March was anything but quiet at the Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. What looked like a construction zone for much of the month was actually something much more exciting: a full-scale transformation powered entirely by this community.

Over the course of five work sessions, gardeners came together to tear down a large cold frame and aging plot framing, rebuild every bed to a taller, more durable standard, and even make significant progress on our new shed! It was a massive undertaking, and the results speak for themselves. The garden is entering this growing season stronger, more accessible, and better than ever.

To everyone who fundraised, secured donations, fed us, hosted planning sessions, showed up (especially outside of our planned events), lifted, dug, leveled, hauled, and built:

THANK YOU.

This project simply is not possible without you.

March Highlights:

• Plot Rebuild Complete

  All garden plots have been rebuilt with new, taller framing, giving everyone more room to grow (literally).

• Community in Action

  Five volunteer days brought together an incredible show of effort, teamwork, and dedication.

• Shed Progress Underway

  Our new shed is well on its way, thanks to the momentum from our workdays and the kindness of those volunteering outside of workday hours.

• Welcome New Members
  We welcomed 16 new community gardeners! Welcome aboard!

A Quick (Important) Plot Reminder

One of our scheduled maintenance days was snowed out, so there is one final step before planting can begin: if you have an assigned plot at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, bring your plot up to the new soil height before you begin planting.

There is a pile of soil located near the garden gate along El Paso St, along with wheelbarrows and shovels available for your use. Stop by at your convenience to top off your plot. A few quick guidelines:

• Be mindful to keep soil off the street and pathways.

• Leave the area as tidy as you found it.

• Return tools to their proper place when you’re done.

If you’re not able to haul soil yourself, don’t worry. We’ve got a great community here. You can:

• Reach out to a fellow gardener (through our Google Group) or friend for a hand, or

• Contact us directly, and we’ll help coordinate a volunteer to assist you.
  
  
  

And now … April!

April is where things start to feel like a garden again.

Perennials are waking up, soil is warming (slowly), and the first signs of the growing season are here. As always in Colorado Springs, keep an eye on the weather. Warm afternoons can quickly turn into snowy evenings.

The heavy lifting isn’t quite behind us just yet. We replaced the aging plot and shed infrastructure. This month, we’re turning to build out the remainder of the food forest. In early April, we’ll install new infrastructure for grape vines, arctic kiwi, and pollinator borders. At the end of April, we’ll plant several varieties understory perennials alongside fruiting trees and bushes. Pears, honeyberries, and plums - oh my!

Here’s a preview of April at the Mid Shooks Run Community Garden:

Events!

Announcements:

Perennial Bed Harvests Begin
Keep an eye out for early-season favorites like rhubarb, asparagus, herbs, and spring onions. As always, these are shared among our gardeners. Harvest what you’ll use and enjoy!

Irrigation Timeline
Water is typically turned on around May 1st by the City, but this date may move to later in the month if the weather is poor. Until then, plan accordingly for any early planting.

A Note on Colorado Springs Weather
April in Colorado is unpredictable. Be ready to protect tender plants from frost, hail, and sudden temperature swings. Row covers, cloches, and a close eye on the forecast will go a long way.

Happy gardening!

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]]>The Plot Thickens: April Garden NewsMSR GardenSun, 01 Mar 2026 14:00:11 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01march2026657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:69a252bb8606785f08fbf677

Gardening Enthusiasts!
Though winter has kept the garden landscape still, the work of growing community has continued. Behind the scenes, volunteers have been planning improvements, preparing for new plantings, and laying the foundation for another season rooted in sustainability and connection.

March Events

Pause - Plot Renovation Underway

Before you start planting, please pause! This March, we’re undertaking a major improvement project: replacing all aging plot frames and increasing bed height from 10” to 12”. Each plot that wasn’t replaced last year will also receive a fresh layer of topsoil. If you have perennials you’d like to preserve, we encourage you to attend our March special maintenance days to lift, protect, or temporarily relocate them before work begins.

The Official Growing Season Starts Today!

