The Cliffs' Park Community Garden 
for more photos see
http://cliffsparkgarden.ning.com Wish List for 2012 A joint project of Sustainable Ways, Custer 2020 and the West Custer
County Community Clinic is in the planning stage with a target of
opening a Community Garden, as part of a community health initiative, on land committed to the project by Custer
2020, the parent organization for Club America WMV, in the spring of
2010.
Sustainable Ways was awarded a grant
for 16 fruit trees at Cliffs' Park Community Garden through successfully being among the top 25 vote getters in the internet 2010 Fruit Tree Planting Foundation competition. The grant is being offered through "The Fruit
Tree Planting Foundation" and includes training about how to care for
fruit trees in this climate. It took a intensive community effort of voting each day to achieve this. Planting is scheduled for Spring 2011.
Tomato Bob's donated a variety of heritage seeds for the 2011 growing season. The donation was requested on behalf of the garden by the Custer County Veteran Service Office.
The Colorado Health Foundation awarded a grant to the Custer County Medical Center in late 2010 which includes funds for Permaculture Workshops to further design the Community Garden, including how to legally maximize the use of rainwater. One or two workshops funded by this grant will take place in 2011.
Join (or just view) the garden networking site for up to date info and Q&A's Cliffs Park Garden Interactive Network
http://cliffsparkgarden.ning.com/ Garden Workdays usually set for Saturday mornings from 10-noon. Check the Interactive site for details.
Inquiries and
requests for garden plots should be directed to
or call Buffy 783-4833
No pesticides (herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides) and no chemical fertilizer will be allowed. Soil amendment with manure, rotted hay, worm castings, compost, etc. will be encouraged, much of which will be available on site. No Genetically Engineered plants or products (hybrid plants ok.) Heirloom plants and seeds preferred (because they are open pollinated and seeds can be saved to plant the following season.) The Rules Task Group is working on specifics.
20 Individual and group plots were worked in the first phase (2010). Lots of food was successfully grown in spite of only 70 days between frosts. All this, including fencing, was made possible with donations of time and materials.
Cliffs Park: A Community Garden Wish List See below for plot plan.
For information and guidance on growing food in the Wet Mountain Valley, please consider learning from Penn and Cord Parmenter who have fantastic gardens and greenhouses on Oak Creek Grade.
Parmenter 2010 Gardening classes in Westcliffe Their first event is a seed exchange on March 2, 2010 6-7:30pm at the Westcliffe Library. (Take seeds to trade if you have any, and envelopes.) For other information collected by Sustainable Ways see:
2008 Permaculture Class Report on Parmenter Garden Tour ,
Legal rainwater use ,
2009 SW Medicinal Plant Focus Group list of Medicinal Plants that will grow here ,
how to put our gardens to bed for winter Ask your questions on the interactive
Cliffs Park Garden interactive networking site Seed Saving: In September 2010 Sustainable Ways sent Cord Parmenter to Seed School at Seeds Trust
in Arizona to learn about seed saving and how to start a seed library
here in the Wet Mountain Valley. Penn went as well and here is her
report. This followed a seed saving workshop in Westcliffe presented by Bill McDorman of Seeds Trust (co-sponsored by Sustainable Ways) in August which was heavily attended.
2010 Implementation Plot Plan (for the Southern 1/3 of the garden site):
Interium Conceptual Design of the entire 1.8 acre Garden:
The public and groups with interest in sponsoring a plot are
invited to participate in demonstration sites. These will include
xeric and dry land farming, root crops and raised beds as well as a
straw bale season-extending planting area, a composting shed and a
children's garden. The High Altitude Garden Club created a spiral herb garden.
Information will be available through the Sustainable Ways website
and
http://cliffsparkgarden.ning.com. School groups, church groups,
veterans groups, the 4H, Future Farmers of America and Kids' Clubs will
all be invited to be part of the community garden. Family plots or
individual plots are also planned. The land is just east of the
football field and north of Chloride Gulch. Parking will be available
as will water.
The garden will be called:"The Cliffs Park: A Community Garden."
Donations are requested to get the garden going this spring. If you
have surplus hay or straw bales, manure (alpaca, horse, chicken, goat, or cow), wire
fencing (6' high deer deterrent) chicken wire (to keep rabbits out),
surplus garden implements hoes, rakes, shovels, wheel barrows, or a
strong back and an interest in this community garden and topsoil please
let us know, at cliffsparkgarden@gmail.com
Donations in kind and labor will help us get additional grant
money to make this garden project a show piece for the community and
county. Cash donations will also be gratefully accepted.
Location of garden:
Minutes from Planning Meetings: