2014-Evening Garden Planting at Rowan Gardens

Start Date-End Date: 05/27/2014-05/27/2014 Land Manager Office: Grow Local Colorado Land Manager Contact: Barbara Masoner Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Help prepare a local community garden for the growing season on this evening project. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE Rowan Gardens, a facility of Urban Peak, provides permanent housing to homeless youth with physical disabilities and mental illnesses. Urban Peak is an organization that helps homeless and at-risk youth overcome real life challenges by providing essential services and a safe community, empowering them to become self-sufficient adults. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY Volunteers will work to plant a vegetable garden, enhancing both beauty and functionality of this youth organization's site. This project is one of several in which we will be planting vegetable gardens whose purpose is to demonstrate the beauty of edible gardens, engage community participation, and inspire Denver residents to grow their own vegetable gardens. In addition, all produce will be donated to local organizations including local food banks, homeless shelters, and families in need. Volunteer work will be fun, easy, and child-friendly. Tasks will involve preparing the garden beds, weeding, working the soil, and planting vegetable seeds and seedlings. PARTNERS & SPONSORS Grow Local Colorado Urban Peak Xcel Energy The Boeing Company Oracle Clif Bar & Company Latitude/Longitude: 39.68682, -104.988426 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Easy High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 10 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 6 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 6 Total Unique Volunteers: 6 Total Volunteer Hours: 12 Staff Hours: 5 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: On Tuesday, May 27th, 6 volunteers met at Urban Peak's Rowan Gardens Apartments, a facility for at-risk youth in transition near the University of Denver, to maintain and plant garden beds totaling approximately 85 sq ft. Volunteers planted tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, kale, lettuce and much more! The garden will be maintained by residents and staff at the apartments and, produce from this garden will go directly to the residents, giving them an opportunity to learn to garden, cook and other healthy life skills.