Permaculture workday
2025-04-12 09:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly workday April 12 from 9:30-noon.
All workdays are in the Permaculture garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333
Permaculture work days are generally the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9:30am to noon. The best way to learn anything is by doing. Lend a hand and learn about permaculture. Contact Cynthia Taylor for more information. Cynthia@graysonlandcare.org

Potluck and weeding at Town Park May 15-POSTPONED
2025-05-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Independence Town Park, 108 E Main St 24348, Independence, VA, 24348, United States
POSTPONED due to wet conditions. Stay tuned for the new date.
Are you curious about the orange flags around the retention pond at Town Park? Come see how the native seedlings fared this winter and help weed the planting. Join us May 15 from 5-6pm for weeding and plan to stay for a potluck afterward to reward your hard work! The Town of Independence will provide the main course. Bring a side or dessert to share. Contact Michelle Pridgen for more information. director@graysonlandcare.org

Free Kids Activities at the Permaculture Garden, May 31, 10-11:30am
2025-05-31 10:00 - 11:30 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
The Grayson LandCare Permaculture Group will host free kids activities with a permaculture focus from 10-11:30 pm at the Permaculture Garden at Church of the Good Shepherd, located at 9441 Grayson Parkway in Baywood. The target age group is 6-12 year olds. This activity is limited to 15 kids. Please register at permaculture@graysonlandcare.org
Grayson LandCare permaculture members Jean Roznik and Rose Cnuddle will lead the group in various activiites

Potluck, Plant sale, Tour and meeting THURSDAY June 19 6pm
2025-06-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
It’s a field trip, cookout, plant sale and tour! Everyone is invited to the permaculture garden for a cookout and “ragged” plant sale. The cookout begins at 6pm at the garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333., please bring a side dish to share. This will be followed by a tour of the garden and the plant sale beginning about 6:45pm. It is not necessary to attend the potluck to tour the garden. The plant sale will feature recently divided plants from the garden, not new seedlings. The permaculture garden features a wide array of native plants and most are excellent for pollinators as well. All proceeds from the sale go to support the Permaculture garden.
Other permaculture events include a Composting and Water harvesting workshop June 21 9am to noon.This is an introduction to composting and designing water systems. A seed saving workshop will be held during the Ag and Art Tour on September 6. In addition there are monthly workdays July 12 and August 16 from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Galax. The public is invited to join the Grayson Permaculture Group for a variety of tasks required to maintain and expand the Food Forest Garden. Learn from our group of experienced permaculture gardeners and explore the garden with the folks who work to maintain it. Bring gloves and wear closed-toe shoes. Tools and materials provided. Bring your lunch or plan to join the group for lunch at a local sandwich shop. Email: permaculture@graysonlandcare.org for more information.
All Grayson LandCare presentations are free and open to the public unless noted otherwise. For more information about Grayson LandCare visit the webpage, graysonlandcare.org, email director@graysonlandcare or call 276-768-0597.

Using Herbs- Postponed until June 21
2025-06-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join Michelle and Cynthia June 21 from 10-noon for an herbal workshop. We’ll forage plants from the Food Forest at Church of the Good Shepherd and prepare them to eat, make a salve and a tincture. $10 payable the day of the workshop covers the cost of supplies.

Composting and water harvesting workshop June 21 plus Herbal workshop! (postponed from May 17)
2025-06-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join the permaculture group from 10- noon June 21st at the Permaculture garden at Church of the Good Shepherd for a FREE composting and water harvesting workshop. There are lots of ways to make compost, they will demonstrate a few different styles. You’ll also learn how to capture rainwater for irrigation.
And we’ll hold the Herbal Workshop that was postponed from May 17 the same time. Join Cynthia and Michelle June 21 from 10-noon for a herbal workshop. We’ll forage plants from the Food Forest at Church of the Good Shepherd and prepare them to eat, make a salve, a tea, and a tincture. $10 payable the day of the workshop covers the cost of supplies.

