The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado

The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado’s mission is to grow a healthier community through the development and support of youth and community garden programs that promote health and wellness, environmental stewardship and a sustainable local food system. We envision a thriving healthy community, where people are connected to their land, their food and each other through gardens.

Since 1998, The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado has helped to support and develop 19 community and school gardens with over 30 community partners and 1,500 youth and adults each year. Core projects include offering school and community garden services and education, school garden classes, after school programs, garden-based summer camp, school garden training, community workshops, and on-line curriculum and resources. Current garden programs include: Needham Elementary School Garden, Manna Soup Kitchen Garden, Ohana Kuleana Community Garden, and Miller Middle School Garden.

The Garden Project has big plans to expand our Farm to School programs in years to come. We believe the Farm to School program will support students in learning nutrtion, science, wellness and many other subjects. Most importantly, such programs give students the opportunity to connect with the land through hands-on, meaningful experiences.

During the 2016-2017 school year, our organization plans to reach 2,014 students at 3 elementary schools, one middle school and the high school in Durango 9R School District. Over the next 4 years we plan to offer Farm to School programs at all 7 elementary schools and 2 public middle schools in the district. Each year we will slowly expand the programs to include more programs at each school. By the 2018-2019 school year, we plan to be leading Garden Classes for all elementary schools in the district. This is our most robust and integrated program, reaching the most students and involving the most partners and volunteers, who would be trained through our Train the Educator Program..

This program will have multiplying effects, empowering adults in our community with training and resources to educate more children through science, healthy food and nutrition.