The new raised-bed garden plots at the north end of the Bayfield Elementary School classroom wing are coming to fruition just in time for classes to start. Parents are invited to come look at them at the back to school open house on Monday, Aug. 22.
The beds reflect a huge effort from community volunteers and business donors.
Pine River Garden Club volunteers were busy setting out flowers, herbs and vegetables on Aug. 6.
There were 6x8-foot planting beds outlined with railroad ties on the site before. "We tried flowers, veggies, but the soil was pretty worn out," garden club president Kami Larson said. "It wasn't a workable space." The soil there is heavy clay and won't drain.
She recounted that Carolyn Brown and Bonnie Cotton, both master gardeners, "had been trying to keep the school garden going for several years, but the soil was worn out, grass and ants were taking it over and it just needed an overhaul. Last fall, Botanical Concepts of Durango donated about $1,000 worth of compost, shrubs and perennials to us at the end of the season and we knew we had the start of a good overhaul. I wrote a grant to Whole Foods and received $2,000 early in the year. This made our renovation plans expand, and shortly after, we received money from First National Bank and Bayfield PTSA."
She told the Times, "We moved the old beds and repurposed them into some planters. Then we dug a trench for drainage (with equipment rental donated by Southwest Ag) and filled it with gravel."
Then a layer of cinder blocks went in. Those too were filled with gravel. That happened right as school was getting out in May. Larson speculated that kids will be excited to see how much has changed since then.
Four Corners Materials donated 23 tons of gravel, and Eagle Block gave them a deal on the blocks and delivered them, Larson said. Cali Rizzi's Spring Mountain Growers near Ignacio donated all the bedding plants that were being set out.
"The community support has been phenomenal," Larson said. On top of the blocks are three layers of "earth bags." Volunteers filled those with 26 tons of aggregate and tamped them down. Kaki Hunter and Doni Kiffmeyer, promoters of earth bag construction, came from Moab to help on two weekends. "We couldn't have done it without them," Larson said.
The earth bags were covered with three layers of stucco. That was led by Carson Fullager of Plaster by Carson. "We needed an expert. He donated a huge chunk of time. He totally saved the day without question," Larson said.
"He worked with us and then did the finish coat. That was donated by Integrated Wall Works." Durango Nursery donated sand for the stucco.
Southwest Ag donated soil with old horse manure, as well as equipment rental.
Other donors include La Plata Electric Association, Farm Bureau, Wal mart, Home Depot, Lewis True Value, Grand Junction Pipe and Supply, and Leeder Construction, which will provide wood chip mulch for the walking paths.
The mulch will raise the paths to the top of the block layer to create a short reach for kids to kneel and work in the garden "and play in the dirt," Larson said.
"Reclametals has committed to donating metal and pipe for a pergola or fence in the future when we have more funds and have a better idea of what will work best in the space."
Larson, Bonnie Cotton, Andrew Trujillo and Mimi Salber were setting out bedding plants on Aug. 6. Gina and Don Abalos also were helping with other chores. Lloyd Wade wasn't there that day, but he'd been there almost every other day, Larson said, estimating that at least 1,000 man hours have gone into the beds. Three garden sections were left open for teachers who asked to use the garden this fall.
Along with flowers set out on Aug. 6, there were vegetables - tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, kale, chard, cucumbers, and radishes, as well as herbs. The BES food service staff will work to incorporate some of the garden produce into school meals, Larson said. And items could be included in a kids' after-school cooking class as well. Spanish teacher Maria Miller is in charge of that. "She was very helpful in how do we make this space useful and welcoming to the kids," Larson said.
Garden club members will support school staff in taking care of the planting beds. Several teachers will use it this fall as part of their lessons, Larson said.
"You can teach anything out here. I know (BES counselor) Rob Stafford said before, often the kids that have behavior issues, their reward (for good behavior) was to be able to come in the garden and pick a flower or a vegetable."
Next summer, beds will be rented to community members, as is done with the Pine River Library community garden. It will be more convenient for families that live near BES, Larson said.
"We really look forward to getting more people involved in it," she said.
