6^th annual "One Garden at a Time" farm-to-table dinner event & silent auction

Presented by The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado
to be held on Friday, October 11^th, 2019, from 5:30-8:30pm
Generously hosted by: the Glacier Club

This event will feature farm fresh cuisine, local drinks, delectable desserts and an incredible silent auction. The whole experience will be interwoven with The Garden Project's garden programs and connections in the community.

This annual fundraiser supports our work with school and community gardens, allowing us to provide valuable programs like the Manna Market to food-insecure families, Farm to School programming for local students, and public gardening at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden.

CSU Extension and The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado are pleased to announce the 12th Annual Tour de Farms will be in Durango, CO on Saturday, August 17th, 2019.

The Tour de Farms is a bicycle tour of local farms & gardens highlighting what is unique, healthy, and homegrown about our agricultural and gardening community. There will be a short, family-friendly, ride and a longer ride.

After the rides there is a celebration after-party at Ska Brewing. There will be live music, prizes, free beer and delicious local foods lunch.

Tickets at $25 and include a commemorative pint glass, a local lunch from Zia, and a beer!

Want to volunteer? Volunteers needed for Morning Registration, Ride Leaders for both the Short and Long rides, Bike Mechanics, Support Vehicle Driver, After-party Set-up and Clean-up. Contact volunteer@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Purchase tickets below!

This event sells out every year, get your tickets early!

Our apologies, but this camp session has been cancelled.

Pay for your child to attend 2019 Fall Dirt Club after-school program below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $72/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Don't forget to register online!

Apply for a scholarship!

Pay for your child to attend 2019 Fall Dirt Club after-school program below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $72/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Don't forget to register online!

Apply for a scholarship

5^th annual "One Garden at a Time" farm-to-table dinner event & silent auction

Presented by The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado
to be held on Friday, October 12^th, 2018, from 5-9pm
Generously hosted by: the Glacier Club

Facebook event page

The event will feature farm fresh cuisine, local drinks, delectable desserts and an incredible silent auction. The whole experience will be interwoven with The Garden Project's garden programs and connections in the community.

This annual fundraiser supports our work with school and community gardens, allowing us to provide valuable programs like the Manna Market to food-insecure families, Farm to School programming for local students, and public gardening at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden.

This event is currently sold out. 

We will likely have a few more tickets becoming available soon.  
Please email Sandhya Tillotson to be added to the Wait List. 
Include your name, email address, phone number and the number of tickets desired. 
Sandhya will contact you if tickets become available. Price will remain at $75. Thank you!

Pay for your child to attend 2018 Spring Dirt Club after-school program below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $72/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Join us for the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Open House, Pie Tasting Contest & Marye Jackson's 90th Birthday Party!

The correct contact email is: okcommunitygarden@gmail.com

We've passed the torch onto the Pine River Garden Club, who will be hosting the Tour de Farms in Bayfield in 2018.

Since we've visited many of the same Durango farms and gardens over the past 11 years we want to keep the event fresh and are encouraging folks to head to Bayfield this year to check out the great gardening scene they have going on! There will not be a Durango tour in 2018. Please check back next year! Thank you!

For more information and to register, visit: https://prlibrary.org/content/tour-de-farms

Pay for your child to attend 2018 Jr Master Gardener's Summer Camp below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $200/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Pay for your child to attend 2018 Jr Master Gardener's Summer Camp below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $200/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Pay for your child to attend 2018 Jr Master Gardener's Summer Camp below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $200/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Pay for your child to attend 2018 Spring Dirt Club after-school program below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $72/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Pay for your child to attend 2018 Spring Dirt Club after-school program below.

Don't want to pay online? You can also mail a check for $72/session to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302.

Durango Green Drinks offers a place for anyone in the area to come, mingle, meet others and chat about local sustainability issues. This informal monthly get-together gives people the chance to learn about community sustainability issues, meet like-minded locals and simply have fun. Please join us on the last Thursday of each month from 5 to 6:45PM at Carver Brewing Company
This event is hosted by: Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado

DURANGO GREEN DRINKS DATES AND HOSTS:

January 25th, 2018: All 2018 Monthly Hosts

February 22nd, 2018: City of Durango, 4CORE

March 29th, 2018: Durango Nature Studies, Sustainability Alliance of SW Colorado

April 26th, 2018: La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage Coalition, Conservation Colorado

May 31, 2018: The Garden Project of SW Colorado, Great Old Broads for Wilderness

June 28th, 2018: Turtle Lake Refuge

July 26th, 2018: Sherpa Sustainability Institute

August 30th, 2018: Local First, Trails 2000

September 27, 2018: Citizen's Climate Lobby

October 25th, 2018: San Juan Citizens Alliance, Environmental Center at Fort Lewis

November 29th, 2018: The Wilderness Society

The Garden Project has been selected as a nonprofit beneficiary of Purgatory Resort's Local's Benefit Days!!!

Come ski at the mountain at a discount while supporting your favorite local nonprofits! Buy lift tickets here.

The Garden Project has been selected as a finalist for Nonprofit of the Year with the Durango Chamber of Commerce!

Come cheer us on at the awards ceremony! See the Durango Herald Article. Buy your tickets here.

The Payroll Department has a wonderful coupon in the Be Local Coupon Book this year! Go to page 137 and mark The Garden Project as your nonprofit of choice. $5 will be donated for every coupon returned by January 31st, 2018. Thank you!!

More info coming soon...

These workshops are provided for farmers, landowners, backyard & community gardeners, and the general public. 

Event Sold Out

4^th annual "One Garden at a Time" farm-to-table dinner event
presented by The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado
to be held on Thursday, October 12^th, 2017, from 6-9pm
at the Manna Soup Kitchen Garden, 1100 Avenida del Sol, Durango

The event will feature cocktails in the Manna Garden with the TOAST mobile bar, before diners head into the party tent for a delicious locally-sourced feast prepared by the Culinary Students at Manna, live music by Jeff Solon Jazz Duo, silent auction, dessert from Serious Delights, wine bar from Wines of the San Juan, beer from Ska and drinks by Durango Craft Spirits. The whole experience will be interwoven with The Garden Project's garden programs and connections in the community.

This annual fundraiser supports our work with school and community gardens, allowing us to provide valuable programs like the Manna Market to food-insecure families, Farm to School programming for local students, and public gardening at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden.