River Clean up Information session, 6pm 1908 Courthouse June 25
2025-06-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Independence 1908 Courthouse, 107 E Main St , Independence, VA, 24348, United States
Come learn about plans for Clean River Month Wednesday June 25 at 6pm at he 1908 auditorium. Everyone is welcome.
There will be:
1)a short update on The NRC and NRWC post Helene cleanup efforts
20 @025 schedule of events and how to get involved
3) Q &A with the leaders of the NRC and Grayson River Protectors

Permaculture Meeting and potluck July 10
2025-07-10 18:00 - 19:00
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly meeting and potluck Thursday March 14 at 6pm. Contact Cynthia at cynthia@graysonlandcare.org for more more information.
Permaculture meetings are generally the 2nd Thursday of the month and include a potluck meal. Members take turns hosting.

Permaculture workday July 12
2025-07-12 09:30 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly workday July 12 from 9:30-noon. All workdays are in the Permaculture garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333
Permaculture work days are generally the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9:30am to noon. The best way to learn anything is by doing. Lend a hand and learn about permaculture. Contact Cynthia Taylor for more information. Cynthia@graysonlandcare.org

Chestnut breeding, oxalic testing demonstration, August 9
2025-08-09 09:00 - 12:00 | Grayson County Fair, 10278 Elk Creek Parkway, Elk Creek, 24326, United States
Clint Morse will discuss exciting developments of American Chestnut breeding and demonstrate a new testing method. Saturday August 9 at the Grayson County Fair at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30. He will be available to talk about the Chestnut program from 9-noon. The Fair is held at Bottomley Evergreens & Farms, 10278 Elk Creek Parkway, Elk Creek, VA 24348.
. The test needs to run for 23 hours. Part 2 will be Sunday the 10 at 9:30 am
Did you enjoy part 1 and want to learn more about the project? Join us at Clint’s house, please call( 276-768-0597) or email DIRECTOR@GRAYSONLANDCARE.ORG for directions, to learn to read the oxalic test. After the test results, we will visit the new site at Clint’s for a tour of the first of its kind pure American chestnut test orchard. He was recently selected to home 400 seedlings from trees that the American Chestnut Foundation(TACF) knows have some level of resistance from around the country. It is really cool! Seven years from now when TACF does the blight test in the orchard, we will know just how much resistance Americans actually have and the myth that there is no resistance in Americans will be put to bed This is part of a new breeding effort in cooperation with Matthews Forest and the American Chestnut Foundation.

Permaculture Meeting and potluck August 14
2025-08-14 18:00 - 19:00
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly meeting and potluck Thursday August 14 at 6pm. Contact Cynthia at cynthia@graysonlandcare.org for more more information.
Permaculture meetings are generally the 2nd Thursday of the month and include a potluck meal. Members take turns hosting.

Permaculture Workday August 16
2025-08-16 09:30 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly workday August 16 from 9:30-noon. All workdays are in the Permaculture garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333
Permaculture work days are generally the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9:30am to noon. The best way to learn anything is by doing. Lend a hand and learn about permaculture. Contact Cynthia Taylor for more information. Cynthia@graysonlandcare.org

Root Cellar Tour, Monday August 18, 6:45 pm
2025-08-18 18:45 - 20:00
Have wondered about installing a root cellar? Here’s your chance to tour one and learn about the process. Charlotte Hanes will let us take a look at the one she installed last year. Meet at 6:45 at 3419 Gold Hill Rd. The driveway is directly across from the Bridle Creek boat landing.

Permaculture Meeting and potluck September 4
2025-09-04 18:00 - 19:00
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly meeting and potluck Thursday September at 6pm. Contact Cynthia at cynthia@graysonlandcare.org for more more information.
Permaculture meetings are generally the 2nd Thursday of the month and include a potluck meal. This one was changed due to the date of the Ag and Art tour. Members take turns hosting.

Ag & Art Tour at the Permaculture Garden September 6
2025-09-06 09:00 - 16:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Be sure to include a stop at the Permaculture Garden during the Ag & Art Tour this year. Meet permaculture group members, take the tour of the Food Forest and pollinator garden. Learn about seed saving and plants for pollinators and permaculture. The garden is located at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333
Vendors at the garden will include: Emily Papadopoulus-Mt Air Farm with lavender products; Kurt Card-Drac Studio, pottery and jewelry, Vanessa Hollifield VH glass-artisan glass and jewelry

Permaculture Meeting and potluck October 9
2025-10-09 18:00 - 19:00
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly meeting and potluck Thursday October 9 at 6pm. Contact Cynthia at cynthia@graysonlandcare.org for more more information.
Permaculture meetings are generally the 2nd Thursday of the month and include a potluck meal. Members take turns hosting.

