THE GARDEN PROJECT OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO
One garden at a time
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Garden Project works to educate youth and adults about health and nutrition, self-sustainability, and gardening. We work to support a robust food infrastructure in our rural region, by building and maintaining school gardens and farm to school initiatives, community gardens and community connections with the beautification of city lots, as well as CSA delivery and pop up markets for those that identify as food insecure in our area.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Youth Gardening Programs
Our youth gardening programs include:
- After-school programs like Dirt Club & Garden Team
After school program feature a weekly theme such as, Be a Water Hero, Beneficial Insects, Plant Parts. These programs also include snacks, art activities and hands-on work in school gardens. Dirt Club broadened the age range of students who could participate during Spring 2016 with an extra after school program targeting older students (3rd - 5th grades) called Garden Team. Also new in spring 2016 was Garden Squad which targeted Miller Middle School students to work in their school garden.
- Farmer Days
Brought local Farmers into the schools to lead lessons with elementary school students.
- Garden Based Science Lessons
Lessons were offered to each grade (K - 5) at 9-R (7 elementary schools total), provided by a Garden Educator who came to classrooms, and cover Colorado Academic Science Standards that the 9-R science curriculum department identified as needing extra support.
- Garden to Cafeteria/Taste Tests
Give students the opportunity to taste and reflect on a vegetable. The goal is to connect students with food from the garden, and increase their likelihood of trying fresh fruits and veggies at home or at lunch.
- Junior Gardeners Summer Camp
A three-week summer camp where students work in the garden (harvesting, washing, weeding, sowing seeds), creating art projects, cooking, and working with guest presenters on topics like: cooking, uses of edible weeds, pollinators, composting, vermicomposting, and garden yoga.
Food for All: Manna Soup Kitchen Garden
he Manna Soup Kitchen Garden grows for meals at the soup kitchen which serves homeless and struggling families. Weekly workdays are organized throughout the season.
- Manna Market: Free Produce Stand
The goals of the Manna Market were to redirect fresh produce from the waste stream (stores, farms, gardens) and into the kitchens of food insecure families, help community members add more fruits and vegetables to their diet, and empower people to take charge of their health through diet and nutrition.
- Manna Culinary Arts Workshops
The goals of the Culinary Arts Workshops are to provide the Manna Culinary Arts Students with an introduction to "farm to table" and to enhance students' education with gardening and self-sufficiency skills.
In 2016 four workshops on the following topics were offered: Beginning Gardening and Plant Identification, Mushroom Foraging, Fermentation: Kimchi + Sauerkraut, Introduction to Canning.
Community Garden Programs
We support community gardens with leader trainings, resources, workshops, and garden network benefits like discounts at nurseries!
For example, the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden, started in 2013, is intended to provide space to grow an abundance of healthy food for a diverse community, while also providing a place where people can gather to learn and share ideas or to relax in a peaceful and beautiful setting. Ohana Kuleana are Hawaiian terms that means "Community Responsibility: we all own each other's actions."
The garden is on a half-acre plot with over 12,000 square feet of growing space (4,500 sf berm surrounding the garden and 7,500 sf of plots). There are 45 plots available to be rented for the season (May-October)
Monthly workdays & potlucks bring garden members together to share in hard work, harvest, and laughter.
Workshops provide education on organic gardening methods for the whole community.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We aim to accomplish three main goals:
1) To educate youth and adults with hands-on, project-based STEM garden lessons;
2) To link those in our region to healthy, affordable, local produce, and;
3) To develop and distribute food to those in need.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We utilize in-class lessons, after-school time and summer sessions for educational activities with youth.
We run workshops and events for adults with our nonprofit partners in town.
We manage and maintain three showcase gardens in town, which include one community garden, a large school garden, and the garden at our local soup kitchen.
We link those in our community to healthy, local produce, via markets and events that reduce stigma and get produce into the hands of those who need it most.
We collaborate on events that encourage exercise, nutrition and overall health.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
In the 20-year history of the Garden Project, we have served nearly 30,000 people. We have connected community members with volunteer projects and special team development days, garnering over 15,000 hours of volunteer time. We have supported the creation of over 22 gardens in La Plata County, decreasing food waste, supporting food production and food distribution.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Annually we reach over 5,700 participants, provide over 8,400 educational hours, benefit from 2,300 volunteer hours, and harvest over 4,200 pounds of produce. Next steps include moving towards a unified and robust food system in our area and connecting the dots on behalf of partner organizations, people and farmers.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
THE GARDEN PROJECT OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO
Board of directorsas of 06/25/2019
Alyssa Murray
Conservation Legacy, Colorado Master Gardener
Term: 2016 - 2019
Brittany Cupp
Mountain Motion Media, Colorado Master Gardener
Term: 2017 - 2020
Nora Stafford
Retired Durango school teacher, Colorado Master Gardener
Mike Kaiser
Keller Williams Realty
John Floyd
Lauren Savage
Fort Lewis College
Ellen Smith
Parent
Patsy Ford
Retired HR San Juan Basin Public Health, Colorado Master Gardener
June Russell
Public Accountant
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes