Meet Corine, gardening with DUG since she was a baby

Hi everyone! My name is Corine Roberts-Niemann.

I was born and raised in Denver and currently work for the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment working to protect and improve the City’s streams, rivers, and lakes. I have a passion for studying and working to protect our environment and elevating the accessibility for those who didn’t grow up with the privilege of having ready access to the natural world. This passion grew in large part from my experience growing up with Denver Urban Gardens (DUG).

I am literally a DUG baby.

My mother, Marty Roberts, was one of the founders of DUG and along with many other neighbors, built Pecos Community Garden with her bare hands. My mom tells stories of strapping me to her back in a baby wrap and working alongside the other gardeners to clear the original garden lot. I grew up digging worms and eating tomatoes off the vine.

As I grew older it became my responsibility to turn over the earth in our plot every spring and spend my weekends weeding and watering. What I once viewed as a chore I now recognize as a privilege. The ability to grow fresh food and have a green sanctuary just a stone’s throw away from downtown Denver was/is life changing.

Growing up as part of a community garden has led to many lifelong friendships. The same kids I grew up chasing bugs with now have children of their own and through the food they grow are passing on their cultural traditions. Being part of my community garden and in turn DUG has given me the opportunity to experience the cultural traditions of the diverse people who have participated in the Pecos

Community Garden over all these years. Some of my fondest garden memories are of our Fall Harvest parties. As the corn ripens on the stalk, we all come together to share dishes made from the various things everyone grew in our plots. It’s through food and stories that our community was built.

Now as an adult I carry on the torch for the Pecos Community Garden as the garden leader and strive to fill the large shoes of those who came before me and honor the legacy DUG was built on.