RANGELY I The Rangely Community Gardens is gearing up to kick off its sixth growing season with plenty of activities to get both the novice and advanced gardener involved.
In hope of bringing in new gardeners they are currently running a membership drive. With numerous membership options ranging from $15 for access to the gardens for enjoyment on your schedule and invitations to all garden events on up plot rentals from $65-$80 annually or sponsorship options, there are opportunities for both those who desire to dig right it and get dirty and those who prefer to stay clean and just enjoy the beauty.
In addition to the membership drive the gardens are planning a wide variety of spring and summer activities.
On Friday morning volunteers will gather at the garden to plant the town’s flowerpots that beautifully adorn Main Street each year. Beginning at 9 a.m. the community is invited to come help fill the pots, snag a hot dog and tour the gardens.
Saturday afternoon will see the annual barbecue fundraiser for the Garden, hosted by Rangely True Value. While shopping for plants for your home garden, participants can purchase a barbecue lunch. Proceeds will benefit the Children’s Garden section.
For the heirloom plant enthusiast, coming in June the Garden will present its first annual plant sale where they will be offering heirloom only varieties grown from seed in their greenhouse and will be providing free gardening tips and education.
For those who enjoy gardening but find it challenging to manage their own garden due to unpredictable schedules, the new co-op garden may be the perfect fit. The large garden, in which they grow food to sell to the community by donation only and donate to the school lunch program, food bank and needy families, is gardened completely by volunteers.
By joining you would not only have the opportunity to serve the community through providing healthy organic vegetables, you’ll also learn gardening techniques, enjoy gardening with a group, and have access to any of the vegetables grown for your personal use throughout the season.
No experience is necessary, making it a great experience for the novice gardener to learn as well.
For those who want to manage their own private garden, there are still have a few individual plots available providing 256 sq. ft. of gardening space all to yourself. With already improved soil as well as soil amendments on site for your use such as horse manure and spoiled hay, the gardens are prepared for success. The plot rental fee includes tillers and tools available for your use, a deer proof fence, organic pest and disease control for the entire garden as well as a community of gardeners to ask for advice and help each other out. Water is included with the $65 season fee.
The main attraction for young gardeners is always the children’s garden, which is open and ready for the season. Kids are welcome to come explore, play and get dirty while expanding their imaginations in the mud kitchen and play house. The children’s garden club will also be starting up soon, and is free and open to anyone. The garden is currently looking for a sponsor to cover the cost of maintaining and growing the children’s garden.
New to the garden this year will be the exciting addition of rabbits, chickens and geese. These animals will provide fertilizer as well as weed control.
Many of of the exciting additions and work done at the gardens would not be possible without the many volunteers who donate countless hours. On May 12 Williams Pipeline crew will be add to the volunteerism of the garden by donating a day of work for the second year in a row as part of their “Day of Caring” project.
With so many opportunities for new and experienced gardener and local families the Community Garden is set to help you have a fruitful growing season filled with beauty, dirt and some truly locally grown produce.
Interested gardeners, botanists and potential sponsors should contact Beth Wiley at 970-274-1239 or [email protected].
