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, 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.

Spring 2024 GROW Center

DPW’s Spring 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 Office of Waste Diversion

April 10 (5:30 p.m – 6:30 p.m): Composting Workshop @ Bon Secours Urban Farm (1800 W Fayette Street. 21223) Register: At Eventbrite's website

April 13 (8 a.m – 12 noon): Pop-up x SHRED Event @ Greater Grace World Outreach (6025 Moravia Park Drive. 21206)

April 16 (5:30 p.m – 7 p.m): Rain Barrel Workshop @ Baltimore Community ToolBank (1224 Wicomico Street 21230) Register: At Eventbrite's website

April 20 (9 a.m – 12 noon): Pop-up @ Druid Heights with Black Women Build (527 Presstman Street. 21217)

April 22 (4 p.m – 7p.m): Earth Day Event: Pop-up & Vermicomposting Workshop @ The Urban Oasis (2131 N. Dukeland St. 21216) The Vermicomposting Workshop will start at 4:30 p.m, register at Eventbrite’s website

April 28 (9 a.m – 12 noon): Pop-up @ Pimlico Training Facility (Manhattan Ave. & Clover Rd. 21215)

May 4 (9 a.m – 12 noon): Pop-up @ Harbel Community Organization (5807 Harford Road 21214)

May 8 (5:30 p.m – 6:30 p.m.): Composting Workshop @ The Harvest (623 Homestead St. 21218) Register: At Eventbrite's website

May 11 (11 a.m – 12 noon): Composting Workshop @ Conkling Street Garden (25 S. Conkling Street ) Register: At Eventbrite's website

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

Below are some photos from this past Fall 2023: