BLISS was made for you
Backyard Basecamp provides culturally relevant environmental education in Baltimore.
We intentionally center the voices and stories of Black and Brown people outdoors because we know there is a difference in saying "This place was made for you!" as opposed to "This place was made for all."
From forgotten land to community oasis
BLISS stands for Baltimore Living in Sustainable Simplicity
In 2017, our founder Atiya Wells came across a vacant, overgrown property in her Frankford neighborhood and saw what it could become.
Today, BLISS Meadows is a 10-acre land reclamation project at the intersection of environmental and food justice. It joins three properties: a 7-acre city park that had been abandoned, 2.5 acres of farmland with two freshwater ponds, and a restored farmhouse that our community raised more than $1 million to bring back to life.
What's you'll find at BLISS Meadows?
Goats
honeybees
Chickens
We have 2 goats at BLISS: Loki and Bagel
Chickens
honeybees
Chickens
for farm-fresh eggs
honeybees
honeybees
Peace Pond
29 colonies and counting!
Peace Pond
Market Garden
Peace Pond
a quiet place to reflect with Sacred Place bench
orchard
Market Garden
Market Garden
More than 50 fruit and nuts trees and shrubs
herb & flower gardens
herb & flower gardens
herb & flower gardens
Developing space for holistic wellness
pollinator habitat
herb & flower gardens
herb & flower gardens
Supporting our urban wildlife
forest
herb & flower gardens
forest
7-acres of woods and nature play spaces
Recognized for what grows here
Chesapeake Gateways Network site
Designated by the National Park Service
Nature Sacred "Sacred Place"
Our Peace Pond is part of Nature Sacred's national network of spaces designed for rest and reflection
Pollinator gardens
Created with the National Wildlife Federation
Community garden project
With the Garden Club of America's St. George's Garden Club
Visit BLISS
10 acres of green space with a forest, meadow, ponds, and urban farm in Northeast Baltimore City.
- Address: 5111 Plainfield Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21206
- When to visit: The trails are open to the public dawn to dusk.
- Parking: Ample street parking, please be mindful of residential driveways and parking signs.
- By bus: Brown, 30 (Rogers Ave - Hollander Ridge)
- Accessibility: Our main paths are gravel and grass; some areas are uneven. Contact us and we'll help plan your visit.
The easiest way to experience BLISS for the first time is at a community event or Volunteer Day.
Ways to Experience BLISS
10 acres of green space with a forest, meadow, ponds, and urban farm in Northeast Baltimore City.
- Join a Volunteer Day: get your hands in the soil →Volunteer
- Enroll your child: outdoor preschool and youth camps → Programs Overview
- Bring your class: field trips for schools → Field trips
- Host your gathering: rent BLISS for events and retreats → Rent BLISS
Come to a community event: six seasonal gatherings a year, almost all free.
Growing BLISS for the future
BLISS is still growing, and so is what it can offer our community.
- New trails and play spaces: with support from Maryland's Greenspace Equity Program, we're building an accessible trail system, play spaces, benches, and a yurt.
- A year-round classroom: the design is complete for our new Education Center and greenhouse → Learn more
Help BLISS Grow
Keep BLISS open to every family
Every gift helps care for 10 acres of land, our animals, and the programs that welcome Baltimore families to nature.
Copyright © 2026 Backyard Basecamp, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.
5111 Plainfield Ave, Baltimore, MD 21206
info@backyardbasecamp.org
EIN 84-3528011 | 501(c)(3)