With spring on the horizon, our season officially opened March 1st, marking the start of another year rooted in sustainability and shared effort. Whether you’re planting, prepping, or simply reconnecting with the garden, we’re grateful to grow alongside you.

2026 Membership Fee Deadline Passed!

Our renewal deadline for returning gardeners was February 28, 2026. To honor our commitment to fairness and the growing waitlist, any unpaid plots have now officially transitioned to new gardeners. We’re grateful for the enthusiasm around the garden and look forward to welcoming both returning and new members this season.

A Warm Welcome to Our New Members

This past month brought an exciting wave of new memberships, and our garden community continues to grow. To our newest members—welcome! We’re so glad you’re here and can’t wait to cultivate healthy plants and meaningful connections alongside you.

Gardening Enthusiasts
Spring is nearly here! Take a moment to review last year’s wins and lessons and to imagine fresh directions. With seeds collected and planting ideas taking shape, get ready to tend the soil again. As temperatures rise and the ground thaws, new shoots will appear and our gardens will come alive!

2026 Events Are Posted
We’ve updated our events page so community members can plan ahead. There are several special maintenance events in February, March, and April that focus on upgrading our shared space and replacing infrastructure. Remember to attend at least one of the Maintenance events this year to help ensure a healthy and thriving environment for all plants and fellow gardeners. Check out what we have planned.

A Note for Returning Gardeners
Invoices for 2025 gardeners to renew for the 2026 growing season are out! If you didn’t see an invoice in your inbox, check your spam folder or reach out. The deadline to renew for the 2026 growing season is 2/28/26. Don’t miss the deadline!

Also be sure to review the membership agreement before renewal.

Happy New Year, Gardeners!
May 2026 bring new chances to dig in, savor the season, and cultivate something meaningful—inside the garden and beyond.

Happy Birthday to Mid Shooks Run Community Garden

Today, Mid Shooks Run Community Garden celebrates its first anniversary as a nonprofit organization, marking one year since our incorporation became effective; in twelve months we've grown more than plants—building stronger community ties, expanding volunteer programs, launching educational workshops, and creating a welcoming space where neighbors of all ages can learn, share, and cultivate together..

A Note for Returning Gardeners
Returning gardeners from 2025: keep an eye on your inbox this month! We’ll be reaching out via email to gauge your interest in gardening with us this year. Look for a personalized message from msrgardencos@gmail.com and be sure to reply by January 31st to reserve your spot at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden this growing season.

2025 Goal Review and Looking Forward
Last year, we set and accomplished two primary goals:

1. Maximize Our Expanded Space: we drafted and approved a detailed layout to make the most of our 1,000-square-foot expansion, and these plans included increasing the number of plots available and the incorporation of fruit-bearing trees and bushes.

2. Securing Grant Funding: we met our goal to receive at least one grant by the end of the year to support our initiatives and help the garden flourish.

Looking forward, the Board of Directors will be setting goals for 2026 at their Q1 meeting. At this stage of the garden’s life, those goals will focus on execution (doing the things we said we’re going to do) and systems (structures that make execution sustainable). If you’d like to suggest a goal for 2026, please reach out!

2025: A Year in Review

This time of year reminds us of the importance of connection, reflection, and gratitude. We achieved huge milestones this year: New Year’s day marked the effective date of the garden’s incorporation, quickly followed by 501(c)(3) status. We planted the first 5 fruit trees of our food forest project and raised over $7,000 through fundraising, donations, in-kind contributions, and grants.

Volunteers carried us forward at every step, from building plots to tending beds, watering, weeding, and harvesting produce for donation. As we close the year, we’re proud not only of what we built, but of the resilient, connected community that grew alongside it. Because of hard work and passion for this urban green space, our garden thrives.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants in our community for their invaluable contributions.

October Recap: Putting the Garden to Bed

As the days grew shorter and the air turned crisp, gardeners spent October wrapping up another fruitful season at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. Plots were cleared, beds were tucked in for winter, and the last of the long-season and fall crops—like hearty greens, carrots, and squash—were brought in. It’s always bittersweet to see the garden wind down, but there’s something deeply satisfying about closing the season together, knowing the soil is resting and ready for renewal come spring.

