Growing Gardens of Boulder County, Colorado

October 2000 Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 2

Contact Us!

Staff: Ramona Clark, Executive Director
Christine Nock, ¡Cultiva! Co-Director
Matthew Gelder, ¡Cultiva! Co-Director

3198 North Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304
303-413-7248 (phone) 303-413-7201 (fax)
e-mail: info@growinggardens.org

USDA GRANT APPROVED

We received funding for two years from the USDA for the Boulder Community Food Project. This project is will increase the capacity of the Boulder community to grow food within the city limits, to promote the self-sufficiency of local families in need, and create a linkage of existing services in order to create a stronger, more comprehensive food system. Part of the awarded grant goes toward funding the greenhouse! YIPEE!!

Meet Gary Hays, Master Composter
by Jo-Anne Rowley

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

Have you visited the community garden's compost demonstration site? If so you may have seen Gary Hays tending to one or more of the various compost collection bins. Gary is a master composter and for the past two years has volunteered to take charge of making compost for the gardens.

Gary became interested in composting three years ago when he first adopted plot #820. The soil was so poor he decided to improve it. He bought amendments, and in the fall added leaves and manure. The next spring he noticed a big improvement and decided to keep with it. To learn more about the process, Gary took the Master Composting Program offered by the CSU Cooperative Extension in Boulder County.

Gary notes that composting does more than improve garden soil. A compost pile allows waste material to be turned into useful goods. What might end up crowding already overstuffed landfill areas can become viable garden amendments. Composting allows the land to reach its full potential.

In the fall Gary collects all the leaves he can get his hands on as well as manure from his farmer friends have to offer. He stockpiles these goodies in a safe spot and throughout the garden season can be found layering ingredients, stirring or moistening the various compost containers at the demonstration site. Gary is happy to answer any questions or give advice to those who wish to start a compost heap on their own plot. Thanks, Gary, for a job well done!

Photo: Gary, the Compost King
Gary, The Compost King

Gary's Compost Recipe

It is not necessary to have a fancy compost collection bin. A compost pile can be either free-standing or enclosed. The minimum dimensions should be 3x3x3 to allow for heat build up. The basic recipe is 2 parts brown material (carbon) to 1 part green material (nitrogen). Brown materials include leaves and straw. Dried corn husks and newspaper are also considered browns but are hard to work with. Wood chips take too long to break down. A shovelful or two of garden soil can be added. Green material may be kitchen waste, grass clippings, weeds, and manures. The smaller the pieces added, the faster the break down. Do not add meats or oils, pet litter or pet manure. The compost pile should be stirred and turned at regular intervals and kept moist like a damp sponge. Gary notes that a properly mixed and moistened compost pile will not attract mice or other pests. Compost looks like soil when the process is completed.

Future Projects for Growing Gardens

Growing Gardens has been working with gardeners, neighbors, the city and the Long family (landowner) to develop a plan to keep the property that the community gardens are located on in agricultural use. We have a draft site plan. This plan is for the long-range development of the gardens and is still very flexible. We have attended the Old North Boulder Neighborhood meeting and got a very supportive response to the ideas as well as suggestions for changes and improvements. One thing that needs to be addressed is the traffic concerns in the neighborhood. There was a committee set up for people who are interested in coming up with a plan of action for traffic concerns. You can contact Ramona Clark @ 303-413-7248 or Bill D'Oreo @303-786-9691. These gardens are for everyone to participate in and to use. We are beginning to raise money for the greenhouse and meeting rooms to be constructed in 2001 and then the orchard. The greenhouse will support Community Food Share, the community gardens, ¡Cultiva! and provide space for gardening classes. Other ideas are a farm area where neighbors can buy produce. Also included are demonstration gardens; for example, water wise, wildlife, native plants, roses, and a place were neighbors can hold get-togethers. If you are interested in creating funding for this endeavor, please let us know.

Shade Arbor is In!

If you have been in the North Boulder Gardens you may have noticed the Shade Arbor has been completed! This is a place for the entire neighborhood to enjoy and relax in. We have planted grape vines and hopefully in a few years we will have fruits and shade. Thank you so much to Victor, Mary, Mark and Glen. Yeah, Shade!!!

Website News

If you haven't seen our website check it out! The gardeners of plots #317-318 have been very busy updating it with the latest pictures and news. Thanks so much Ann, WIndy and Penny! Here is the address: http://www.growinggardens.org
This newsletter and the ¡Cultiva! newsletter should be on the site as well, so tell your friends to take a look.

Wish List

Tractor
Computer /Printer /Fax
Cell phone
Wheelbarrows
Garden tools
1 gallon black plastic pots

It Wouldn't Happen Without Everyone Digging In!

Thank you so much for the support and involvement that has been shown this year! Thanks to the new gardeners at Foothills who are starting from scratch and plunging right in!

Thanks to gardeners who have donated to the Gardenship Fund through the city program so others can garden too.

To all who gave volunteer hours to make the gardens and the community better. We had a total of 1200 volunteer hours.

A special thank you to the Board ! Marsha Walker, Chris Webster, Macon Cowles, Barbara Vuchich, Ann Byrne, Rick Rowen, Jane Engel, Ramona Clark

Individual Donors

* Crif Crawford
* John/Katherine Crawford
* Emily Dean
* David Driscool
* Mr. & Mrs Gelder
* Marcelee Gralapp
* Wayne & Patty Greenberg
* Ann Groot
* Jim Guggenhime
* Debra Lane
* Patricia McLaughlin
* Nancy & George McKay
* William & Patricia McKay
* Dr. Alan Reisman
* Sally Ann Rhea
* Ruth Seagull
* John A. Steiner
* Viv Veith
* Barbara Vuchich
* Hj Wood

Foundations