By Emily Frost, Events and Garden Leader Coordinator
The threat of storm clouds didn’t dampen the high spirits of the neighbors, friends, gardeners, and fellow Denverites who gathered in one of the communal spaces of the TAXI development, near River North, to support the great causes of three locally based non-profits. Grow Change: A Summer Soiree benefitted three distinct organizations, all of which have space in the unique community-based workspace: Salus World; Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking; and DUG’s own Taxi Community Garden.
The months of hard work by garden leaders and other coordinators for this event clearly paid off. Folks enjoyed mingling amidst chair massages, tasty morsels of garden-based snacks, and learning more about the compelling causes they were supporting by attending. Salus World works to heal the emotional scars of human rights violations across the globe through providing a myriad of services focused on mental health and well being. The Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking aims to end human trafficking through community-based research, training and education, leadership development, and intentional collaboration. And the Taxi Community Garden is bringing neighboring businesses together to grow organic vegetables and deepen relationships in the charming, sunflower-smattered space outside their offices.
The highlight of the evening was the tour of the garden. Gardeners are growing hops and grapes up their new arbor, part of which was funded by this same fundraiser last year. A new gardener shyly pointed out her new plot, filled with healthy plants. Hers was one of three new stone planters added this year, to accommodate the growing waitlist of community members interested in being a part of the garden.
The Taxi Community Garden would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of the following sponsors: Oogave Natural Soda; Rock Bottom Brewery; Republic National; Sombra Mescal; Muir Glen; Proto’s Pizza; Hi Rise Bakery; Spinelli’s Market; Whole Foods Market; Sugar Bakehouse & Coffee Shop; Cuba Cuba; Eis Gelato; Flourish Farms; Fuel Cafe; Butler Rents; Cirro; DJ Skeem; Tewell Warren; Total Body Wellness.
