Place Bridge Academy Community Garden

If you visit to Place Bridge Academy Garden, you might see Helen Barron among the Denver Daisies, bent over her plot pruning tomato plants. Helen, looking thin, spry, and tanned in her white skirt, a white shirt, and a white wide-brimmed hat, will eagerly tell you about her experience there as she pulls weeds and dead-headed flower bushes. A recent retiree, Helen has been gardening at Place Bridge Academy Garden since its inception in 2009. In addition to meeting people and growing her own food, Helen’s focus in the garden is to distribute extra produce to those in need. She helps tend communal plots that are designated for donations. Other gardeners here have caught on to her efforts and often leave boxes of extra produce for her to take to Metro Caring or donate to Place Bridge Academy. And there’s always extra produce at harvest time! 

Mary Shwartz, the Garden Leader, says that in 2008, six self-titled “Rag Tag Gardeners” began cultivating vegetables in the lot across from Place Bridge Academy. When DUG became involved in 2009, the garden grew to accommodate about 40 gardeners. Community members plant in individual plots but share a lush herb garden filled with dill and thyme at the entrance. 

At Place Bridge, gardeners trickle in and out of the refuge of green in the hot summer sun. C.J. Jett joins Mary and Helen in weeding and watering. C.J., who first planted carrots at the age of two on his family’s farm, is here at least every other day to tend and water his beds. He says he makes an effort to give back to the community by hauling away waste and weeding and watering the plots reserved for the school and donations. He feels a sense of responsibility to help because the school donated their land and water. C.J. loves working with his hands in the garden as a nice contrast with his professional work.

Helen and Mary see the verdant garden as a place to be creative, learn, and share as a community. This shines through in their conversation. “This squash grows well here because of the soil,” she says. “But tomatoes and strawberries don’t like this soil as much. Because of the – what is it C.J.?” she calls to the younger man.

“It’s very alkaline,” he reminds her.

“Yes, that’s it. It’s very alkaline,” she repeats.