Baltimore GROW Centers (Green Resources & Outreach for Watersheds) are your neighborhood greening resource hubs, linking city residents, communities, and faith-based groups to materials, and technical expertise for greening projects.

Over the past two years, we have provided free and low-cost trees, mulch, and other materials, as well as free workshops on topics including community greening, vacant lot revitalization, installing rain gardens and rain barrels, environmental justice, and composting.

Funding for the GROW Center pop-ups and workshops, as well as the creation of a feasibility study and business plan, is partly provided by the USDA Forest Service and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The GROW Center would not be able to function without our many partners, in particular, TreeBaltimore and Camp Small, which provide the trees and mulch we can give away for free. 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.

Upcoming GROW Center events

On Saturday, June 24, the GROW Center will be holding a pop-up in partnership with DPW’s Shred event. Get your sensitive documents shredded and then pick-up free mulch, seeds, and reusable bags, as well as information on stormwater fee credits, plant advice, recycling and other ways to make your home and community greener, cleaner, and more resilient. First come, first serve while supplies last.

The GROW Center is also hosting two home composting workshops in June. The workshops are free but require registration. Attendees will receive a free compost bin, courtesy of DPW Bureau of Solid Waste.

June 13 (6 pm –7 pm): Pop-up at Filbert Street Garden (1317 Filbert Street, Baltimore, MD 21226) Register for the Filbert Street Garden event. 

June 15 (6 pm–7 pm): Composting Workshop at Madeira Street Community Garden (425 North Madeira Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231) Register for the composting workshop.

June 24 (8 am-12 noon): Shred Event and Pop-up at Middle Branch Wellness and Fitness Center (201 Reedbird Avenue 21225)

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.

Some photos from our Spring 2023 pop-ups and workshops

View reports, ask questions

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