Event Program & Silent Auction list

If tickets sell out, you can request to be added to the Wait List by emailing Sandhya.
Please include your name, email address, phone number and the number of tickets desired.
She will contact you if tickets become available. Price will remain at $75.

Facebook event page

We all want our tools to last and be able to do their job. Let’s give them some TLC at the end of the season. Learn the proper techniques, tools, and materials to sharpen and oil your tools before putting them away for the winter.Feel free to bring one of your own tools for some hands on practice!

Tools we will cover include:

Shears & Clippers
Shovels
Hoes 

These workshops are provided for farmers, landowners, backyard & community gardeners, and the general public. This workshop is most applicable to backyard & community gardeners, small farmers, anyone who landscapes their yard.

More info coming soon...

These workshops are provided for farmers, landowners, backyard & community gardeners, and the general public. 

It seems that for all the times that something goes so right in your garden, every season there is something that goes wrong- whether it is the powdery mildew on your squash leaves, the giant green tomatoes that never seem to ripen, or the early frost that takes out your garden before you are ready to stop eating homegrown veggies. Come do some garden troubleshooting with horticultural expert Darrin Parmenter of CSU Extension for La Plata County. Darrin will cover a plethora of common garden hang-ups including plant diseases, how to get your tomatoes to ripen, and some DIY season extension for backyard gardeners. Don’t forget to bring your own questions as there will be time to dive into your specific garden issues!

These workshops are provided for farmers, landowners, backyard & community gardeners, and the general public. This workshop is most applicable to backyard & community gardeners.

CSU Extension and The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado are pleased to announce the 11th Annual Tour de Farms will be in Durango, CO on Saturday, August 19th, 2017.

The Tour de Farms is a bicycle tour of local farms & gardens highlighting what is unique, healthy, and homegrown about our agricultural and gardening community. There will be a short, family-friendly, ride and a longer ride.

After the rides there is a celebration after-party at Ska Brewing. There will be live music by Stillhouse Junkies, prizes, free beer and a delicious local foods lunch by Zia Taqueria. Tickets at $25 and include a commemorative pint glass, lunch, and a beer!

Check out what we saw on the 2016 tour! 

Want to volunteer? Volunteers needed for Morning Registration, Ride Leaders for both the Short and Long rides, Bike Mechanics, Support Vehicle Driver, After-party Set-up and Clean-up. Contact mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Purchase tickets below!

This event sells out every year, get your tickets early!

Join the Facebook event and share with your friends!

Bring a “sense of place and time” to your food through an exploration of pre-colonial methods of cooking,  acquiring food, and Native American food traditions with Chef M. Karlos Baca

Community Concert Series 2017 

The Garden Project has been selected to participate in the community concert series this year!

Concerts are scheduled for Wednesday evenings June 28 through August 30 from 5-7pm 
at the Rochester Hotel’s Secret Garden.

We encourage you to attend as many concerts as you can, since all proceeds are split between participating nonprofits at the end of the summer.

The Garden Project will be hosting on July 19th with the Dustin Burley band.

For the second year in a row, we've partnered with the La Plata Conservation District to provide Conservation Education Workshops!

We aim to inspire youth and adults to become stewards of our natural resources by exposing them to sustainable agriculture and soil and water conservation, thereby building our local agricultural capacity in the long run. Together we can improve the climate resiliency and food security of our community.

Check out these great learning opportunities! (Workshops for backyard gardeners and large landowners/farmers!)

Psst! They are all free! Enjoy.

Sign up on the La Plata Conservation District website. 

Gardening 101
Tuesday, April 25th, 5:30-7:30pm        
@ Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
w/ Keoki Moore, Shared Harvest Community Garden

Natural Horse Habitat
Tuesday, May 30th, 6-7:30pm     
@ Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
w/ Petra Christensen, Red Horse Solutions 

Homegrown Herbs: A book signing and garden walk
Thursday, June 22nd, 5:30-6:30    
@ Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
w/ Tammi Hartung, ethnobotanical herbalist, organic farmer of 38 years, and author
Special host: Maria's Bookshop

Native Food Sovereignty
Tuesday, July 25th, 6-8pm 
@ Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
w/ M Karlos Baca, Taste of Native Cuisine

Garden Troubleshooting: 
Disease Control, Tomatoes, Season Extension
Tuesday, August 22nd, 6-8pm
@ Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
w/ Darrin Parmenter, CSU Extension Horticulturalist- La Plata Co

DOUBLE Feature:
Cover Crops + Alternatives to Honey Bees
Saturday, September 2nd, 3-5pm
@ La Plata County Fairgrounds
w/ Ted Creighton, La Plata Conservation District Board Member

Tool Care: Sharpening, Cleaning, and Oiling before Winter
Tuesday, October 3rd, 5:30-7pm       
@ Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
w/ Brooke Frazer, The Garden Project Manna Garden Manager
     
DOUBLE Feature:
Tree Care & Maintenance + Deer/Elk Fencing
Saturday, November 4th, 3-5pm
@Animas Valley Grange
Ryan Cox, CO State Forest Service Forester

The Garden Project invites all new and returning volunteers to join us for a Volunteer Orientation and tour of the gardens! 

On Wednesday, April 26th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, we will bike (or drive) to each garden, beginning at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden, promptly at 5:30. From there we will ride to Needham Elementary School Garden and Manna Soup Kitchen Garden. 

Staff of The Garden Project will be at each garden with snacks, drinks, and fun activities! 

Please RSVP to Amy Johnston at Volunteer@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register. Thank you.

Volunteer with us for 2 days of exciting garden based activities! 

March 16th and 17th 2017, 9:00am - 3:00pm

We will be spending two days working with elementary students from around the Four Corners teaching the importance of sustainable living and growing your own food! 

Join us for a film night with La Plata Open Space Conservancy!

The Garden Project of SW CO will be showing our new film from 2016 and selling tshirts and hats! This is a FREE event! We'd love to have you join us!

Shop at Durango Natural Foods during the month of March and RoundUp at the register to support The Garden Project!

Come celebrate the season with us!

Mark your calendar for the Coldwell Banker Heritage House Realtors Holiday Party benefitting The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado!

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE.

Find the full list of Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshops HERE. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE.

Do you need Childcare during this workshop?

$5 per child ages 3-10 (All ages welcome)
NOTE: Minimum of 3 kids needed before childcare will be provided

Fun and educational garden activities
On-site at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
Parent must provide snack
Must sign up minimum 1-week in advance (Sign up by Wednesday, September 14th). 
To request childcare please email mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Registration is required.

You must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE. 

