James River Association's
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River Hero Homes is a community of stewards that realize the first step to a cleaner James River starts in their own backyard. Take steps to improve your home and become a hero for your community and your river.
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Every River Hero Home receives a garden flag, sticker, membership card, discounts at local nurseries and garden centers, plus a free year Family Membership to the James River Association.
Department of Forestry and James River Association Tree Planting Grants
(depending on grant funding)
​This program encourages local government and citizen involvement in creating and supporting long-term and sustained urban and community forestry projects and programs in cities, towns, counties and tribes.
The Virginia Trees for Clean Water Grant Program is established to encourage the creation of long-term, sustained canopy cover to improve water quality across the Commonwealth. This grant is used to fund tree-planting efforts that raise public awareness of the benefits of trees and impacts on water quality.
Every tree planted makes a difference to the health of our communities and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and partners want to highlight tree planting projects from across the state. Submit your tree planting to show that your tree counts towards Virginia’s efforts to #ProtectOurBay! We’ll share these stories on the Community Tree Map and social media with #MyTreesCount.
The James River Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are working with landowners across the Middle and Upper James River watersheds to restore or create forest buffers that improve the quality of local waterways.
Henrico Extension's SMART Lawns Program
The Henrico County office of Virginia Cooperative Extension is enrolling residents in SMART Lawns, a program that provides customized plans for growing attractive, healthy lawns. For a $30 fee, Master Gardener volunteers will visit a home, analyze the lawn and prepare a plan for improving its condition, appearance and health. Participants will receive recommendations for fertilizer and lime as well as suggestions for environmentally friendly weed control, mowing and watering practices. The SMART Lawns program follows the concepts of SMART – Soil test, Measure, Aerate, Right fertilizer and Trouble-free maintenance – which emphasize basic steps for lawn care.
Henricopolis Soil Test Voucher Program
Although fertilizer, lime, and other amendments can be very helpful in establishing happy, healthy plants, they pose a risk if not used properly. Excess fertilizer and chemicals wash away with rainwater and pollute our local streams and waterways, the James River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The first guideline of responsible fertilizer application is to take a soil sample and have it analyzed to determine fertilizer needs.
