Gardeners in Cortez are preparing for a second season at the Common Ground Cortez Community Garden, located near the southwest corner of the Cortez Recreation Center.
“The 2018 gardening season was a success, and with the expansion last spring adding 20 new garden plots, the garden was full of vegetables, flowers and four generations of the Cortez community growing food together,” Vaughn said in a news release.
Two garden plots – a family plot of 144 square feet and an individual plot of 64 square feet – are available to Montezuma County residents this season and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, Vaughn said.
The planting has begun. Colette Cummings and Read Brugger, who worked with the city to expand the garden, have already started lettuce and onion seedlings, with tomatoes and peppers soon to follow.
The seedlings will be featured in transplanting workshops at the garden. Many will be planted in demonstration beds where they will eventually be harvested and donated to the Good Samaritan Center food pantry in Cortez. Last year, over 200 pounds of fresh vegetables were donated to the pantry, Vaughn said.
“Our clients look for the community garden’s produce and really like the idea that it is being grown right here in Cortez,” says pantry director Kristen Tworek.
This season, garden members plan to add soil to the raised beds and create a children’s garden and a container garden. Vaughn said the group also plans community events including workshops.
The volunteer-run garden is part of a larger effort in Montezuma and Dolores counties to encourage access to affordable and healthful food.
“Common Ground’s vision is for a diverse and vibrant network of community gardens that inspires people to be self-reliant and build resilient communities by creating spaces for community members to help each other grow healthy food,” Vaughn said in the news release.
Brugger leads the group’s fundraising effort. Donors have included Tri-State Generation and Transmission, First National Bank Cortez, Dolores State Bank and the Mesa Verde Garden Club. Slavens True Value has discounted the cost of building materials, and Sprinkler Pros plans to help with gardeners’ water systems.
For more information, visit www.commongroundcortez.org or email commongroundcortez@gmail.com.