Just like the garden, our gardeners have earned a well-deserved rest. The growing season can be full of joyful work and long days, and this quiet stretch between seasons gives us a chance to recharge before the cycle begins again.

November Events At A Glance

As the chilly winds start making their presence felt, we are reminded of the upcoming winter season and the need to ensure that the garden is well-prepared to overwinter.

Join us as we come together to remove debris, fallen leaves, and decaying plant material. We’ll also turn compost piles, enrich beds, and apply a layer of straw to protect the soil from freezing temperatures and prevent erosion. Lastly, we’ll turn to the garden infrastructure: secure structures, remove stakes and cages, and store hoses.

Sowing Gratitude

This year, we have so much to be thankful for at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. Our space continues to thrive—not just with vegetables and flowers, but with connection, care, and community spirit.

This year brought milestones that remind us how much we can accomplish together. Thanks to generous donations from our community, we built seventeen plots in our garden footprint, revitalizing the space and creating more opportunities for neighbors to grow and gather. We also planted five new fruit trees as part of our emerging food forest, adding long-term abundance to our shared space. In September, we held our first-ever general election for the Board of Directors—an exciting milestone that marks a new chapter of growth and sustainability for our organization.

And as the season drew to a close, we received our first grant—a tremendous honor and a meaningful recognition of the garden’s impact in our community.

None of this would be possible without our members and a supportive community - whose dedication, generosity, and shared love of gardening keep this space flourishing. As we rest and reflect this winter, let’s carry forward the spirit of gratitude that sustains our garden and look ahead to another year of growing together.

Other Announcements

Growing Support: Mid Shooks Run Community Garden Receives El Pomar Grant

We’re thrilled to share that Mid Shooks Run Community Garden was awarded a $3,500 grant from El Pomar Foundation’s Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund! These funds will support our three-year expansion project — featuring fruit trees, berry bushes, and pollinator-friendly plants. Combined with member and volunteer contributions, the project will make our garden an even stronger resource for food security, environmental education, and community connection.

We’re deeply grateful to El Pomar Foundation for recognizing and investing in our mission to cultivate a sustainable space that grows fresh produce and a connected community.

The 2025 Growing Season is Officially Over.

Ensure your plot is left in the same (if not better) condition than it was found. Only perennials, if any exist, should remain and they should be managed for appearance. Remove all stakes, strings, poles, tomato cages, Wall-o-Waters, and any other items that may easily blow away from your plot. Take these items home with you - please don’t contribute to the tomato cage graveyard!

This is a great example of what plots should look like after end of season cleanup is complete.

Free Plot Winterizing Supplies in the Greenhouse.

Give next year’s growing season a boost by planting a fall cover crop in your plot: improve soil health, enhance nutrient retention, add nitrogen, suppress weeds, and prevent erosion during the winter months. Here’s how it works:

• At end of season cleanup, sow the cover crop seeds in your plot and lightly mulch with straw. No further care is required.

• After the cover crop flowers in the spring (or you’re ready to kick off the 2026 growing season), till the cover crop into the soil. Viola! Green manure!

We have several pounds of cover crop seeds that are a blend of Austrian Field Peas, Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, Annual Rye, and Winter Rye in the greenhouse. Please help yourself to amend your plot!

Next steps for the 2026 growing season. If you’re interested in gardening with us next year, that’s great! In December, a member of the maintenance committee will reach out individually to our community garden members over email, gauge their interest in the 2025 growing season, and advise on next steps. Typically, we’ll ask for a yes / no decision by the end of January. If the response if “yes,” we’ll also email an invoice and ask that plot fees be paid by the end of February. Members who wish to retain their plots the next growing season can do so in perpetuity, provided they remain current on plot fees.

Help us plan for the 2026 growing season. If you know you’re coming back next year (or not coming back), no need to wait until December, let us know now. By doing so, you give our membership committee a head start on all the great work they do in the background to maintain our shared space.

September Recap and October Forecast

September wrapped up with our Monthly Maintenance event, where members came together to tidy the space and keep the garden thriving. We also held elections for our 2026 officers—thank you to those who have stepped up to serve and help guide our garden into the future.

