Our Annual Garden Party is a fun-filled day with a ton of landscaping and garden supplies; gardening demonstrations, experts, and vendors; activities for kids; local bands; and a farm-to-fork food truck.
Throughout the winter, we collect gently-used and surplus lawn & garden supplies as well as outdoor décor and furniture. Then, we put it all out for your shopping pleasure at 9am on April 2nd! It’s the Forklift’s biggest fundraiser each year – proceeds support our work to create green jobs, reduce waste, educate the public about reuse, and provide free supplies to nonprofits & neighbors in need.
(Note to early birds: no lawn & garden supplies are out yet. The Forklift will not have any garden items available until 9am on April 2nd).
Don’t miss Tanglewood Works, the “front porch” of our Garden Party! This unique and whimsical shop at the front corner of Community Forklift features upcycled and reclaimed furniture, home goods, jewelry and art — all made by local artisans. Where else can you find planters made from recycled toilets and wind chimes made from spoons?
Tanglewood Works will have fabulous and funky garden decor to help you create magical outdoors spaces. The Tanglewood Team will also have clever “garden-themed” upcycle activity sheets for projects that are great for children and adults. Be sure to check out their sample projects on display to inspire you to create your own “funky junk” garden decor with recycled materials.
There will be prizes for people and pets dressed up in garden party finery.
So find yourself a dapper suit or fancy hat, and check out all the activities we have in store for you:
Maryland Master Gardeners
MOMs Organic Market
Veteran Compost
Love & Carrots
Up Top Acres
Prince George’s Hens
Anacostia Watershed Society
City of Hyattsville
Trees for Sacred Places
The B5 Initiative
ECO City Farms will be here with great seedlings, already sprouted and ready to go right into your garden.
Hyattsville Horticulture Society will be selling vegetable, flower, and herb seeds, along with some helpful gardening books.
Little Red Bird Botanicals will be here with handmade herbal products including salves, infused vinegars, loose tea, and tinctures; sign-up for classes and an herbal CSA, too.
Good Sense Farm & Apiary will be offering their custom tabletop mushroom farms, wild food CSA shares, umami spice mixes, and wild mushroom jerky.
PERMIE KIDs will be here with a selection of environmentally educational games, books, and other sustainable children’s curriculum.
Leafyhead Lotions & Potions will be here with their herbal-based lotions, lip balms, and insect repellant; along with their District Devil beard oil, ‘stache wax, and soap.
10am-11am: Makin’ Sloe Gin
12pm-1pm: Bellwether Bayou
2pm-3pm: Blue Plains
10am-12pm: Outdoor Pallet Creations, presented by Matt Menke of Community Forklift and Gary Barnhart of GL Barnhart Construction
1pm-2pm: Composting for Urban Homeowners, presented by Justen Garrity of Veteran Compost
3pm-4pm: Growing Medicinal Herbs, presented by Tricia McCauley of Leafyhead Lotions & Potions
So invite your friends, start planning your stylish garden party ensemble, and we’ll see you on April 2nd!