Permaculture Workday October 11
2025-10-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly workday March 15 from 9:30-noon. All workdays are in the Permaculture garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333
Permaculture work days are generally the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9:30am to noon. The best way to learn anything is by doing. Lend a hand and learn about permaculture. Contact Cynthia Taylor for more information. Cynthia@graysonlandcare.org

Harvest Moon Social, Auction and Annual Meeting is SATURDAY October 18. YOU are invited!
2025-10-18 17:30 - 20:30 | Grange Hall, Troutdale Va, 840 Grange Hall Rd, Troutdale, 24378, United States
You are cordially invited to join Grayson LandCare Saturday, October 18, 5:30 – 8 pm at the Goodwill Grange #959, 840 Grange Hall Road, Troutdale VA, 24378. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Please bring your friends and an appetite! The schedule for the evening:

5:30 Doors open
5:30-7:30 Heavy Hors D’oeuvres
5:45 Welcome
5:30-7:00 Silent Auction
7:15- 7:30 Annual Meeting
7:30-8 pm Live Auction
8:15 Check out

Come learn more about LandCare, enjoy delicious food and beverages, have fun, and support our initiatives in the community. For more information, please contact Michelle Pridgen at 276-768-0597 or email her at director@graysonlandcare.org

Annual Permaculture retreat Nov 13
2025-10-24 14:38 - 2025-11-08 19:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join the Permaculture group for their annual retreat. Details to follow

Plant American Chestnuts Nov 7
2025-11-07 08:00 - 14:00
Are you interested in American Chestnuts? Help plant some trees with the American Chestnut Foundation and Clint Morse. Here are the details: Note, the area where we are planting is steep and footing is uneven. But, it should be a fun time! November 7 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm, free!

We will plant about 130 seedlings from the American Chestnut foundation. These will be predominantly progeny from large surviving American chestnuts that may have some elevated resistance and then some susceptible Americans and Chinese as controls. These seedlings will get inoculated with blight in about 5 years and we will see what happens!

We will also plant the grafted trees Clint grew this year from superior Chestnuts.

Please register here:https://tacf.org/event/planting-in-independence-va/

Garden cleanup workshop November 15, 9am to noon
2025-11-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Do you wonder how to best prepare the garden for winter to help protect pollinators and other wildlife?
Join the Permaculture group for their monthly workday November15 from 9am to noon pm. Learn by doing! Pitch in and see how they prepare the pollinator garden and food forest for the winter. All workdays are in the Permaculture garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd located at 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA 24333
Permaculture work days are generally the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9:30am to noon. The best way to learn anything is by doing. Lend a hand and learn about permaculture. Contact Cynthia Taylor for more information. Cynthia@graysonlandcare.org

Last Winter Market Dec 6 11am to 2pm
2025-12-01 08:00 - 17:00
The December 6th Market will be held on Saturday December 6, 11am to 2 pm to help kick off the Town of Independence events. We’ll have IFM Kids Bucks and a free Kids Activity. Kids can color and take home a wooden ornament. The weather looks ALOT warmer than the previous 2 Winter Markets, I hope you’ll come out and support the vendors. Amanda of Slightly Askew, will be cooking Asian inspired food at the Gate Center Kitchen if you’d like to pick up lunch.

Free Market Gift Shop Dec 6 11 am-3pm, Gate Center
2025-12-06 11:00 - 15:00 | Gate Center, 122 Davis Street, Independence, United States
The Free Market in Independence will hold its annual Christmas Gift Shop on Saturday, December 6th, from 11 am to 3 pm at the GATE Center, 122 Davis Street. The purpose of this event is to give children and their parents an opportunity to select presents for their loved ones, at no expense. The first two hours, 11 am to 1 pm, are reserved for children ages 5 through 14. Volunteer “elves” will assist each child in finding just the right gift for the three people on their list. Gifts will be bagged and tagged, and parents can meet their children at the exit. From 1 pm to 3 pm, parents, older teens and anyone else can come in to select gifts for three people. During this time, we will also have “stocking stuffers,” smaller gift items, available. Christmas cookies will be offered to all, courtesy of the Culinary Arts students at the CATE Center. The Free Market sets aside all their best donations for the gift shop. If you know a child or adult that would like to shop, please pass the word.

