Clubs

Chesapeake Forge Guild meets every Monday night from 7:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. at the forge in Kinder Farm Park. The forge is also open on Sundays from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Stop by and watch the blacksmiths at work.

Dues

Annual dues for regular club members are $45. This includes use of the club tools and the forge. Metal is also provided for small projects.

New Members

New members are expected to attend an "Introduction to Blacksmithing" class. The class is held on occasional Saturdays from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Kinder Farm Park. Advanced registration is required for all classes. You can contact the president to find out when classes are scheduled and to be assigned to a class. Cost for the class is $100, which includes a one year membership in the guild. Our insurance requires that you be at least 18 years old to attend.

What to Wear and Bring

1. Bring Your lunch and a drink
2. Bring the fee, a signed release form, and a completed membership form
3. Wear old clothes, as you will get dirty. Cotton or leather clothes are best.
4. Wear eye protection. Safety glasses are a mandatory item. It is best to bring your own.
5. Wear hightop leather shoes or boots, with pant legs outside to prevent any hot iron from slipping down inside your boot.
6. Consider bringing a pair of work gloves.

For more information visit Chesapeake Forge Guild.

A program teaching eco-friendly and sustainable basic vegetable gardening skills to families is located at the Apprentice Garden and is sponsored by the University of Maryland Extension Office Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners.

If you’ve ever tasted a home-grown vegetable, you know it can’t be duplicated. Now you can grow your own while learning the basics with Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners at the Apprentice Garden in Kinder Farm Park. This fun and educational program is for mothers, fathers, grandparents and/or guardians AND their children aged 5 and older. All members of this project are committed to providing you with a plot, lots of seeds and plants, and knowledge about good, environmentally safe and sustainable gardening skills. Additional activities include speakers, workshops, field trips, and more.

This program will begin in early April with an informational meeting. The group meets every Wednesday at 6:30 P.M. to dusk during the growing season and will end in September. Due to space limitations, participation will be on a first come, first serve basis.

If you are interested in being a participant or would like more information on the program, email Janet Clauson.

Our members have enjoyed working with the Friends of Kinder Farm Park over the years to preserve this special family farm museum for future generations to enjoy. We maintain the kitchen garden adjacent to the historic farmhouse, provide floral decorations for park buildings and help decorate the historic farmhouse for Christmas. We are also involved in other gardening and charitable endeavors in the community.

Chartwell Garden Club is open to all and encourages anyone interested in learning more about gardening, floral design and the wonders of nature to join. It is a great way to make lasting friendships and to learn new things. Meetings are generally held the 2nd Monday of the month at 9:30 am from September to June at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 400 Benfield Road, Severna Park.

Chartwell Garden Club is a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc. and National Garden Clubs, Inc. For more information please email us at chartwellgc@gmail.com.

Kinder Farm Park's community gardening program currently has 113, 20’X 30' gardening plots with water provided. More than 100 gardeners rent plots each year for $40 a plot to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, herbs, and flowers.

The community gardening program remains a highly-regarded leisure-time pursuit for many of Anne Arundel County citizens. A recent resurgence of people cultivating home-grown food is sweeping the country. Both the White House and the Maryland Governor's Mansion have their own vegetable gardens reminiscent of the famed "Victory Gardens" which were popular during WWII.

Due to the increased interest in gardening, the waiting list for plots increases with each passing year. The current minimum wait for a plot is 3 years.

For more information about this program or to add your name to the wait list, please email Park Ranger Cody Schell.

The Woodland Garden was inspired by the book, Open Spaces, Sacred Places by Tom Stoner and Carolyn Rapp. This one acre garden began in 2008 as a Master Gardener Project. Fallen debris and invasive plants were removed by park staff and volunteers. Over the years, the group “Unity Gardens” provided numerous grants for the purchase of native trees, shrubs, and perennials that were planted. Three benches provide a respite to contemplate nature away from the beaten path. Many plants are labeled with scientific and common names to encourage visitors to learn what they are. You are welcome to stop by as you wander the perimeter trail.

For more information email Friends of Kinder Farm Park.