First garden work day set for Saturday at new West Vail Community Garden

As Vail begins to show signs of spring, the West Vail Community Garden is becoming a reality as organizers look to a June planting and harvesting throughout the season into the fall.

Since receiving Town Council approval to pursue the project on town-owned land west of Stephens Park in the Intermountain neighborhood, a volunteer committee has been formed, a site plan has been developed and operating documents have been drafted.

Site work has begun on the site, including the construction of a parking lot and installation of a water line and hose bibs for the 24 garden plots. In addition, soil has been generously donated and delivered by Schofield Excavation, Inc. and lumber is on its way from Alpine Lumber.

The first garden work day has been scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, where volunteers will build garden beds and complete site work, as well as enjoy lunch and a presentation on organic gardening by Nick Courtens of the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. All are welcome.

Ten of the site's 16 garden plots have been reserved thus far. Costs vary from $20 to $30, depending on size. To request an application or to reserve a plot, e-mail the West Vail Community Gardens at westvailcommunitygarden@gmail.com or call Kristen Bertuglia, the town's environmental sustainability coordinator, at 477-3455.

Joining Bertuglia with the garden planning and logistics is Todd Oppenheimer, the town's landscape architect, who designed the garden site plan, as well as members of the organizing committee, including Marian Cartin, Megan McDonald, Andi Sadden, Todd Rymer, Nick Courtens, and Doug and Jan Smith.

Through a year-long planning process the group is already beginning to see the mission of the garden fulfilled: to enhance the quality of life of Vail's citizens and strengthen community bonds by creating and sustaining an organic garden that will foster environmental stewardship, education and sense of community.

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