Join us for the 3rd Annual: One Garden at a Time - Farm to Table Dinner

Thursday, October 6th, 2016 from 6 - 9 pm
Eolus Bar & Dining, on the rooftop patio
Farm to table dinner and silent auction to benefit The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado.

Limited tickets available for purchase below.

OR

Help Pack the House!

 Facebook event page

See photos from last year's event!

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE.

Find the full list of Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshops HERE. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE.

Do you need Childcare during this workshop?

$5 per child ages 3-10 (All ages welcome)
NOTE: Minimum of 3 kids needed before childcare will be provided

Fun and educational garden activities
On-site at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
Parent must provide snack
Must sign up minimum 1-week in advance (Sign up by Wednesday, September 14th). 
To request childcare please email mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Registration is required.

You must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE. 

Join Mercy Nutrition Therapy and The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado for “Ignite your health: Healthy nutrition through local, affordable food,” a FREE, six-part series on how to eat healthy, on a budget. Each interactive session will provide hands-on education and training from Mercy nutrition experts and Garden Project staff on how easy, affordable, and delicious it can be to achieve better health through proper nutrition, ways to incorporate locally sourced foods into your diet, and more. Details about upcoming classes available online at mercydurango.org.

Seating is limited. Register at the link or by calling 970-764-3999.

We'd like to invite our members, individual donors, business sponsors and partners to join us in the garden for a fun social hour!

Come tour the gardens with our board members and staff, see what you are supporting, and meet other supporters! Appetizers and beverages will be provided. Come to one social, or all three! We look forward to seeing you in the garden! (No requests for donations will be made at these events.) 

Manna Soup Kitchen Garden Social
Tuesday, August 9th at 5:30

Needham School Garden Social 
Wednesday, August 31st at 5:30

Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Social
Tuesday, September 13th at 5:30

We'd like to invite our members, individual donors, business sponsors and partners to join us in the garden for a fun social hour!

Come tour the gardens with our board members and staff, see what you are supporting, and meet other supporters! Appetizers and beverages will be provided. Come to one social, or all three! We look forward to seeing you in the garden! (No requests for donations will be made at these events.) 

Manna Soup Kitchen Garden Social
Tuesday, August 9th at 5:30

Needham School Garden Social 
Wednesday, August 31st at 5:30

Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Social
Tuesday, September 13th at 5:30

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE.

Find the full list of Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshops HERE. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE. 

Registration is required.

You must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE. 

TICKETS ARE NOW CLOSED ONLINE.

As of 9 pm on Friday, Aug 19 there are about 9 spots available for each ride. Show up early at your preferred location tomorrow morning and we may be able to fit you on the ride. We can't make any promises, so don't be disappointed if we can't accommodate you. Thank you.

When: Saturday, August 20th, 2016

What: Tour de Farms highlights what is unique, healthy and homegrown in our agricultural and gardening community.

Short Route:

Meet at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave, at 7:45 am to check-in. Ride departs at 8 am prompt. This leisurely bike ride will visit 3 backyard gardens, Manna Soup Kitchen Garden, and the Miller Middle School Garden in Durango. Approximately 5 miles.  All riders MUST WEAR A HELMET.

Start & End: La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Optional ride or drive down to Ska Brewing for the after-party.

Long Route:

Meet at Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St, at 7:30am to check-in. Ride departs at 8 am prompt. The long tour will go down La Posta Road and CR 214 and will include 2 stops at backyard gardens, 2 farms, Sunnyside Meats and Table to Farm Compost. Approximately 25 miles, for experienced riders. All riders MUST WEAR A HELMET.

Note: We recommend touring, cross or mountain bikes for the Long Route this year. Road bikes will be prone to flats on the rough gravel roads. The terrain for the ride is flat and rolling, paved for 16 miles with 9 miles of gravel/dirt roads.

Start & End: Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

 
After-Party & Local Foods Lunch:

From Noon - 2pm at Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Music by Six Dollar String Band, special local food lunch by Zia Taqueria, and beer from Ska.

Partial Benefit for Neil Hannum, Chip Peddler

Our friend and fellow local food advocate, Neil Hannum, was in a traumatic bicycle accident in June. Although is injuries were severe, he is expected to make a full recovery with time. We have increased adult ticket prices by $5 this year so that the extra can go towards Neil's recovery and medical expenses. The Chip Peddler sells his locally sourced, GMO-free corn tortilla chips across town and regularly to Zia Taqueria, who provides the lunch for the Tour de Farms each year. Since the Tour is about bicycles and local food, we think it's a great fit to benefit Neil, such a wonderful member of our community.

Additional donations can be made on Neil's GoFundMe page or locally at the First National Bank of Durango.

Event organizers:

Tour Logistics & Volunteers: Darrin Parmenter, CSU Extension

Registration & Sponsors: Sandhya Tillotson, The Garden Project

Sign up for our newsletter to receive upcoming details.

Photo blog from 2015

Photo blog from 2014

Join the Facebook event and share with your friends!

Agenda:

9:00    Welcome and Introduction to Slow Food

9:30    Slow Food USA’s School Garden Guide- Best practices on how to develop and maintain a school garden program. Includes volunteers, fundraisers, marketing, school garden committees. Some discussion on Long Term sustainability of school gardens.

11:00  Slow Food USA’s Good School Garden Curriculum- Introduction to Sensory Education and hands-on cooking activity

12:30  Lunch prepared by participants

1:00    Garden to Cafeteria toolkit and training

2:30    Slow Food USA’s Youth Farmers’ Market manual and training

4:00    Departure and distribution of classroom materials

If you would like to tour some of our gardens, please join us for the 10th Annual Tour de Farms the next day on Saturday, August 20th! (Register for the Short tour if you want to see the in-town gardens).

Coming from out of town? Camping recommended at Junction Creek Campground, 5 miles up a dirt road outside of town, 15 minutes from the Fairgrounds.  Basic sites are $20/night and reservations are available online.

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE.

Find the full list of Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshops HERE. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE.

Do you need Childcare during this workshop?

$5 per child ages 3-10 (All ages welcome)
NOTE: Minimum of 3 kids needed before childcare will be provided

Fun and educational garden activities
On-site at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
Parent must provide snack
Must sign up minimum 1-week in advance (Sign up by Wednesday, August 10th). 
To request childcare please email mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Registration is required.

You must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE. 

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE.

Find the full list of Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshops HERE. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE.

Do you need Childcare during this workshop?

$5 per child ages 3-10 (All ages welcome)
NOTE: Minimum of 3 kids needed before childcare will be provided

Fun and educational garden activities
On-site at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
Parent must provide snack
Must sign up minimum 1-week in advance (Sign up by Wednesday, August 10th). 
To request childcare please email mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Registration is required.

You must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE. 

RSVP for this fun event on the Pampered Chef website!

20% of all product sales will be donated to The Garden Project's school garden cooking classes! If you are unable to attend the party, please review the WISHLIST and shop online for this worthy cause & yourself!

For more info check out the event on Facebook!

We'd like to invite our members, individual donors, business sponsors and partners to join us in the garden for a fun social hour!

Come tour the gardens with our board members and staff, see what you are supporting, and meet other supporters! Appetizers and beverages will be provided. Come to one social, or all three! We look forward to seeing you in the garden! (No requests for donations will be made at these events.) 

Watch a short film about Manna's garden HERE.

Manna Soup Kitchen Garden Social
Tuesday, August 9th at 5:30

Needham School Garden Social 
Wednesday, August 31st at 5:30

Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Social
Tuesday, September 13th at 5:30

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE.

Find the full list of Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshops HERE. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE.

Do you need Childcare during this workshop?

$5 per child ages 3-10 (All ages welcome)
NOTE: Minimum of 3 kids needed before childcare will be provided

Fun and educational garden activities
On-site at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
Parent must provide snack
Must sign up minimum 1-week in advance (Sign up by Wednesday, July 13th). 
To request childcare please email mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Registration is required.

You must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE. 

Volunteers needed to pick up vegetable donations every Wednesday from Southerland Farms in Aztec.

A fueled van will be provided.  
Volunteers need a valid driver's license and insurance card.
Produce must be at Manna by 3:30, but pickup can happen anytime that morning/afternoon.

The produce will be distributed at the Manna Market where food insecure people may take home fresh and local produce for no cost.

Please contact Amy the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org. Thanks!!! 

Join us!

July Workday & Potluck
Wednesday, July 6th
5:30-7:30pm
at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
(Potluck afterwards at 7:30, bring a dish to share!)

We will be working on the Permaculture Food Forest with Grant & Kathy Curry of the Permaculture Provision Project. Grant is a big proponent of the STUN Method. Every heard of it? It stands for "Sheer, Total, Utter Neglect". That may sound a little backwards to all you hard working gardeners but the idea is based around the principal that we receive many free gifts from the Earth that require little or NO action on our part. Come learn more.

Bring thick gloves, wheelbarrows, and clippers if you have any!

Don't forget about our volunteer benefits, including 15% off at Durango Natural Food Co-op!

 The La Plata Conservation District and The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado are partnering to provide education about soil & water conservation and sustainable agriculture.

We aim to inspire youth and adults to become stewards of our natural resources by exposing them to sustainable agriculture and soil and water conservation, thereby building our local agricultural capacity in the long run. Together we can improve the climate resiliency and food security of our community.

Why is this important?

• La Plata County has a rich agricultural heritage, but interest in agriculture needs encouragement among younger generations.

• Local farmers and landowners can have some of the largest impact on soil and water conservation in our region through proper sustainable agriculture practices.  

• Each year, weather patterns, water levels and snowpack are becoming increasingly unpredictable in SW Colorado.

By educating our county about conservation, people will know more about sustainable agriculture and soil & water conservation, will understand the importance, and will be inspired to put that knowledge into practice.

Join us for a FREE monthly workshop series exploring the importance of soil and water conservation from a practical, economical and sustainable viewpoint. Workshops are available for farmers, landowners, backyard & community gardeners, and the general public.

These workshops are provided free for the community through a grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

Additionally through this grant, youth will be engaged in order to develop environmental stewards from an early age through school garden programs. More info HERE.

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Sign-up at www.laplatacd.org.

Cost: FREE
This workshop is provided FREE thanks to the La Plata Conservation District and grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program.

NOTE: In order to reserve your spot you must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE.

Find the full list of Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshops HERE. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE.

Do you need Childcare during this workshop?

$5 per child ages 3-10 (All ages welcome)
NOTE: Minimum of 3 kids needed before childcare will be provided

Fun and educational garden activities
On-site at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
Parent must provide snack
Must sign up minimum 1-week in advance (Sign up by Wednesday, June 8th). 
To request childcare please email mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Registration is required.

You must register on the La Plata Conservation District Website HERE. 

Cost: FREE

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please register online at mercydurango.org (This includes OKCG Ohana, please register on ther Mercy Website). (Note: Event is listed on Mercy Website as "Square Space Gardening").

Find the full list of OKCG workshops HERE and the Ignite Your Health Workshop Series HERE. 

Do you need Childcare during this workshop?

$5 per child ages 3-10 (All ages welcome)
NOTE: Minimum of 3 kids needed before childcare will be provided

Fun and educational garden activities
On-site at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
Parent must provide snack
Must sign up minimum 1-week in advance (Sign up by Wednesday, May 4th).
To request childcare please email mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

 The Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Workshop Series offers monthly classes throughout the gardening season. 

Cost:

FREE

Note: These workshops are provided free for the community in partnership with the La Plata Conservation District through a grant from the Colorado State Conservation Board Natural Resources Matching Grants Program. Find the full list of Conservation Education workshops HERE.

Location:

Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
564 E 30th Street
(Unless otherwise stated)

Space is limited, pre-registration required. 

To purchase the full OKCG workshop series for the discounted rate of $30 ($10/class plus 3 free classes) please fill out the info below.
Otherwise, please follow the links for the individual workshops to reserve you place.

Click the name of the workshop to go to the sign-up page!

Small Space Gardening Workshop
(Part of the Ignite your Health! workshop series with Mercy Regional Health Center)
Wednesday, May 11th
w/ Brooke Frazer, Manna Soup Kitchen Garden Manager

Black Gold: Home Vermicomposting - How worm poop will help your garden 
Wednesday, June 15th
5:30-7:30pm
w/ Greg Hopkins, Veterans Homestead Project

Your Health and the Microbiomes in Our Gut & Garden
Wednesday, July 20th
6-8pm
w/ Hana Renee, Peaceful Warrior Wellness & Daniel Fullmer, Tierra Vida Farm

Canning 101
Wednesday, August 17th 
6-8pm
w/ Mikel Love, Registered Nutrition Dietitian and Canner Extraordinaire

Seed Saving
Wednesday, September 21st
5:30-7:30pm
w/ Rachel Marie Bennet, Southwest Seed Library

Healthy Soil
Wednesday, October 19th
5:30-7pm

For reminders about upcoming workshops please subscribe to The Garden Project e-newsletter.

