The Rotary Club of Angel Fire in partnership with several other community organizations and local businesses has just completed Phase One of a Community Garden and the beds are ready for planting. The garden is located behind the post office and between the Moreno Valley Community Healthcare Clinic and Christ our Savior Lutheran Church.
Eight raised beds have been constructed that include rich compost, covers and a drip irrigation system. Five of these eight beds have already been spoken for by community members, and one will be maintained by volunteers to benefit ALM, the local food bank. Initial owners of each bed have agreed to pay $50 to use the bed for this first season since we are getting a bit of a late start. We expect that the fee will be $100 next year. We also plan to construct at least two more beds this year and to surround the garden with a fence. Our long-range plan calls for the construction of a green house, a sand box for the kiddos and a tool shed.
We want to thank everyone who helped make this possible. Clearing and leveling the site was done by Samuels Construction at no cost. The wood chips were obtained from the Village of Angel Fire and transported to the site by Rocks y Mas, again at no cost to the project. The initial garden bed was designed, built and installed by a company from Santa Fe called Grow Y’Own. The South-Central Colfax County Special Hospital District/Moreno Valley Community Healthcare Clinic donated 10,000 square feet of land, and Christ our Savior Lutheran Church has given us access to their water well as well as providing meeting space for project planning.
Funding has been initially provided by a $5000 grant from the Taos Community Foundation and a donation of $2,000 from our partner, the Angel Fire Garden Club. We also received a $2500 grant from the Rotary Foundation.
Before starting the project, we completed a community-wide survey and learned that there is plenty of interest in this project. Plus, we have obtained support for the community garden from the Angel Fire Resort, the Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, the Angel Fire Garden Club, the Village of Angel Fire Sustainability Committee, the Always Loving Mankind Food Pantry, and the United Church of Angel Fire. If you are interested in becoming involved in any capacity, please contact Mike Overby, the Project Manager and the new President of the Rotary Club of Angel Fire at 469-222-6455 or mike.overby@expresspros.com.