About the garden
Samuels is a Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) community garden. The garden was built in 2011-2012 and expanded in 2016. A DUG Food Forest (mini orchard) was added in 2022.
There are 55 total plots. 42 are available to community gardeners. 11 are reserved for school activities and are used for donations to a local food pantry during the summer months. 1 is a worm bin. 1 is an herb garden. There are fruit trees, berry bushes, and many flower beds inside the garden. And there are fruit trees, berry bushes and other edible plants in the food forest on the north slope outside the garden.
Each DUG garden is managed independently by community volunteers. Samuels Community Garden is currently managed by:
- Sue Mathison - Plot 17 - Garden Manager
- Lindsey - Plot 43 - Food Forest Manager
- Chuck - Plot 36
- Keith - Plot 45
- Kerry - Plot 23
- Kelsey - Plot 35
- Laura - Plot 33
- Hannah - Plot 16
Contact any of us at samuelsgarden2011@gmail.com
Step 1a - Prospective gardeners, complete a short application to get on the waitlist
Click here to fill out the Samuels Gardener Application
Step 1b - New Gardener Orientation
When you reach the top of the waitlist, we will contact you to schedule a time to meet at the garden. We'll give you a tour, go over the rules and answer any questions.
Step 2 - Choose a plot or change plots
New gardeners, you can choose from the plots that are open when your name gets to the top of the waitlist.
Returning
gardeners, we assume that you will stay in the plot you already have.
However, you are welcome to switch. Please let us know if you would like
a different plot. You can choose from the plots that are open at the
time of your request.
Step 3 - Complete a basic background check every 5 years
Because the garden is on Denver Public Schools (DPS) property, all adult gardeners are required to complete a "name only" background check once every 5 years.
Sterling Volunteers handles the background checks for both DUG and DPS. If you have a current a background check as a parent or volunteer for DPS, you can share that with DUG. Otherwise, you will need to complete a background check through DUG's account. Instructions will be provided.
Step 4 - Register with DUG and pay your garden fees
Registration usually opens in February or March. Registration and payment are due by April 30. If you do not register by the deadline, your plot will be given to the next person on the waitlist.
We are a "pay what you can" garden. Money should not be an obstacle to gardening with us! We also welcome your generous donations.
Fee Breakdown:
- Plot Fee - Suggested $30 per plot to Samuels Garden - pays for tools, hoses, watering wands, wood for plot frames, compost, mulch, seeds, supplies for activities with the kids, materials for special projects and garden improvements
- DUG Dues - Suggested $25 per plot to Denver Urban Gardens - pays for our water, insurance, technology, garden leader support, and much more
- Background Check - $12 per person your first year and then again every 5 years if using DUG
- Optional donation to Samuels Garden
Please contact us at samuelsgarden2011@gmail.com for the plot registration link.
Step 5 - Attend the required annual Season Kickoff Meeting & Potluck the first or second weekend in April
Meet
your fellow gardeners, sign up for garden jobs and work days, review
the garden rules, swap seeds, and join us for a fun educational activity that is different every year.
Step 6 - Plant your garden - get started early!
All DUG community gardens are ORGANIC gardens. NO pesticides. NO chemical fertilizers.
You
are 100% responsible for your plot: planting, weeding, watering and
maintaining the soil. You may add your own organic compost or other
organic soil amendments. Thanks to your plot fees, the garden offers compost and mulch free for
your use.
You can start planting as early in the year as you like. We ask that you get started by June 1 at the latest.
Eat from your garden all summer and donate your extras to our weekly harvests. We give the produce to the local food bank during the summer months and to the school staff in the fall.
Enjoy community at our regular work days and social events!
Let us know if you would like to work with an experienced gardener or if you would like to mentor a new gardener.
Step 7 - Complete your community garden give back requirement
Give a little
your time to make sure that the whole garden is cared for. Each person
doing a small part makes it all happen! We ask that you participate in a minimum of 5 events over the course of the season. If you take a garden job like caring for a school plot or watering and weeding a common area, we ask that you show up for at least 1 event. These items below will satisfy the requirement:
- Work days
- We host work days on the 2nd Saturday and 4th Sunday, March through November, weather permitting. We work together on a specific project or area
of the garden. Sometimes there are projects and sometimes we pull weeds. Many hands make light work.
- Compost days - We aim to work the compost
piles twice a month, March through November. We ask every garden member to help
with compost at least once during the year.
- Summer JFS harvest (date & time TBD, Jun - Aug) - We harvest from our school/donation plots for the local food bank: JFS Weinberg Food Pantry
- Fall harvest
(Wednesday mornings, Sep - Oct) - Samuels students and adult
volunteers (parents, gardeners and other volunteers) participate in a weekly harvest. The kids get to eat the produce as we're harvesting, and the rest goes to the school staff.
- Garden Club (four Wednesdays in the spring and fall @ 2:30 after school) - This is a joint effort between the
garden and the school to give kids gardening knowledge and experience. Plenty of adult volunteers are always needed!
- School plot maintenance - water and weed a school/donation plot
- Common area maintenance - water and weed a common area (strawberry patch, bushes/trees, flower bed, etc)
- Non-garden activities - help with social media, fundraising, and other administrative tasks
- Have an idea? We are very open to suggestions!
Step 8 - Put your garden to bed by Nov 1 (Thanksgiving at the latest)
- Continue caring for live plants into the winter if you wish
- Chop your peas and beans and dig them back into the soil for added nitrogen!
- Remove all dead plants
- Put tomatoes, squash and bindweed in the green bin
- Put all other plants, including sunflowers and bug infested plants into the garden compost - please chop plants into 2-4 inch pieces with a shovel or other appropriate tool
- Turn the soil with a shovel or garden weasel/cultivator (or don't if you're practicing no-till)
- Add compost if desired
- Mulch your plot with straw and/or leaves to protect the soil during the winter
Step 9 - Celebrate the season with a Hot Cider Social - end of Oct / first of Nov
Join
us to celebrate the successes of the season! Hot spiced cider will be
provided. Bring snacks to share if you wish. All are welcome!
Step 10 - Plan for next year!!
Gardening never ends. It goes round and round, teaching us something new every year.
