The GROW Center, which stands for Green Resources & Outreach for Watersheds, is a program of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) that functions as a resource hub and connector with the goal of building community capacity to implement greening, stormwater management, waste reduction, and beautification projects. Through neighborhood pop-ups and community-based workshops, the GROW Center increases access to needed sources of free materials and technical expertise, including mulch, trees, and seeds, as well as educational workshops on topics such as composting, planting trees, organizing neighborhood projects, community cleanups, and gardening.

The GROW Center program would not be able to function without our many partners. Thank you to the Chesapeake Bay Trust, who has provided funding for the GROW Center pop-ups and workshops, and to TreeBaltimore and Camp Small for providing the trees and mulch we give away. Other partners include MD Cooperative Extension/Master Gardeners, Office of Sustainability, Office of Emergency Management, BMORE Beautiful, Department of Housing and Community Development, and the many communities where we have held pop-ups and workshops.

Fall 2023 GROW Center Pop-ups and Workshops

DPW’s Fall GROW Center season will feature five pop-up events and five free workshops. Attend one of the upcoming activities and get some great resources to help with your greening projects. Free trees, mulch, seeds, and reusable shopping bags will be available, as well as information on stormwater fee credits, plant advice, recycling and composting, adopt-a-lot, and other ways to make your home and community greener, cleaner, and more resilient. First come, first serve while supplies last.

The following is the schedule for Grow Center events. Please note the times for each event. The workshops are FREE but require registration. In-person workshops have limited space availability. Compost workshop attendees will receive a free compost bin, courtesy of DPW Bureau of Solid Waste.

New this Fall! You can pre-order a tree and pick it up at one of the GROW Center pop-up events. Visit TreeBaltimore’s online store for more information and available tree species please visit the Tree Baltimore web page. Note that pre-ordering trees is not required; trees will still be available for walk-up attendees.

September 26 (5:30 – 7pm): Rain Barrel Workshop: SOLD OUT! Register for the waitlist:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rain-barrel-workshop-tickets-709449942877?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 4 (5:30 – 6:30pm): Composting Workshop @ Filbert Street Garden (1317 Filbert Street 21226). Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/home-composting-workshop-at-filbert-street-garden-tickets-714888259027?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 7 (9am – 12pm): Pop-up @ Broadway East (corner of N. Port and E. Lafayette 21213)

October 12 (5pm – 7pm): Pop-up @ The Urban Oasis (2131 N. Dukeland St. 21216)

October 19 (5:30 – 6:30pm): Composting Workshop @ Johnson Square Farm and Garden (800 E. Hoffman St. 21202). Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/home-composting-workshop-at-johnston-square-farm-and-garden-tickets-714892481657?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 21 (9am – 12pm): Pop-up @ The Mighty Park (3000 blk Stafford St. 21223)

October 23 (5 – 6pm): Composting Workshop @ Cahill Recreation Center (4001 Clifton Ave. 21216). Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/home-composting-workshop-at-the-cahill-recreation-center-tickets-714906222757?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 26 (5 – 6pm): Outwitting your Weeds: Strategies for The Home Garden (Online Workshop) Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/outwitting-your-weeds-strategies-for-the-home-garden-online-workshop-tickets-715388274587?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 28 (8am – 12pm): Pop-up & DPW SHRED Event @ Western High School (4600 Falls Rd 21209)

November 5 (8am – 12pm): Pop-up & DPW SHRED Event @Pimlico Training Center (Manhattan Ave. & Clover Rd. 21215)

Spring 2023 GROW Center events were a hit (when it wasn’t rainy)!

The weather this Spring was challenging, with a couple of events rained out. However, we were still able to hold four pop-ups and five workshops. Over 150 people attended the pop-ups and 85 people attended the workshops, which covered a range of topics including home composting, container gardening, and nature and mental health. Additionally, the GROW Center gave away:

• 37 trees
• 5 truckloads of mulch
• 22 compost bins
• 100+ packets of seeds
• 6 bags of coffee chaff

Thank you to the seventeen city agencies, non-profits, and community groups who helped make the events a success. Remember, if you are a non-profit or community run organization and are interested in partnering with us, please reach out to Tara Medina Caplis via E-mail

Some photos from our Spring 2023 pop-ups and workshops:

Interested in what we have done so far? Check out the following two reports: