Opportunities From: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Where You’ll Be: 

Nestled near the University of Denver campus, Observatory Park is a charming green space that blends history with recreation. Home to DU's historic Chamberlin Observatory, the park features century-old trees, an expansive playground, and open fields perfect for picnics or a friendly game of frisbee. 

What You’ll Do: 

Join us for a fun and meaningful way to give back to your community! Volunteers ages 8 and up will help plant a vibrant vegetable garden in Observatory Park.    

Guided by Grow Local Colorado staff, you’ll learn what vegetables are being planted and why, as well as how to strategically place each plant to ensure optimal growth and productivity. Whether you're a gardening pro or a complete beginner, this is a great opportunity to gain new skills, ask questions about your own garden, or get inspired to start one for the first time. 

As a bonus, participants may be able to take home extra seeds and seedlings, while supplies last! 

Why It Matters: 

The vegetables planted will be harvested in the fall and donated to local food banks, homeless shelters, and families in need, addressing food insecurity in our community. Through this partnership with Grow Local Colorado, you'll help foster a more connected community, showcase the beauty and benefits of edible gardens, inspire others to grow their own food, and support a more sustainable food system by reducing the carbon footprint of food production and distribution. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

Ages 8+   

Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.   

A Denver Parks & Rec waiver is also required. 

Project Difficulty: 

This project is considered easy, please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.

General physical considerations for participating on this project. Some or all may apply: kneeling, bending, and working close to the ground for extended periods.

Access Factors: 

Vehicle Access: Street parking is within a 5–10-minute walk to the project site. This project may be accessible via public transit for you or accessible via bike!

If you enjoy urban gardening/farm projects, you can view similar projects here.

Where You'll Be:

The Colorado Governor's Mansion, located in the heart of Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood, is a member of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Originally built as a private residence in 1908, it was given to the State of Colorado as an executive residence in 1959. In 2011, Governor Hickenlooper donated the plants that would become the First Family's Giving Garden, planted by Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado with Grow Local Colorado.  

What You'll Do:

This is an easy and rewarding way to get outside and give back to your community. Volunteers ages 8+ will have the opportunity to help plant the veggie gardens at the Governor's Mansion.

Grow Local Colorado staff will lead the day's activities and share with volunteers what vegetables will be planted and why, as well as help volunteers understand where each plant will go in the garden to ensure optimal growth and productivity. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their questions about their own home gardens, or you can use this opportunity to learn how to start one for the first time!

Participants may have the opportunity to take home extra seeds and seedlings, while supplies last!

Why It's Important:

The produce that will be planted will mature in the fall and be donated to local organizations including food banks, homeless shelters, and families in need. This partnership with Grow Local Colorado creates a more connected community; demonstrates the beauty and efficacy of edible gardens; inspires residents to plant their own vegetable gardens; and contributes to a more sustainable food chain by reducing our carbon footprint.

Eligibility Requirements:

Ages 8+

All youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older.

Background checks will be required for all volunteers and staff in attendance. The checks will need to be completed about two weeks in advance of the event date, and they must be hand-signed with black pen and then emailed to the VOC Project Manager. No electronic signatures will be accepted.

Project Difficulty:

This project is considered easy, please check our difficulty rating criteria, here, for more details. 

General physical considerations for participating on this project. Some or all may apply: kneeling, bending, and working close to the ground for extended periods.

Access Factors:

Vehicle Access: Street parking is within a 5–10-minute walk to the project site. This project may be accessible via public transit for you or accessible via bike!

Where You’ll Be: 

Christ the King Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has a proud history in the Harvey Park neighborhood of Southwest Denver dating back to its founding in 1956. The congregation was originally rooted in the rapid growth of the neighborhood in the late 1950s. They have partnered with Grow Local Colorado since 2018 and their plot is a wonderful example of how productive sheet mulch gardening can be. 

What You’ll Do: 

This is an easy and rewarding way to get outside and give back to your community. Volunteers ages 8+ will have the opportunity to help plant the vegetable gardens at Christ the King Church. 

Grow Local Colorado staff will lead the day's activities and share with volunteers what vegetables will be planted and why, as well as help volunteers understand where each plant will go in the garden to ensure optimal growth and productivity. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their questions about their own home gardens, or you can use this opportunity to learn how to start one for the first time! 

