Genesee Community Garden

1. Genesee Community Garden Presentation to the Board August 11, 2010

2. Overview • Benefits of a garden • Status • General design and operation • Pros and cons of sites • Cost estimates • Next steps *Photos from Boulder Community Garden Website and Denver Urban Gardens

3. General Benefits of Community Gardens • Health – Gardeners eat healthier food, get more exercise • Sense of Community - Provides an area for community gatherings, interaction. Can be used as a vehicle for broader community involvement, such as donations to food banks, activities with youth groups. • Environment – Producing food locally is better for the environment • Education – Gardeners can learn from each other, kids can get hands-on experience • Food - Provides opportunity for people to grow their own food, which is difficult in Genesee with deer/elk

4. …And Specific Benefits for Genesee • Consolidates the need for tall deer/elk fencing in one area • Makes Genesee a “greener” community • Diversifies common space uses, provides a place for community gatherings • Can be self-supporting after construction through plot fees • Opportunities for new community events – e.g. annual pumpkin sale, garden parties, etc.

5. Status • Public meeting held May 20, 2010 • 33 people attending, 20 interested in plots • Meeting with Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) staff on June 29, 2010 • General advice on building a garden • DUG Executive Director is a landscape architect and assessed the pros/cons of 4 possible sites in Genesee • Volunteers gathering information on cost estimates to build

6. Design Considerations • Initial size 100’x100’, 20 plots, 10’x15’ each. Expand if needed. • Fenced 8-10’ high • Include common area with picnic tables, shade, shed for tools • Charge annual fee per plot to cover operating costs ($50-$75) • Make ADA accessible

7. Site Assessments School Site • Pros • Central location – most accessible • Flat, good sun exposure • Parking available • Water to site but no permanent tap • Easily expanded • Cons • Land leased, not owned by Genesee • Visual exposure to surrounding neighbors • Natural springs may be an issue, requiring drainage system

8. Site Assessments (cont.) Eastern Montane Dr. Bend • Pros • Beautiful location with maybe better soils • Cons • No existing water tap • Issues with getting down to site • Would require terracing • Parking issues

9. Site Assessments (cont.) Solitude Site • Pros • Water available • Existing restroom • Existing parking • Fence already exists along one side • Good sun exposure • Least visible site • Cons • Would require terracing • Need to take out some trees • Utility box nearby, need to check location of lines • May be difficult to expand • Not as centrally accessible

10. Site Assessments (cont.) Montane Rd. Maintenance Staging Area • Cons • Only staging area for maintenance • No existing water tap • Would need to build bridge over drainage to access site • Would require terracing • Large tree in center • Site is small

11. Cost Estimates • Grading: $2,000-$3,500 • Fencing: $10,000-$11,000 • Water distribution: $2,000-$4,000 • Soil amendment and gravel: $3,000 • Shed: $2,000-$3,000 TOTAL ESTIMATE: $19,000-$24,500* *Note: Does not include the cost of a retaining wall if site requires terracing.

12. Garden Concerns • According to DUG, most common concerns related to community gardens are visual impacts, smells, increased people/traffic, lights, and noise. • Each of these can be addressed through site selection, design, and/or governance. • Many people wonder what will grow in our mountain environment • Just about anything, if you choose the right varieties. There are many resources available for learning about high altitude gardening.

13. Garden Concerns (cont.) • Additional concern in Genesee seems to be that small number of people involved does not justify costs. • Per DUG, the average community garden impacts 100 people directly, not just the gardeners. • “Each of the community gardens in the Denver Urban Gardens network typically serves a group of residents within the immediate neighborhood. A garden reaches its potential when a diversity of interests is represented in the cross-section of participants, including: neighborhood gardeners, youth groups, schools, churches, local businesses, clubs, senior groups, artists, food banks, like-minded organizations, etc. In many cases, DUG gardens become the home base for other community events like block parties and clean ups, performances, health and education programs, and neighborhood meetings and festivals. They are also a frequent destination for school field trips.” DUG • Need a diversity of open space uses to meet community needs. • Garden can be self-sustaining after it is built through plot fees and potentially through sale of produce from common plots (flowers, pumpkins, herbs).

14. Next Steps • After Board approval, community input, and site selection, next steps would be: • Bids for grading, plumbing, and fencing • Construction of site by contractors • Layout of plots and paths and soil amendment done by gardeners