There is a lot on Casa Verde Garden’s agenda this year. A “Three Sisters” community plot is in the works, and it will use an ancient technique of inter-planting corn, beans, and squash. These “sister” plants mutually benefit each other: beans fix nitrogen in the soil, corn is a heavy feeder and provides support for the bean stalks, and squash helps to shade the soil and deter weeds. There are plans to donate produce from some of the garden’s plots to the new farmer’s market run by Fairview students in Sun Valley.

In addition, Casa Verde has a beautiful mural, which will be repaired this year. The mural is on the wall of a friendly tiendita next door to the garden. Originally started in partnership with Mi Casa Resource Center, this garden has worked to bring this community together. Permanent features include trees for song birds, shrubs, grass, a tool storage bin, a trellis shade structure, a central walkway with flagstone, benches, flowering vines, compost area, and a plaza.