|
Last week signified the end of the Seed to Supper Gardening Education classes, sponsored by Healthy Archuleta. This concludes the third year this program has been offered to help community members grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. The Seed to Supper garden education program, developed by Oregon State University and adapted to our region, in partnership with Healthy Archuleta, is dedicated to teaching about growing fresh food. Healthy Archuleta supports local food production by holding yearly gardening classes, sponsoring and supporting local community gardens, and engaging our youth in the future of local food production.
This year’s program had about 20 participants. One participant said, “It was amazing. They give you an entire manual that has so much information, and the best part is we get an expert grower who answers our questions and is totally versed in Pagosa and the local growing climate.” Another participant gave praise to the same binder each participant receives when they sign up for the course, “I’ve thoroughly read the binder because it’s very well laid out and there are many charts that are all related to our growing zone.” The first three of five consecutive classes took place at the PLPOA community garden beds. The Vista Lake Community Garden beds were established in 2022 with the help and sponsorship of Healthy Archuleta. The participants worked directly on the beds, learning about soil health, structure, and amending the beds with composted materials provided by the PLPOA. These vegetable beds, which are maintained and managed by the Vista Lake Community Garden Committee, a subcommittee of the PLPOA Board of Directors, will begin growing fresh produce over the next several months and then donate the harvested vegetables to local food pantries by way of Healthy Archuleta’s Food Distribution Center. The remaining two weeks of the Seed to Supper classes were held downtown at the Pagosa Springs Community Garden and focused on transplanting, direct sowing, garden maintenance, pests, weeds, fertilizing, etc. and finally end of season harvesting, how to cook what has been grown, preserving the harvest and putting beds away for winter. These classes have become an important part of Healthy Archuleta’s involvement with the Pagosa Springs community. Over the last few years, local expert gardeners and farmers have offered their time and expertise as class instructors to help educate about growing in Archuleta County. Additionally, these classes have also been offered in English and Spanish to support our community in their gardening efforts. Where to grow fresh foods this summer If you’re looking to get gardening this summer, the Pagosa Springs Community Garden has beds available for you to grow your own fresh foods. If you don’t know what you’re doing, that’s okay! Healthy Archuelta offers support with our bimonthly Gardening Conversations at Pagosa Springs Community Garden from 9 am to 10 am all summer: June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23, September 13 and 27. We hope to see you there! Where to buy fresh food this summer Looking to purchase fresh local foods this summer? Higher Grounds recently added a Tuesday Night Market from 4 pm to 8 pm every Tuesday until Labor Day. In their parking lot, find local foods, crafts, and artisans. Mark your calendars for June 14th as the first opening day for the Pagosa Springs Farmers Market from 9 am to 1 pm at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church. Please join us this season to spend some time in the Pagosa Springs Community Garden, situated next to the San Juan Riverwalk, to enjoy lively conversations about gardening in Pagosa Springs. We not only talk about the ins and outs of gardening, but we also have discussions about our local natural surroundings. The plants that grow along the river play an important part in how our gardens thrive. These trees, shrubs, grasses, and native perennials provide food and shelter for pollinators, vital to growing some of our favorite fruits and vegetables.
The community garden beds are just now in the planting phase, so it’s a good time to see how the folks working in those beds are tending to the beds, what items they are planting or planning on growing, plus learning more about the community garden itself. There may even be some extra space to grow something if interested in spending time among fellow gardeners. Come on down, bring a folding chair and a beverage, and relax in the garden. The scheduled meetings are for June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23, and September 13 and 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (or longer if you feel like hanging out to enjoy the sunshine). Healthy Archuleta’s Growers and Producers Forum is coming up on Wednesday the 28th at the Library from 4:15 to 5:45 pm. The Forum is part of Healthy Archuleta’s dedication to advancing local food production as part of community wellness. It accomplishes the double purpose of supporting the growers and producers while at the same time educating our public to the availability of healthy local products.