For info on and resources from past workshops check out our What’s Growing Blog.

After School Garden Programs

Spring 2016

This Spring, Dirt Club (grades K-2) and the NEW Garden Team (grades 3-5) and Garden Squad (grades 6-8) students will engage in Gardening, Cooking & Art through Fun-filled, educational and hands-on activities in our school gardens!

Dirt Club: On Mondays from 1:30pm - 3pm
Riverview Elementary (K-5)
Park Elementary (K-5)
Needham Elementary (K-2)
Dates: April 18, April 25, May 2, May 9, May 16, May 23

Garden Team:
Riverview Elementary - on Tuesdays from 3:00pm - 4:30pm. (Grades 3-5). Dates: April 19, April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24
UPDATE: Park Elementary - this program has been combined with Dirt Club on Mondays.
Needham Elementary on Thursdays from 3:00pm - 4:30pm. (Grades 3-5). Dates: April 21, April 28, May 5, May 12, May 19, May 26

Garden Squad (grades 6-8): from 3:10pm - 4:40pm
Miller Middle School on Wednesdays. Dates: April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25

Please return registration forms with payment (cash, check, or scholarship form) to your school’s front office by: April 8^th

April 12th Update: Registration Extended!

For Questions Contact: Taylor Henzler

Needham Elementary: Dirt Club and Garden Team Flyer and Registration Form

Park Elementary: Dirt Club and Garden Team Flyer and Registration Form

Riverview Elementary: Dirt Club and Garden Team Flyer and Registration Form

Miller Middle: Garden Squad Flyer and Registration

Scholarship Form

Eat at Zia Taqueria to benefit our school and community garden programs!

April 5th - 7th, 2016

All day at both Zia North and South locations.

Enter to win a $25 gift card each time you eat at Zia!

A portion of proceeds will be donated to The Garden Project.

Join the Facebook event!

Eat at Zia Taqueria to support Local Gardens!

November 10th - 12th
All Day!
North & South Locations

You're Invited!

To our delicious annual fundraiser event to support school and community garden programs in La Plata County.

Thursday, October 29th from 6 - 8pm at Eolus Bar & Dining's Rooftop Patio

Tickets are Sold Out!

But we still encourage you to come out and help us pack the house downstairs:

Eolus will be donating 10% of all dinner proceeds on October 29th to The Garden Project. So encourage your friends to eat dinner downstairs or get a few drinks!

Rooftop Event:

Come celebrate the harvest with us! All food is being provided by local producers and Chef Chris Cowl of Eolus has created a spectacular menu for your enjoyment!

Locally sourced beer, wine and desserts will also be provided.

There will be a Silent Auction and a request for donations at the event. These donations will enable us to continue to offer school and community gardening education programs in 2016.

Thank you for helping us grow a healthier community one garden at a time.

Local Ingredients from:

550 Farm, 81301 Coffee, Adobe House Farm, Adobe Milling, All Seasons Farm, Banga’s Farm, Bread, Elicia Whittlesey, Fields to Plate Produce, James Ranch, Koby Westerholm, Lazy Ewe Dairy, Manna Soup Kitchen Garden, Matt Hauser, Mountain Roots Farm, Rowher’s Farm, Sarah Wright, Sunnyside Meats, Sutherland Farms, Twin Buttes Gardens, Wild Mesa Farm, Wily Carrot Farm, Windsong Farm

POSTPONED: Due to rain this workshop has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 14th at 5:30.

Did your garden take good care of you all summer producing lots of tasty, healthy veggies? Well then it deserves some rest and recovery so that it will be ready for next season. Learn how to put your garden to bed so that it can be rested and ready in the spring!

Cost: $15/person
*Check the Local First Coupon book for workshop ticket deal!*

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please purchase ticket below. Find the full list of workshops HERE.

With 300+ days of sunshine (but only an average 110 frost-free days) Durango is the perfect place to use season extension techniques to prolong our growing season. Want to learn how to make a low-tunnel or a cold frame? Or how to use Christmas lights or Walls of Water to protect your plants? Join us in learning all the best techniques for your home garden to get the most out for the growing season (aka more veggies for you!).

Cost: $15/person
*Check the Local First Coupon book for workshop ticket deal!*

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please purchase ticket below. Find the full list of workshops HERE.

The Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Workshop Series offers monthly classes throughout the gardening season. Workshops are offered every 2nd or 3rd Monday of the month (unless otherwise stated).

Cost:

$15 per person per class or $80 for all 8 workshops ($100 value)
(FREE for OKCG members)

*Check Local First Coupon Book for workshop ticket deal*

Location:

Ohana Kuleana Community Garden
564 E 30th Street
(Unless otherwise stated)

Space is limited, pre-registration required. 

To purchase the full OKCG workshop series for the discounted rate of $80 ($10/class) please fill out the info below.
Otherwise, please follow the links for the individual workshops to reserve you place.

Click the name of the workshop to go to the sign-up page!

Cover Cropping for Soil Health *FREE*
Saturday, March 7th
w/ Mia Carrasco-Songer, OKCG Garden Manager

Gardening Basics
Monday, April 20th
w/ Brooke Frazer, Manna Soup Kitchen Garden Manager

Growing Tomatoes in SW Colorado
Monday, May 11th (NOTE: 2nd Monday of July)
w/ Shari Fitzgerald, Garden Project Founder

Mushroom Cultivation   
Monday, June 15th
w/ Travis Custer, San Juan Mycology

Science of Cooking   
Monday, July 13th (NOTE: 2nd Monday of July)
w/ Miranda Martori 
@ Powerhouse Science Center

Wild Wisdom of Weeds
Monday, August 17^th
w/ Katrina Blair, Turtle Lake Refuge

Season Extension
Monday, September 21^st
w/ Mike Nolan, Farmer at Mountain Roots Produce

Winterizing your Garden
Saturday, October 5th
w/ Brooke Frazer, Manna Soup Kitchen Garden Manager

For reminders about upcoming workshops please subscribe to The Garden Project e-newsletter.

For info on and resources from past workshops check out our What’s Growing Blog.

This Fall, Dirt Club students will engage in Gardening, Cooking & Art through Fun-filled and Educational activities in school gardens.

