About the garden
Samuels is a Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) community garden. The garden was established in 2012. We have 56 total plots. 40 are available to community gardeners. 16 are reserved for school activities and are used for donations to a local food pantry during the summer months.
Each DUG garden is managed independently by community volunteers. Samuels Community Garden is currently managed by:
- Sue Mathison (plot 17) - Garden Manager
- Chuck Tadlock (plot 36) - Garden Leader & Grounds Manager/Garden Jedi
- Keith Onstad (plot 45) - Garden Leader & Grounds Manager /Garden Jedi
- Brennan Kimura (plot 46) - Garden Leader, School Garden Club Leader
- Lindsey Anderson (plot 43) - Garden Leader & Tree Keeper
- Kerry Halladay (plot 23) - Garden Leader & Newsletter Editor
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
every 5 years. Sterling Volunteers handles the background checks for both DUG and DPS.
Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) charges Samuels Garden $12 per background check. There is a spot on the DUG Plot Application for you to help the garden cover the costs if you are able.
Gardeners who joined in 2018, you're due for renewal in 2023.
Step 4 - Register with DUG and pay your plot fees - Suggested $55 per plot for 2024
Registration usually opens in February. 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, but with a minimum of $10. 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 (minimum $5) - pays for background checks, tools, hoses, watering wands, wood for plot frames, compost, mulch, seeds, kid sized tools and supplies for school activities, materials for special projects and garden improvements
- DUG Dues - Suggested $25 per plot to Denver Urban Gardens (minimum $5) - pays for our water and much more: https://dug.org/garden-support/
- Background Check - Optional donation of $12 per check to help Samuels Garden cover the cost
- Optional donation to DUG to support other gardens in need
Please contact us at samuelsgarden2011@gmail.com for the plot application link.
Step 5 - Attend an annual Season Starter Gathering in March
Our season starter meeting is held twice. It is the same both times. You are only required to attend one event, but you are welcome to attend both.
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 will have a seed swap in February and a community planting party in May. 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 and cafeteria 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 at least twice a month (usually a weekend day and a
weekday evening) where we work together on a specific project or area
of the garden.
- Compost days - We work the compost
piles 2-4 times a month March through November - we ask every plot owner to help
with compost at least once during the year. The more compost we make
ourselves, the less money we have to spend buying it.
- Summer JFS harvest (every Monday @ 6 pm, Jun - Aug) - We harvest from our 15 school/donation plots for the local food bank: JFS Weinberg Food Pantry
- Fall harvest
(every Wednesday @ 8 am, Sep - Oct) - Samuels students and adult
volunteers (parents, gardeners and other volunteers) harvest for the
school staff. The kids get to eat the produce as we're harvesting.
- Garden Club (every
Tuesday @ 2:30 pm Apr - May and Sep - Oct) - This is a joint effort between the
garden and the school to give kids gardening knowledge and experience. Plenty of adult volunteers are 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-ish (depending on weather)
- 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 - the first Sunday in November
Join
us to celebrate the successes of the season! Hot spiced cider will be
provided. Bring snacks to share if you wish. Bringing food is NOT required.
Step 10 - Plan for next year!!
Gardening never ends. It goes round and round, teaching us something new every year.
We plan to have the next year's schedule out by the end of October to help you plan your summer activities.