This month, the forum will feature local meat producers. These community members will share about the histories of their operations and their ranching and land management practices. The presenters will share different perspectives on ranching including a third generation cattle ranching outfit begun in the 80’s that focuses on cattle production for local beef sales. Another perspective is from a family that moved to Archuleta County about three years ago to start a ranch that focuses on regenerative agriculture, who will share about their specialty pork production. And finally, a third perspective from a generational rancher with a large scale operation, with some beef being sold to the local market and some to markets outside of the County. Why is all this important to you, the consumer? First, supporting and expanding a local food supply benefits the entire community – wealth stays local also. An abundant local food supply also reduces dependence on long supply lines and the potential consequence of interruption in supply. Secondly, while the finished product has great taste, more importantly it is better for you. The animals are raised on pasture and grass finished which for beef means increased presence of important nutrients and pigs raised in a natural environment also exhibit a higher nutritional value. The Forum should be interesting to all who wish to pursue a healthy diet. Show up and discover where local meat can be found. Please join us at the Library on Wednesday May 28th from 4:15-5:45 for this important conversation. Are you wanting to support your local community and neighbors but don’t have the time or energy? We’re making it easy by hosting a Food Drive at City Market on Saturday May 10 from 10 am to 1 pm! It’s an easy action to take that has a lasting impact in our community.
According to the Healthy Archuleta’s 2024 Community Survey, 35% of residents in Archuleta County were worried that they might not always be able to afford enough food to feed themselves and their families in the next year. Participating in the food drive helps to provide some of these needed food items to our neighbors. Donated items are collected by Healthy Archuleta and shared with all the seven food pantries in Archuleta County through the Food Distribution Center. On Saturday May 10th, please stop by the Healthy Archuleta table outside City Market, pick up a shopping list, and fill a bag to support our neighbors accessing food through the food pantries this spring. If you are not able to come by the food drive, Healthy Archuleta has a donation bin located inside the UPS store in the City Market plaza. Non-perishable items can be donated during the UPS Store’s open hours. To learn more about the food drive, including the list of requested items, please visit our website at https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/food-drive.html Spring Gardening Classes
For the third year in a row now, the Healthy Archuleta sponsored Seed to Supper Gardening Education classes have begun in Pagosa Springs, being offered to those in the community wanting to learn how to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. The Seed to Supper garden education program, developed by Oregon State University and adapted to our region, in partnership with Healthy Archuleta, is dedicated to teaching about growing fresh food. Healthy Archuleta supports local food production by holding yearly gardening classes, sponsoring and supporting local community gardens, and engaging our youth in the future of local food production. The first two of five consecutive classes took place at the PLPOA community garden beds where the students worked directly on the beds, learning about soil health, structure, and amending the beds with composted materials provided by the PLPOA. These vegetable beds, which are maintained and managed by the Vista Lake Community Garden Committee, a sub committee of the PLPOA Board of Directors, will begin growing fresh produce over the next several months, and then donate the harvested vegetables to local food pantries by way of Healthy Archuleta’s Food Distribution Center. The Seed to Supper classes continue this month, the third class to be held at the newest part of the Vista Lake Community Garden community beds, near Vista Lake, where PLPOA residents can access raised garden beds to grow vegetables for their families. This community garden was established in 2022 with the help and sponsorship of Healthy Archuleta. The remaining two weeks of the Seed to Supper classes will be held downtown at the Pagosa Springs Community Garden and will focus on transplanting, direct sowing, garden maintenance, pests, weeds, fertilizing, etc. and finally end of season harvesting, how to cook what has been grown, preserving the harvest and putting beds away for winter. These classes have become an important part of Healthy Archuleta’s involvement with the Pagosa Springs community. Over the last few years, local expert gardeners and farmers have offered their time and expertise as class instructors to help educate about growing in Archuleta County. Additionally, these classes have also been offered in English and Spanish to support our community in their gardening efforts. Hydroponic Farming Last month, Healthy Archuleta harvested 35 two-ounce bags of hydroponically grown Italian basil. These were then distributed to our local food pantries. How was this done? In April 2023, Healthy Archuleta began growing fresh lettuce greens in a vertical hydroponic grow tower that is housed locally indoors. Since then, this hydroponic grow tower has grown over 1,100 heads of lettuce and donated it all to local food pantries. Additionally, three more towers have been purchased and are now fully operational. Having access to several of these hydroponic towers is providing enough produce to harvest on a bi-weekly basis. Soon, there will be a harvest of loose leaf green lettuce. There is also a quantity of Italian basil and onion chives will be ready for harvest soon. As it becomes warmer, it will eventually become too warm to grow lettuce, even indoors. However, instead of shutting down the towers over the summer, HA is attempting to grow some warm season crops, such as cherry tomatoes and sweet peppers. This hopefully will happen with the benefit of appropriate plant food, enough grow lighting and some air circulation. Within a few months, if successful, there will be some tomatoes and peppers to be harvested. This growth will be able to continue well into the fall season, when all other outdoor gardening has ceased. In between these plantings, there will be fresh greens such as chard, kale, and beet greens grown in the towers to supplement donations for the community. It is vital that fresh fruits and vegetables be accessible to everyone in our community. Healthy Archuleta seeks to continue supporting the local food pantries by offering fresh produce through its hydroponic growing system, and also by sponsoring educational opportunities to empower local gardeners to grow their own fresh food to share with their families and friends. Children participating in school meal programs are less likely to have nutrient inadequacies and more likely to consume fruit, vegetables and milk. In fact, for many students school meals are the healthiest meal they have all day. This not only helps to improve long-term health, but also closes gaps in educational achievement. Children experiencing food insecurity are more likely to miss school and struggle with tests. They struggle socially and emotionally. Hunger creates an obstacle to success. That’s why Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program is so critical.
Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program helps schools provide more than 600,000 meals each day and makes a big difference for kids in our state, including students in Archuleta County. The Archuleta School District saw a 40% increase in students eating meals at school when the program began in the 2023-2024 school year and students are continuing to participate in the program this school year as well. According to Healthy Archuleta’s 2024 Community Survey (representative sample) 73% of residents reported high food prices to be a major/minor challenge in getting enough of the food they need and want. Additionally, 35% of residents reported being worried about not being able to afford enough food to feed themselves and their families over the next year. This finding further highlights the need to bring access to free breakfast and lunch for all students in our community. In order to continue providing these vital meals to our families, we invite our community to learn about House Bill 25-1274. This bill aims to advance the program, ensure its sustainability as it expands, and facilitate initiatives like purchasing food from Colorado farmers and ranchers, bolstering our local food system. Every dollar spent locally for school food adds $1.86 to the economy, and every job created by a district’s purchasing results in an overall increase of 2.43 jobs according to a recent report. This brings money into our communities. Additionally, participating in Health School Meals for All saves families up to $1,300 per child per year. By continuing to support Healthy School Meals for All Colorado communities are investing in the health, education, and future of our children and strengthening our local economy. This isn't just about meals; it's about building a thriving, secure community for everyone. Do you enjoy gardening? Do you like to talk about gardening? Are you a plant geek? Come join Healthy Archuleta’s growing guru at the Pagosa Springs Community Garden starting this coming May. Last year’s Garden Conversation meet-ups were not only fun but also educational and enlightening, with lots of “Oh wow! That’s a great idea!” kind of talk. The Pagosa Springs Community Garden is a local community garden maintained by some of your neighbors, located right along the River Walk on the San Juan River (right next to the GGP domes). It is free and open to the public to visit every day.
So, plan to join us this lovely mid-spring season, starting with our first gathering on Saturday, May 17th, from 9 - 10 a.m. Yes, it’s only for an hour, but feel free to stay longer and just enjoy being outdoors, listening to the sounds of the San Juan River flowing nearby. Bring a folding chair, a favorite morning beverage, and even a snack if you like. Sometimes, someone in the group goes a little crazy and brings freshly baked coffee cake! Yum! Nice way to start a weekend, right? Future dates for the Garden Conversations are every other Saturday morning, May 24, June 14 and 28, July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23, and September 13 and 27. For more information on gardening-related activities in the Pagosa Springs area, please visit the Healthy Archuleta website and check out the calendar of events: https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/events--happenings.html Can’t wait until May 17th to start talking about gardening? There are still a few spots open in our 5-week Seed to Supper Garden Education Course starting Wednesday, April 23rd. These sessions take place on Wednesday evenings from 5-7 pm and will be hosted at the local community gardens. To learn more about the Pagosa Springs Community Garden, contact: [email protected]. They also have an Instagram page: @Pagosagardens or https://www.instagram.com/pagosagardens/ Interested in learning about gardening and growing fresh vegetables? Healthy Archuleta is offering a series of classes that will focus on gardening basics. The classes are being offered starting Wednesday, April 23, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm and will continue for the following four Wednesdays, April 30, May 7, 14, and 21. Vista Lake Community Garden and Pagosa Springs Community Garden have both graciously offered to provide space in their beds so that class participants can get some hands-on experience in what it takes to start a vegetable garden. The classes will cover basic knowledge about soil, how and when to start seeds, pest and disease control, and proper irrigation. Registration is open now and spots are limited.