 Programs available at:

Riverview Elementary Dirt Club

Session 1:K - 2nd Grade

Session 1: 4 Mondays: September 21, 28 October 5, 12 from 1:30 - 3pm

Session 2: 3rd - 5th Grade:

Session 2: 4 Wednesdays: September 16, 23, 30 October 7 from 3 - 4:30pm

Students meet at the Riverview main office & walk to the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden.

Riverview Flyer and Registration Form

Needham Elementary Dirt Club, 1st - 3rd Grade:

4 Wednesdays: September 16, 23, 30 October 7 from 3 - 4:30pm
Held in the Needham school garden.

Needham Flyer and Registration Form

Park Elementary Dirt Club, 1st - 3rd Grade:

4 Thursdays: September 24, October 1, 8 and 15 from 3 - 4:30pm

Held in the Park Elementary Learning Preserve.

Park Flyer and Registration Form 

Flyers will be going home in Friday Folders on September 4th.

Registration forms may be turned in to the main office of your kid's school. 

Scholarship Forms 

Join us for the 9th Annual Tour de Farms!

When: Saturday, August 22nd, 2015

What: Tour de Farms highlights what is unique, healthy and homegrown in our agricultural and gardening community.

Bike Route Options

6-mile: "Family Friendly" ride visiting backyard gardens, community gardens and farms in town.

25-mile: Leisurely ride visiting backyard gardens, farms and hoop houses in the Animas Valley.

Where: Meet at the Smiley Building lawn on E. Third Ave to start both the short and long routes. Finish both tours at the Smiley Building. Ride or drive to Ska for the after-party.

Details:

Registration starts at 7:30 am

Long Route Departs at 7:45 am

Short Route Departs at 8:00 am - Don't be late!

After-Party at Ska starting at Noon

All riders MUST WEAR A HELMET

Volunteers needed: Contact Susan Bradley to volunteer.

Event organizers: Darrin Parmenter & Sandhya Tillotson

Sign up Below!!!

You will look at those weeds you have been pulling all summer differently after this tour of the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden with Katrina Blair.

Cost: $15/person
*Check the Local First Coupon book for workshop ticket deal!*

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please purchase ticket below.

All volunteers receive 1 free ticket to the event.

Please sign up for a shift below

3:00 - 7:45 pm VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Have an understanding of the event, schedule, and activities. Manage volunteers throughout the event. Required to meet with Mia at least once before day of event. 

3:30 - 5:00 pm SET UP: Assist with setting up tables, signs, etc. (2 people needed)

4:30 - 7:00 pm KIDS ACTIVITIES: You will be provided with all materials necessary. 

4:45 - 7:00 pm FLOATER: Greet musicians, walk around and see if other volunteers need help, bring other volunteers pie, etc. 

6:45 - 7:45 pm TAKE DOWN: Take down tables, signs, etc. Clean up pie tables. (2 people needed)

For more information on the Pies in the Garden Event

Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Open House & Pie Tasting Contest
Join us for the 2nd year at our savory and sweet pie tasting extravaganza and celebration of our community garden!

$5-$10 suggested donation (kids 12 and under are free) OR submit at pie for a ticket!
Ticket includes pie tasting, prize drawing, and voting for best pie!

Music by Lars Schwaebe on Saxophone and Chris Petty on Keyboard!

Pie Tasting Contest!
Anyone can submit a pie (and everyone should!)

There are 2 categories:
Sweet and Savory

Prize for the winner of each category!
Everyone who tastes can vote!

Contest Rules

1.     Must submit one (1) 9-inch pie (feel free to bring more!)
2.     Bring two (2) copies of the ingredient list (no need for baking directions, one with your name, one without.
        *Does not have to be an original recipe but must cite source*
3.     Submit pie day of event between 5:00pm-5:30pm

For questions please contact Mia at the mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Volunteer to receive a free ticket!

Cost: $15/person

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please purchase ticket below. Find the full list of workshops HERE.

NOTE: This workshop will be held at the CSU Fairgrounds Kitchen at 2500 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301

Purchase Summer Camp Sessions below

Session 1: July 6 - 10. Space Available.

Session 2: July 13 - 17. Full.

Session 3: July 20 - 24. Cancelled

Session 4: July 27 - 31. Space Available.

Find out more about the Jr. Gardener's Summer Camp

Register your child for Summer Camp

Don't want to register online? Download the application form here. Please mail the application to: The Garden Project, PO Box 4434, Durango, CO 81302, along with your check for $200.

Cost: $20/person with home-grow mushroom kit or $15 to attend.
Must sign-up by May 18th in order to take home a mushroom kit.

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please purchase ticket below. Find the full list of workshops HERE.

What: To introduce urban farming/gardening as an endeavor that enriches the lives of teens in La Plata County.

Every week will focus on a different sustainable agriculture topic. Students will achieve a certificate for each topic covered that will be proudly delivered to them at the end of the Summer Program. This curriculum runs from June through August until school resumes.

To attend, please RSVP to the event below, or email Brooke Frazer, Garden Coordinator.

Who: This garden apprenticeship is aimed at teen gardeners. No gardening experience required.

Where: Manna Soup Kitchen Garden

When: Mondays from 10 am to 1 pm with a break for a free and delicious lunch provided by the Manna Soup Kitchen

Topics:

June 8th - Food Justice

June 15th - Introduction to Plants

June 22nd - Growing Plants from Seeds

June 29th - Crop Management Part 1

July 6th - Crop Management Part 2

July 13th - Succession Planting

July 20th - Weeds and Weeding

July 27th - Growing Methods Part 1

Aug 3rd - Growing Methods Part 2

Aug 10th - Irrigation

Aug 17th - Introduction to Bees

August 27th - Slow Food

August 31st - Harvest Party

This program is provided through a grant by Celebrating Healthy Communities Coalition.

Tips on growing, starting, and choosing the best tomato varieties for our area.  We will discuss choosing varieties that suit our growing season, as well as personal preference and use. The workshop will address choosing healthy starts, transplanting, and preparing beds and trellises for tomatoes.  

Cost: $15/person
*Check the Local First Coupon book for workshop ticket deal!*

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please purchase ticket below. Find the full list of workshops HERE.

This Spring, Dirt Club students will engage in Gardening, Cooking & Art through Fun-filled and Educational activities in the garden!

Ages: Open to 3rd - 5th Graders.

Times: Program will run from 3:00 - 4:30 pm on Thursdays

Dates: April 30, May 7, 14, 21

Cost: $40 for 4 weeks and is limited to 12 students.
Limited scholarships available.