Permaculture Book Club-POSTPONED TO JAN 16
2026-01-16 17:00 - 18:30
Looking for something interesting to read? Join the Permaculture group for their winter book club January 15th at 5:00 at the home of Ann Watson in Independence. Please call Ann at 276-768-8171 for more details or to RSVP. They will be reading Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden by poet Camille T. Dungy. It is a memoir that explores themes of race, motherhood, and environmental justice through her experience of transforming her garden in a predominantly white Colorado town.

Fruit tree pruning February 28 from 11 am until 1 pm
2026-02-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join us Saturday, February 28 from 11 am until 1 pmat the Permaculture Garden at Church of the Good Shepherd. The Garden is located at 9441 Grayson Parkway in Baywood. Casey Johnson will lead the workshop. Casey has a degree in Horticulture from Penn State, manages the orchard at River North, and is President of GLC.

We’ll focus on fruit trees. If time allows blueberries will be included. Casey will demonstrate proper pruning during the first part of the workshop. If you’d like to help prune, plan to stay after the presentation and bring pruners or loopers if you have them. Dress warmly.

Bookclub MARCH 12, 5pm
2026-03-12 17:00 - 19:30
This month’s selection is Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. Meet at 5pm at the home of Ann Watson. Please call her at 276-768-8171 to RSVP. It’s a potluck, Ann will provide soup, please bring something to share

Garden Planning workshop Saturday March 14
2026-03-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join the Permaculture Group at Church of the Good Shepherd as they plan a plant guild to surround the asparagus plantings to be installed in April. What is a plant guild? Come and find out!

Are you interested in restoring American Chestnuts?
2026-03-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Independence 1908 Courthouse, 107 E Main St , Independence, VA, 24348, United States
Are you interested in restoring American Chestnuts?
Are you interested in helping to restore the American Chestnut in Grayson County? Come to an information meeting March 21 from 1-2:20 pm at the 1908 Courthouse Baldwin Auditorium.
Clint Morse, citizen scientist has been working with the American Chestnut Foundation and Matthews Forest on this project. How can you help? Clint will discuss lots of ways for all ages and skill levels.
This includes collecting pollen and nuts, grafting, thinning existing trees, and continuing to locate and mark surviving chestnuts in the woods in and around Grayson County. In addition, there are some nuts available for a few people to join the raised bed project that started last year. And we’ll continue testing and monitoring those plantings.
This will be a multi-year project and will require a lot of volunteers. I hope you will join us and help to support this exciting work.
Other workshops are still in the planning stages. Check the events page on the GLC website, graysonlandcare.org and the facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/graysonlandcare/ for full details and updates. Or contact Michelle Pridgen at director@graysonlandcare for more information.

Seed Library Open House March 28, 11am- 1pm
2026-03-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Grayson County Library, 147 S. Independence Ave, Independence, 24348, United States
The open House at the Seed Library will be 11am to 1 pm Saturday ,March 28 at the Library in Independence. Everyone is welcome! If you are a new gardener or seed saver, you might not have seeds to swap or donate. That’s perfectly fine! The notion of the seed library is that you’ll “check out” some seeds early in the season and ‘return’ the seeds that you saved from your harvest. Come enjoy some light refreshments, learn about seed saving and take some seeds home. Tesse, the Children’s librian, has a special activity planned as well AND the library staff has put together a garden themed gift basket. Come by and get a raffle ticket. We’ll announce the winner about 12:45.

Garden Planting Workshop April 11
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Church of the Good Shepherd, 9441 Grayson Pkwy, Galax, VA, 24333, United States
Join the Permaculture Group at Church of the Good Shepherd April 11 from 9 am to noon as they plant asparagus crowns surrounded by guild plants and other vegetables. Asparagus is a long lived perennial and needs special planting techniques to thrive. Come learn how in this hands-on workshop. Bring your favorite garden tools.
