On Earth Day 2011 the Terlingua Community Garden celebrated our 3 year anniversary.
The community garden encourages local people to have a greater connection to their own food. Many people in Terlingua are limited on the amount of water they have available for growing a garden and others just simply don't have the right type of ground.
The Terlingua High School art students have added beautifully painted hubcaps to our garden space, along with other local and visiting artists.
In January 2010, weekly farmer's markets every Saturday (November through March) became a reality in Terlingua. The markets were started as a way to raise money for the community garden, but also to encourage and educate locals about the ease of growing food at home, and the importance of supporting our local food system. Our first container gardening seminar was very well attended, and there are plans for a weekend long ferrous cement seminar in November.
Over the last 3 spring seasons, Americorp volunteers have
helped to secure the garden's future with their efforts at berm reinforcement. We look forward to their return in March of this year.
"LETS GROW TOGETHER"
Community Garden
The Terlingua Community Garden
plans within two years (2013) to become the first fully sustainable community garden in our part of the country.
By fully sustainable we mean we will use rain water for our garden, solar and wind energy for powering our building and refrigeration, and have a composting toilet. Our goal is to become a shining example of growing food sustainably, for our community within the limits of our unique climate.
The Community Garden is affiliated with the Big Bend Citizens Alliance, a 501c-3 corporation.
Americorps Team March 2011
Hi Garden Supporters
The poles are up for the shade structure!
Do you know of anyone that would have wire that could be used for a gabion (water diversions) for the garden? Heavy pig wire or similar. Rusty is OK.
The Americorp group (6-10 volunteers) will be here next week to help us in the garden. We like to have them build something big --They have already helped with two gabions and the fence building. So we need materials quickly.
Also Feb 7th Berna's students will be eating a salad from the garden for lunch and will then plant our flower beds. One Way Nursery in Alpine has donated some seeds, but we could use more flower seeds.
We still need 5gal buckets and 55gal barrels.
We are growing food and flowers!
Thank you for all you do.
Zoey, Shannon and Cassandra
Can you help? Call 2172 or 3196.
In early February, the Terlingua School kindergarten, and first grade classes spent
their lunch hour in the community garden. The garden had been sharing seeds and transplants with these students since December; and we were thrilled to give them a tour and let them taste fresh veggies grown right here at home. One student exclaimed "Wow! I thought I didn't like spinach, but this is really Good!" I asked her how her mom had made the spinach at home that she had tried before, she said flatly "it came from the can". (Hmmm. I never did quite understand what Popeye found so appealing).
After learning how to harvest and taste-test a variety of greens and herbs. The kiddos planted sunflowers, and marigolds, learned the importance of using mulch to save water, and how to turn veggie scraps into dirt (the garden has been composting for 4 years with the help of local restaurants). After Spring Break, these classes will return to see how their "babies" are doing (some have germinated as of two days ago). Thank you Mrs. Devine, Mrs. Palma, and Mrs. Williford let's make this a new spring tradition! Also we thank, Sandi Smith, June Grimm for you yummy peanut butter cookies, and Rachel Maxwell for painting our faces with fun animals and vegetables.
The garden is preparing for the 4th Annual Green Scene, scheduled for Saturday April 7th. This year's proceeds will fund a 3,000 gallon water tank to help get the garden started on its way to sustainability. Within two years (2014), the Terlingua Community Garden, will be the first fully sustainable community garden in this part of
the country.
To learn more about The Green Scene, or the Community Garden visit:
Click on a photo to enlarge it.
