$1,000 Green Grant Award for Dorey Park Farmers Market

Congratulations to The Dorey Park Farmers Market is a collaboration between Henrico County Recreation and Parks and Dorey Farmers Market, Inc., a nonprofit organization. The market is a producer-only market, meaning that vendors must grow or produce their wares, which include vegetables, honey, meat, pork, fermented foods, and dairy products.

Although Henrico County has an active recycle collection program, it is not widely adopted  in some of the rural areas such as around Dorey Park Farmers Market.  At the market itself, there are recycle containers available.  However, they are usually so mistakenly filled with trash that they are nearly useless for recycling.

By initiating an active and effective recycling and composting program at the Farmers Market, it will improve the cleanliness and appearance at the park, as well as increase the recycling effectiveness.  They also hope that by educating the public about the proper collection of recyclable products, it will influence families to be better at recycling at home.

A local Boy Scout will use his Eagle Scout project to create a large recycle, compost, and trash stand that will be located near the center of the market.   It will be easily seen and accessed from anywhere in the market for patrons to find and use, and also allow easy access to recover the recycled and composted material. The stand will be large enough to draw market patron’s attention and substantial enough to last for many seasons.

Green Grant funds will be used for materials to construct the recycle/compost/trash stand, signage, and other costs of the project.

One or two high school-aged students will stay by the recycling stand to assist and educated patrons which of the marked bins is best for the materials they’re disposing.  The Dorey Park Farmers Market is partnering with Varina High School to have its Science National Honor Society students assist as guides at the stand, and also lead classes and discussions about best recycling and composting practices.