For the third time in the past 18 months, timber framers will be gathering in the Rockbridge area this week to put together a wooden structure and then raise it in Buena Vista. This time, the project is for a pavilion that will go up this Sunday adjacent to the Buena Vista Community Garden at 1704 Magnolia Ave.
Timber framers will be building the pavilion at the Rockbridge County home of Grigg and Cindy Mullen in the Kerrs Creek area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, then taking it to the project site on Sunday to raise the structure. A slate stone foundation is already in place at the site The community garden was established on land in the flood plain that the city acquired through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Although the land is owned by the city, the garden itself is an independent, community-led project. It is maintained by volunteers and supported through donations, partnerships and the active involvement of local residents.
Volunteers will be helping with the project this week in such ways as providing meals for the timber framers. Community input and participation is being encouraged in future planning for the garden. Establishing pollinator habitats, building bird houses and starting an heirloom garden are among the initiative envisioned.
The timber framers, under the direction of the Mullens, erected wooden structures twice last year in Buena Vista. They built the market pavilion for Magnolia Square in the spring of 2024 and returned in the fall to build a stage cover, also at Magnolia Square. Lots of activities will be taking place at Magnolia Square this Saturday during the annual Mountain Day celebration.
