What happens in the winter time?

A DeLaney volunteer puts freshly planted garlic to bed for the winter. Here at DUG, our staff are constantly being asked about what we do in the winter time. It's a fair question, especially on days like today, when the sky is grey and the ground is covered in snow! The truth is, things never really slow down. During the growing season we are busy partnering with residents to build new community gardens; helping community members find gardens to join; supporting school garden clubs, youth farmers' markets, and other youth programs; growing tons of veggies at our community farm; supporting garden leadership; distributing free seeds and transplants to communities in need; teaching weekly compost classes; and scores of other activities geared at empowering communities and creating local access to fresh, healthy food. 

This time of year, our biggest task is evaluating, improving, and preparing programs for next year. We are also busy planning new community gardens, creating and updating resources, making field plans for our community farm, and facilitating our ongoing education and outreach programs. 

So even though it's chilly outside and the gardens are all buttoned up for the year, we have a ton of options for you to keep growing and learning: 

• Our Master Composter and Master Community Gardener training programs are both accepting applicants right now! Both programs take place over several weeks in the spring, and provide valuable information and outlets for giving back to the community. 

• Our ongoing Helping Kids Get Healthy Workshop Series trains youth educators in faciliting DUG's School Garden and Nutrition Curriculum. The next workshop is in January. Stay tuned for details!

• Speaking of youth curriculum, it's all here, online, for free! DUG's School Garden and Nutrition Curriculum has been recently updated to reflect new health standards. 

• Can't get enough of school gardens? We just released the first edition of our brand new school garden newsletter, The Educational Carrot. Click here to view the first issue. Click here to subscribe. 

• Looking to volunteer or intern with Denver Urban Gardens? Click here to join our general volunteer list, which keeps you posted on volunteer opportunities with all DUG programs. Click here to be notified of upcoming internship opportunities. 

• The deadline to apply for our Free Seeds and Transplants program is on February 1st, 2012. Click here to receive a reminder to pick up your application in January. 

• Thinking about starting a community garden? Check out the first installment of our new webinar series, created in partnership with LiveWell Colorado.  

• We recently reformatted our website, and added a new section to highlight our exciting research with the Colorado School of Public Health. This is also where you'll find our documentary, A Garden in Every Neighborhood. 

Gardeners: how are you spending your free time, now that your garden is put to bed? Tell us in the comments!

Whole Foods Market 5% Day for DUG

On Wednesday, September 14th, 5% of total sales from four Whole Foods Market locations will be donated to Denver Urban Gardens, and our partners at Slow Food Denver and Sprout City Farms. This proceeds of this incredibly generous fundraiser will support our collective work in building school-based community gardens, and providing hands-on education in nutrition and gardening at Denver Public Schools. The four participating locations are:

Whole Foods Market Capitol Hill
Whole Foods Market Cherry Creek
Whole Foods Market Colorado Boulevard
Whole Foods Market Tamarac 

Whole Foods Market has long supported our efforts to bring healthy eating and gardening to our community schools. This community support day is your chance to join Whole Foods Market and Denver Urban Gardens in supporting school-based community gardens. Do your grocery shopping at a participating Whole Foods Market on Wednesday, September 14th, and help us raise money for school gardens!

Fairmont School Community Garden on the News

Channel 2 recently higlighted the DUG community garden at Fairmont Elementary School in the Baker Neighborhood! The Fairmont School Community Garden is home to a Youth Farmers' Market, and is gardened by teachers, students, volunteers, as well as members of the surrouding community. 

For more information about Denver Urban Gardens' youth education programs, please click here. For information about our Youth Farmers' Market Program, please click here. 

Youth Farmers' Markets

Our youth gardeners have been busy this summer! Check out what they have been growing and buy some fresh local produce. There are three markets this weekend:

• Fairmont Elementary: 
  3rd and Fox, Saturday, July 16th, 9:00 - 11:00am

• Cole: 
  At the new Five Points Farmers' Market at 2505 Welton St, Saturday, July 16th, 9:00am - 2:00pm

• Fairview Elementary: 
  12th and Decatur, Sunday, July 17th, 12:00 - 2:00pm 

DUG, in partnership with Slow Food Denver, works with schools to coordinate summer youth-run farmer’s markets to bridge the school year, provide additional opportunities for learning, and establish year-round continuity between the volunteer mentors and the children.  The youth markets offer healthy food to communities, promote nutrition, demonstrate healthy meal preparation in partnership with local chefs, and develop community capacity and leadership. Click here to learn more about Denver Urban Gardens' School Garden and Nutrition Programs.

School Garden Intern

Denver Urban Gardens is looking for a 2011 School Garden Intern. This intern will be responsible for supporting both administrative and fieldwork tasks that relate to school-based community gardens and their related youth programs in the Denver metro area. The deadline to apply is May 11th, so don't wait!

Click here to learn more.