoe Community Garden. The garden is adjacent to the market office at 100 N. 17th Street. The garden consists of 24 (4’x8’) raised garden containers that will grow vegetables and herbs. The garden plots are available for area restaurants and businesses, as well as the market’s “Little Sprouts” program for children.
The Shockoe Community Garden is sponsored by Venture Richmond, who recruited Capstone Contracting and Kjellstrom & Lee, Inc. to build the garden.
“Having a hand in building the garden, with friends and skilled craftsmen from Capstone Contracting and Kjellstrom and Lee, Inc., was an experience I will remember for a long time,” said Yogi Singh, Venture Richmond volunteer. “I hope this garden will serve as an amenity for the community for years to come.”
The fencing around the garden will serve as a sponsorship wall. Companies interested in sponsoring the Shockoe Community Garden may have their banner displayed on the fence.
To sign up for a garden plot or to sponsor the garden, contact George Bolos, Market Manager, 17th Street Farmers’ Market, at (804) 646-0477 or (804) 929-8165.