Participants may have the opportunity to take home extra seeds and seedlings, while supplies last! 

Why It Matters: 

The produce that will be planted will mature in the fall and be donated to local organizations including food banks, homeless shelters, and families in need. This partnership with Grow Local Colorado creates a more connected community; demonstrates the beauty and efficacy of edible gardens; inspires residents to plant their own vegetable gardens; and contributes to a more sustainable food chain by reducing our carbon footprint. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

Ages 8+   

Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.   

Project Difficulty: 

This project is considered easy, please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.

General physical considerations for participating on this project. Some or all may apply: kneeling, bending, and working close to the ground for extended periods.

Access Factors: 

Vehicle Access: Parking is right next to the garden. This project may be accessible via public transit for you or accessible via bike!

If you enjoy urban gardening/farm projects, you can view similar projects here.

Where you'll be:

Community Ministry is a social service organization, food/clothing pantry, and community resource that has been meeting the basic needs of individuals experiencing economic hardships and related problems in the Ruby Hill neighborhood since the 1960s. Grow Local Colorado and Community Ministry have been partnering since 2012 to ensure low-income residents in southwest Denver have access to healthy food choices.

What you'll do:

This is a rewarding way to get outside and give back to your community. Volunteers ages 8+ will have the opportunity to help plant the vegetable gardens at Community Ministry. 

Grow Local Colorado staff will lead the day's activities, share with volunteers which vegetables will be planted and why, and help them understand where each plant will go in the garden to ensure optimal growth and productivity. Volunteers are encouraged to bring questions about their own home gardens, or use this opportunity to learn how to start one for the first time!  Participants may have the opportunity to take home extra seeds and seedlings, while supplies last!

Why it's important:

The produce that will be planted will mature in the fall and be donated to local organizations, including food banks, homeless shelters, and families in need. This partnership with Grow Local Colorado creates a more connected community, demonstrates the beauty and efficacy of edible gardens, inspires residents to plant their own vegetable gardens, and contributes to a more sustainable food chain by reducing our carbon footprint.

Eligibility Requirements:

Ages 8+

All youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older.

Project Difficulty:

This project is considered easy. Please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.

General physical considerations for participating in this project (Some or all may apply): kneeling, bending, and working close to the ground for extended periods.

Accessibility Factors:

Vehicle Access: Public street parking available within a 5-10 minute walk to the project site. This project is accessible via RTD public transit or bike.

Where You’ll Be: 

Located in Denver’s charming Platt Park neighborhood, Harvard Gulch Park is a community favorite, offering something for everyone. Spanning several blocks, the park features running paths, volleyball courts, an outdoor pool, a 9-hole golf course, and the Harvard Gulch Recreation Center. 

What You’ll Do: 

Enjoy a fun and fulfilling way to connect with your community and the outdoors! Volunteers ages 8 and up will help plant the vegetable gardens at Harvard Gulch Park, contributing to a beautiful and productive space that benefits both the park and the local community. 

Led by Grow Local Colorado staff, you’ll learn which vegetables are being planted and why, along with how to place each plant for optimal growth and productivity. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a first-timer, this is a great chance to gain new skills, ask questions about your own garden, or find inspiration to start one. 

As a bonus, participants may have the opportunity to take home extra seeds and seedlings—while supplies last! 

Why It Matters: 

The vegetables planted will be harvested in the fall and donated to local food banks, homeless shelters, and families in need, addressing food insecurity in our community. Through this partnership with Grow Local Colorado, you'll help foster a more connected community, showcase the beauty and benefits of edible gardens, inspire others to grow their own food, and support a more sustainable food system by reducing the carbon footprint of food production and distribution. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

Ages 8+   

Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.   

Denver Parks & Rec waiver is also required. 

Project Difficulty: 

This project is considered easy, please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details. 

General physical considerations for participating on this project. Some or all may apply: kneeling, bending, and working close to the ground for extended periods.

Access Factors: 

Vehicle Access: Street parking is within a 5–10-minute walk to the project site. This project may be accessible via public transit for you or accessible via bike!

If you enjoy urban gardening/farm projects, you can view similar projects here.