Folks with limited plots for gardening or limited horticulture skills might want to set aside a good chunk of time Sunday to visit the Ohana Kuleana Community Garden.
Not only can people learn about gardening from master gardener Marye Jackson, they can help Jackson celebrate her 90th birthday during an open house planned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the garden, located at 30th Street and East Sixth Avenue, below the rim of Riverview Elementary School.
Jackson, who served as the longtime master gardener of the now-closed Shared Harvest Community Garden and at the Ohana Kuleana garden, will celebrate her birthday, and a kombucha toast honoring her is planned after a 1:30 p.m. tour of the garden.
“Every Monday, we have Mondays with Marye,” said community gardener Chris Paulson. “She’s just a huge, invaluable resource for us.”
The goal at Ohana Kuleana is to produce fresh foods for at least three seasons, and Jackson’s knowledge helps gardeners meet their goals.
“A lot of people raise unique and interesting plants,” Paulson said. “This year, we have a lot of pumpkins because we’re planning a pumpkin festival in October for the kids.”
The garden has 12,000 square feet of growing space with 4,500 square feet of berm surrounding 7,500 square feet of plots, which are available in half plots or full plots. Riverview science teacher Charlie Love incorporates plots into his classes.
People interested in plots for the next growing season should contact the community garden by emailing to okcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Events begin at 9 a.m. with a morning garden tour. Also planned are a live mandolin band, a pie drop-off and tasting and a farm stand selling produce from the garden
parmijo@durangoherald.com