Gardening in Pagosa Springs presents some challenges when it comes to maintaining vegetable gardens. Weather, wildlife, and access to water all play roles in how successful a growing season will turn out. With the short growing season of approximately ninety days, the amount of time needed to get seeds and start out into garden beds in time can have everyone watching the calendar. However, the limited growing season can be extended by a few more weeks with a little creativity. With access to a greenhouse, a grow dome, or even a high tunnel, growing vegetables is possible as early as April and as late as October, given the right conditions. Most vegetables will grow and mature anywhere from 45 days to 65 days; this is true of most greens, once seeds have germinated. Long-season crops such as tomatoes, squash, or peppers will begin producing within 65 to 90 days; these fall within that three-month peak temperature range, that prime time to get the most out of what grows in the ground. However, aside from the mechanics of vegetable gardening, there are other important aspects of gardening. Gardening is good for our health for a number of reasons. Usually, exercise is at the top of that list, and it’s true, being outdoors and getting a dose of Vitamin D is definitely beneficial, and it can be a good boost to our mental health. There are also the economic benefits of growing fresh fruits and vegetables in home gardens. Given the price of groceries today, growing something as easy as potatoes or onions can make a difference in our pocketbook over a season. Gardening is also a way to meet our neighbors and make connections in the community. Now is a great time to learn how to garden and start growing some of your own food, connect with some fellow gardeners, and spend some time outside in the garden. Register now to participate in the upcoming Seed to Supper garden course or visit Healthy Archuleta’s calendar of events and look under the garden course at https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/events--happenings.html. Spots are limited, so register today! You can also keep up to date by following Healthy Archuleta on our Facebook and Instagram social media sites. Are you interested in local food production? If so, before you go any further, put this date on your calendar – the next Growers & Producers Forum is on March 24th from 4-5:30 at the Library. The presentation, Strategies for Growing Food at Altitude – Greenhouse and Beyond is by Chris Frederics of Terra Walk Farm. Chris has years of experience behind him and we will come away with many new learnings about growing; that is one purpose of the Growers & Producers Forum; there are others.
The Forum also encourages networking and the sharing of opportunities and challenges. Creating a vital local food system in our area will take significant individual effort as well as community support. The Forum also welcomes the inexperienced or the frustrated grower/producer, folks who face obstacles on the way to achieving their dreams. Should you know someone who fits that description, invite them to come along. Meanwhile, hope to see you at the Forum on Monday the 24th! Healthy Archuleta is also seeking community input into the development of a food hub and wants to hear from you. Way back in 2017, before Healthy Archuleta came into being, we heard mention of a food hub during our gatherings to talk about healthy local food. Later, Healthy Archuleta created the Food Distribution Center to collect, store, and distribute food for the seven food pantries. But we realized that was only part of the story of a food hub. In fact, we understand that a food hub can be many things, and it is up to the community to decide what exactly it should be for them. Healthy Archuleta has developed a questionnaire to learn from the community about how they could use a community food hub. To share your voice, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire and let us know what you would find valuable in our community. From that, Healthy Archuleta will create a vision for the future and work to find funding to realize that vision. The Food Hub Questionnaire can be completed at https://bit.ly/4kvT2jL. On Saturday February 22 community members and visitors came together to support our neighbors who access food through the Food Pantry Network during one of Healthy Archuleta’s quarterly food drives hosted at City Market. Over 525 items were donated during the food drive and distributed among the seven food pantries in Archuleta County. Volunteers from the local food pantries supported the event to hand out shopping lists and collect the requested items for donation. Thank you to everyone who came out to support our neighbors during this food drive. If you missed the food drive, non-perishable items can be donated at any time at Healthy Archuleta’s donation bin located at the UPS Store, 135 Country Center Dr, Suite F.
In addition to supporting our neighbors accessing food at food pantries through quarterly food drives, Healthy Archuleta is also working to support the next generation of local food system champions by engaging with high school students. This semester Healthy Archuleta is engaging youth through two highschool classes, where students have the opportunity to learn about the local food system from, growing and producing food to eating nutritious foods and all the elements in between. Each week, students are participating in interactive discussions, learning from guest speakers, and engaging in hands-on activities. Some examples of the food system activities the students are participating in include a session on nutrition and learning how to read food labels, followed by a scavenger hunt at Natural Grocers to put the lessons into practice and visiting Healthy Archulet’s Food Distribution Center to learn about hydroponic food production and see the grow towers in action. Healthy Archuleta is committed to advancing a local sustainable and resilient food system that all community members can contribute to and benefit from. Community events, such as food drives, working with youth, and sharing the importance of health and local foods are just some of the ways Healthy Archuleta is working in the local food system. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed