Garden things are happening again!
Three awesome pieces of news:
- Home Sweet Home!
Over the summer, the Hilltop Garden got a long-term home! Thanks to the past efforts of partners, volunteers and Y staffers and working in conjunction with Los Alamos County, the Hilltop Garden now has a 1-acre plot on North Mesa near the tennis courts where we can begin putting down roots! Sylvan A, Kim P, Dianna M, Sam G, Libby C, and a host of other people have invested so much time in this effort and we can’t thank you enough! A big thanks also to PEEC and the Co-op who have been hosting garden activities in the interim while we worked our way through the legalities! https://goo.gl/maps/z91uN
- A Burst of Energy!
Thanks again to a grant of federal funds through the state of New Mexico’s Youth Conservation Corp (YCC), the Y was awarded a grant that will fund a trainer and a team of workers to jumpstart the garden efforts during March – September 2015!
- Call for educational programs, seminars, speakers, trainings!
It’s time to start planning programs for spring! With all the pieces falling into place, community volunteers are still needed to forward numerous garden initiatives, including volunteering expertise and efforts! Join us October 21, 6:30pm at the Y-Express for a meeting to discuss our progress and next steps, please feel free get in touch with Diana Martinez or Jake Chapman at the Y, 662-3100, or via email at dmartinez@laymca.org or jake@laymca.org.
Do you have a favorite subject or skill that you would like to share? We are looking for programs that are:
- Based around growing food, especially practices that can be realistically continued long term in our region.
- Educational.
- For a specific age group, or all ages. Everyone can learn from the art and science of growing food!
- Any duration – from an evening seminar, to a multi-year project.
- Creative – gardening and growing isn’t just about rhubarbs and strawberries (although who doesn’t love a good pie?). Understanding soil chemistry, water use, drafting and planning, art, history, I’m sure you’re thinking of a dozen things that I can’t even imagine – could this be a place to teach what you know in a hands-on and meaningful way?
What is the Hilltop Garden?
The Y is sponsoring an educational, community garden, called Hilltop Garden (a name chosen by the entire community through an online vote). Hilltop Garden is a place where individuals, groups, families, and organizations of this community can come together through the educational and enriching experience of gardening.
The Hilltop Garden exists on a plot of county property granted for use to the Y through a RFP process. This site is located on North Mesa, near the horse stables and next to the tennis courts.
Hilltop Garden welcomes everyone to become involved in its "growth." Whether an individual, group, or organization, and whether interested in consistent volunteering in the garden or merely in occasional volunteer opportunities, Hilltop Garden welcomes you!
Hilltop Garden would also love to host any groups who are interested in visiting the garden for a "fieldtrip" or for a "daytrip outing."
To receive more information on Hilltop Garden activities, volunteering opportunities, or for garden visits please contact Diana Martinez, dmartinez@laymca.org.
Funding
LAYFP
Funding for much of Hilltop Garden's supplies, infrastructure, and activities originally came from the remainder of a State Farm grant given to the Los Alamos Youth Food Project (LAYFP). Though the terms of the State Farm grant for LAYFP has ended, the remaining amount from the grant will be used towards Hilltop Garden. The spirit of LAYFP will continue to live-on through Hilltop Garden as well. The purpose of LAYFP closely parallels a primary purpose of Hilltop Garden: "to encourage and enable youth and adults to study and apply historical and current resilient gardening practices, and through the application of these practices, to provide ongoing educational and leadership opportunities for all ages."
State Farm Grant
The Hilltop Garden received a second sizeable grant from State Farm to continue the good work that had begun. This will be used over the next few years to build up the infrastructure of the garden site, and to support activities at the garden.
YCC Grant
For the 2015 growing season (March to September), the Y gets to hire a crew of Youth Conservation Corp (YCC) workers! We are delighted to have this opportunity to jump start the garden effort. The State Farm infrastructure grants, combined with the YCC staffing grants, will multiply each other’s efforts and provide an avenue where we can do way more work with both sides supported! Community volunteers are still needed to forward numerous garden initiatives, including volunteering expertise and efforts.
Los Alamos County
Although the County is not providing any funding, they are providing an excellent piece of land at an affordable price – thank you for the support!
To learn more about what is going on, past LAYFP projects, activities, and stories, you may click the links below:
https://www.facebook.com/HilltopGardenLosAlamos
http://laymca.org/hilltop-garden.shtml