Students will meet by the Riverview main office at 3pm and walk down to the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden with the Dirt Club Educator.

Parent Pick up will be at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden (at 564 E. 30th St.) at 4:30pm.

A healthy snack will be provided each afternoon.

Please email us if you would like to apply for a scholarship: thegardenprojectswco@gmail.com

Please Purchase your Dirt Club sign-up below.

This Spring, Dirt Club students will engage in Gardening, Cooking & Art through Fun-filled and Educational activities in the garden!

Ages: Open to 1^st – 3^rd Graders.

Times: Program will run from 3:00 - 4:30pm on Tuesdays

Dates: April 28, May 5, 12, 19

Cost: $40 for 4 weeks and is limited to 12 students.
Limited scholarships available.

Students will meet in the Needham multipurpose room at 3pm.

Parent Pick up will be at the garden at 4:30pm.

A healthy snack will be provided each afternoon.

Please email us if you would like to apply for a scholarship: thegardenprojectswco@gmail.com

Please Purchase your Dirt Club sign-up below.

This Spring, Dirt Club students will engage in Gardening, Cooking & Art through Fun-filled and Educational activities in the garden!

Ages: Open to K - 2nd Graders.

Times: Program will run from 1:30 - 3pm on Mondays (Early Release)

Dates: April 27, May 4, 11, 18

Cost: $40 for 4 weeks and is limited to 12 students.
Limited scholarships available.

Students will meet by the Riverview main office and walk down to the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden with the Dirt Club Educator.

Parent Pick up will be at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden (at 564 E. 30th St.) at 3pm.

A healthy snack will be provided each afternoon.

Please email us if you would like to apply for a scholarship: thegardenprojectswco@gmail.com

Please Purchase your Dirt Club sign-up below.

This Spring, Dirt Club students will engage in Gardening, Cooking & Art through Fun-filled and Educational activities in the garden!

Ages: Open to K - 5th Graders.

Times: Program will run from 2:35 - 4:05pm on Fridays

Dates: May 1, 8, 15, 22

Cost: $40 for 4 weeks and is limited to 12 students.
Limited scholarships available.

Students will meet by the FLM school office at 2:35pm.

Parent Pick up will be at the front of the school at 4:05pm.

A healthy snack will be provided each afternoon.

Please email us if you would like to apply for a scholarship: thegardenprojectswco@gmail.com

Please Purchase your Dirt Club sign-up below.

Kick of the gardening season with this introduction to gardening. A great refresher for all gardeners and introduction for new gardeners.

Learn about the basics you need to plan and grow a successful garden!

Cost: $15/person
*Check the Local First Coupon book for workshop ticket deal!*

Space is limited, pre-registration required. Please purchase ticket below.

First workshop of the 2015 Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Workshop Series

This workshop will cover some basics of soil health and why cultivating a healthy, living soil is the best thing you can do for your plants and veggies. Explore the benefits of cover cropping and how to choose the right mix of seed for your soil and gain experience with a hands on seeding of the Food Forest cover crop at the community garden. We will also learn, hands on, how to take a soil sample for a soil test for your garden.

Workshop Presenter: Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Manager, Mia Carrasco-Songer

Don't miss this special offer! 
Workshop cost: FREE ($15 value)

Space is limited, RSVP required.

This workshop is part of the 2015 Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Monthly Workshop Series

2015 Homegrown Food Retreat!

This year's theme is Hungry for Change: Where food systems, justice, and access converge. This is the 7th annual food retreat and it is always an inspiring event whether you are a food producer, advocate, or consumer. Features Ted-style talks to help you to engage with and learn more about food deserts, hunger, access, social justice and more.

$20 Suggested Donation (includes locally sourced breakfast and lunch)

We had a very full and successful 2014! Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers and community partners! We'll be posting upcoming events for 2015 here once they're scheduled, as well as on the Calendar. Check the What's Growing Blog to see what the gardens were up to last season! See all previous Garden Project events on the Event Archives page.

We would like to invite you to our annual fundraiser event:

One Garden at a Time - a benefit for The Garden Project

Thursday, November 13th from 5:30 - 7:30 pm

at Eolus Bar & Dining's Rooftop Patio

Tickets available at the bottom of this page.

Come enjoy a local foods evening of delicious drinks and appetizers to support school and community gardens in La Plata County.

All food is being provided by local producers and Chef Chris Cowl of Eolus has created a spectacular menu for your enjoyment!

Locally sourced beer, wine and cocktails will also be provided.

There will be a request for additional donations at the event - which will enable us to continue to offer school and community gardening education and opportunities in 2015.

All donors will be entered into a drawing for gift baskets of local foods, jams, and honey, as well as other prizes.

Thank you for helping us grow a healthier community one garden at a time.

Event Sponsors include:

Tickets are SOLD OUT!

But, if you would still like to support us, please make a reservation to eat dinner at Eolus on the same night, downstairs. 10% of all dinner proceeds will be donated to The Garden Project. Thanks!

Volunteer at The Garden Project booth for the morning!

We need your help selling t-shirts and hats, handing out brochures and asking people to sign up for our newsletter and volunteer opportunities.

We'll also be promoting an event we're doing in November.

Eat at Zia Taqueria to support Local Gardens!
October 7th - 9th
All Day!
North & South Locations

Volunteers are needed to help at The Garden Project's booth at the Apple Days Festival. We'll be doing fun apple related activities with families and educating folks about our gardens. We will train you up so that you feel prepared to help.

Please sign up below to volunteer with The Garden Project!

If you are interested in picking apples or pressing juice for the event - please contact Celeste Greene at Growing Partners. Celeste@growingpartners.org

To find out more about this Growing Partners event, go to:

http://www.growingpartners.org/2014-apple-days.html

Learn the history and science of fermentation. Participants will learn what is necessary to make many different ferments, including fruit and vegetable, dairy, vinegars and beverages. Participants will sample many different ferments and take home a pint of kimchi, made in class with local/organic ingredients. Handouts and recipes included.

Participants are responsible for bringing 1 pint jar with lid, the rest of the ingredients will be supplied.

Space is limited. Must sign-up in advance.

***SOLD OUT***

This workshop is part of the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshop series. It is free for OKCG members and $15 for other community members.

Workshop series made possible by

Help CAN marinara sauce for the Manna Soup Kitchen to use all winter long!

Local farmers are donating tomatoes, onions, garlic and oregano.

Now we need your help to can jars and jars of tasty marinara for the families at Manna Soup Kitchen.

Sign up below to volunteer!

See the flyer that went out to Farmers here.

All volunteers receive 1 free ticket to the event.

Please sign up for a shift below

3:00 - 4:00 pm SET UP: Assist with setting up tables, signs, etc. (2 people needed)

3:00 - 6:45 pm VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Have an understanding of the event, schedule, and activities. Manage volunteers throughout the event. Required to meet with Mia at least once before day of event. BONUS: You get at TGP T-shirt

3:30 - 6:00 pm KIDS ACTIVITIES: You will be provided with all materials necessary. BONUS: You get a TGP T-shirt!

3:30 - 6:00 pm FLOATER: Greet musicians, walk around and see if other volunteers need help, bring other volunteers pie, etc. BONUS: You get a TGP T-shirt!

5:45 - 6:45 pm TAKE DOWN: Take down tables, signs, etc. Clean up pie tables. (2 people needed)

For more information on the Pies in the Garden Event

Ohana Kuleana Community Garden Open House & Pie Tasting Contest
Join us for our savory and sweet pie tasting extravaganza and celebration of our community garden!

$5 per person (kids 12 and under are free)
Ticket includes pie tasting, prize drawing, and voting for best pie!
*Submitting a pie (savory or sweet) get you in FREE*

Music by the Stillwater Foundation. Join us for some great tunes from so talented, local youth!

Pie Tasting Contest!
Anyone can submit a pie (and everyone should!)

There are 2 categories:
Sweet and Savory

Prize for the winner of each category!
Everyone who tastes can vote!

Contest Rules

1.     Must submit one (1) 9-inch pie (feel free to bring more!)
2.     Bring two (2) copies of the ingredient list (no need for baking directions, one with your name, one without.
        *Does not have to be an original recipe but must cite source*
3.     Submit pie day of event between 4:00pm-4:30pm

For questions please contact Mia at the mia@thegardenprojectswcolorado.org

Volunteer to receive a free ticket and more!

Community Members, Families, Master Gardeners:

Come out to the garden on Saturday to help plant donated plants from the Botanical Concepts Garden Center to expand our permaculture food forest.

Parents, Teachers, Families, Master Gardeners:

Come out to the garden on Saturday to help plant donated grapes, honeysuckle and more from the Botanical Concepts Garden Center at the school garden!

Have a bunch of veggies you can't wait to eat but too many to eat right now? Then canning is for you!

Space is limited! Please RSVP.

This workshop is part of the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshop series. It is free for OKCG members and $15 for other community members.

We will be holding this workshop in Manna Soup Kitchen's new Culinary Training Building.

How can something so small as a seed be so important?

Find out at the Seed Saving Workshop along with hands-on experience learning to harvest and save your own seeds! Become part of our community actively preserving our region's heritage and biodiversity by saving seeds.

This workshop is part of the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden workshop series. It is FREE for OKCG members and $15 per person for all others.

Workshop Presenter
	Monea Monroe started the Southwest Seed library and is a certified permaculture teacher. She was on the design team for the Colorado Permaculture Guild and is currently co-teaching the Permaculture Design Course.

Workshop series made possible by

Join us as we learn more about getting those delicious veggies from our gardens into our stomachs!

Michelle Wilson, from SNAP Nutrition Program Education, will be passing on some helpful recipes and hints for how to use veggies we tend to have plethora of and also to encourage our kids to eat them!

The whole family is welcome!

This workshop is $15 per person (FREE for OKCG Members)

Workshop series made possible by

Join us for a half-day hands-on workshop and learn how to create edible food forests and food resiliency. Lunch provided by Turtle Lake Refuge. Hands-on permaculture instruction at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden.

*Note: The 2.5 day workshop with Scott Pittman was canceled.

Taught by OKCG Designer Frank Lebeau.

We are kicking off the second season at Ohana Kuleana Community Garden with some helpful hints for your backyard (or community!) plot. All the basics you need to design and plan your garden. At the Community Garden: E 30th St and 6th Ave (below Riverview elementary).

This workshop is back by popular demand as it was a hit last year!

Workshops are free for OKCG Members and $15/person for the public.

Workshop POSTPONED until next weekend (due to wintery weather)

Do you need a space to garden this season?

Join us at the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden!

Space is filling up fast!

To Register:

Print the application (double sided if possible), fill out, and mail to

The Garden Project                                 

PO Box 4434                                

Durango, CO 81301  

Let us know  if you have preferences on where you would like a plot (e.g. "I want a plot next to Jane and John Doe (2013 members)", "I want a plot along the main path", "along the berm", etc). Keep in mind if you intended to grow tall plants and what they may shade.    

*Please note, we will do our best, but may not be able to accommodate all requests. Thank you for being flexible!

Once your plot assignment has been confirmed you will be required to pay the membership fee by May 5th or your plot may be reassigned.

The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado is sponsoring a two day workshop on design, construction and management of greenhouses for year-round food production.  Taught by Jerome Osentowski, founder of the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (CRMPI) and architect, Michael Thompson, this workshop in Basalt, Colorado will introduce you to an innovative geo-solar design that allows you to grow crops during the coldest Colorado winters.  This design is suitable for small backyard gardeners or large-scale organic farmers.

This type of system is called a "climate battery".  In the summer it has the opposite effect, acting like an air conditioning system to cool the greenhouse.  This cutting edge technology is simple and affordable.  It allows the greenhouses at CRMPI to grow tropical crops such as papaya, banana, tomato, peppers and figs at 7200 ft. elevation year round.  For more detailed information and to view a video on this subject visit http://www.crmpi.org/ or click on http://www.ecosystems-design.com/.

 

WHAT:  Greenhouse Workshop and Tour

 

WHERE:  Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, Basalt, CO 

 

WHEN:  Friday and Saturday, April 12-13

 

COST:  $205 with limited enrollment.  With full enrollment (12 attendees) the cost would be $155. The more attendees (up to 12) the cheaper the price.

 

CONTACT:  Frank LeBeau at lebeau_frank@yahoo.com  or call (970) 903-8120

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

• We will car pool from Durango
• We will most likely leave late afternoon Thursday. It is about a 5 hour drive to Basalt
• Affordable lodging is available in nearby Basalt, Aspen, Carbondale, or Glenwood Springs or free camping at the Institute
• They will serve us breakfast and lunch 
• Dinner (soup and salad) can be provided at an additional fee
• We will be back early evening on Saturday.