As we move into October, the 2025 growing season enters its final stretch. Long-season crops like watermelons and pumpkins are ripening, signaling that harvest time is here. With cooler days ahead, our event schedule will slow down, giving gardeners a chance to savor the last weeks of the season and prepare for the first frost.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who showed up, shared their talents, and supported the garden throughout the year. Together, we’ve made this a vibrant, welcoming space for our whole community.

Upcoming Events

October Announcements

Don’t Forget: October 31st is the last day of the growing season

October 31st marks the official end of our 2025 growing season. This is the last month of official garden activity—but if you’d like to keep tending your plot after this date, that’s wonderful!

Just be sure to reach out to us and let us know so we don’t mistake your setup for abandoned crops or infrastructure. A quick note helps us keep the garden organized as we transition into the off-season.

Tear it Down and Pack it Out - End of Season Cleanup

As the growing season comes to a close, please take time to leave your plot in the same—if not better—condition than when you found it. At the end of the season, only perennials (if you have them) should remain, and they should be trimmed and maintained so they look neat and intentional.

All other materials need to be removed and taken home. This includes stakes, strings, poles, tomato cages, Wall-o-Waters, and any other items that could easily blow away. Please don’t leave these behind—let’s avoid adding to the tomato cage graveyard!

Be sure to pack out your trash and compost as well. Do not pile garden waste in shared areas. If you’ve been maintaining a compost pile outside your plot, either incorporate that material back into your soil or take it home with you. If you borrowed a container from the garden to hold compost, please return it to the greenhouse for winter storage.

End of Season Cleanup Checklist

Make sure your plot is ready for winter!

• Clear and amend your plot:

  • Remove all annuals.

  • Incorporate any compost into your soil or take it home.

  • Azomite and winter cover crop seeds are in the greenhouse

  • Cover the soil with straw

• Take home materials:

  • Stakes | strings | poles | Tomato cages

  • Any other loose or lightweight items

• Pack out waste including trash and garden debris.

• Return any borrowed materials to the greenhouse for winter storage.

• Final check: your plot should look clean, safe, and ready for next spring.

Planned Water Shutoff

Our irrigation system will be winterized in mid-October by the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces team. This process involves draining and blowing out the lines to prevent freeze damage over the winter.

Once this happens, garden hydrants will remain off until April or May of 2026 when the system is restarted for the new growing season.

Please note: If we experience an early freeze, water service may need to be shut off before October 15th, so plan your watering accordingly.

2026 Board of Directors and Officer Election Results

Please thank the Board of Directors and 2026 Officers for volunteering to serve Mid Shooks Run Community Garden:

• Cathy Clarke – Director

• John Kostek – Secretary

• Alo McGarigol – Director

• Cindy Van Seeters – Vice Chair

• Amanda Stewart – Chair/Treasurer

• Leadership in our garden is bigger than the board—it’s a community effort. If you would like to be more involved in shaping the garden’s direction, consider serving on a 2026 committee.

In Season at the Perennial Beds: September Edition

At Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, you can find an abundance of vibrant blooms and foliage that thrive year after year. Here’s what you’ll find ready to harvest in July in our perennial beds:

• A variety of flowers. These hardy perennials provide a colorful display while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.

• Herbs like thyme, marjoram, lavender, lemon balm, tarragon, and sage are flourishing, ready to be harvested for culinary and aromatic purposes. Check out the south-west corner of our perennial beds, which community gardeners can help themselves to!

• Tomatoes. Six prolific, compact tomato plants are nestled alongside our artichoke plants in the 2’x6’ experimental beds. There are two each of Patio Hybrid (medium-sized, red fruits) , Patio Choice Yellow Hybrid (yellow cherries), and Fantastico Hybrid (mini plum fruits). Enjoy!

• Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In August, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute. You can also harvest the bulbets to plant in the fall so that you have your own crop of walking onions next spring.

• Winter Squash. Look for spaghetti and acorn squash growing on the garden’s east fence. To tell if they’re ready, press your thumbnail gently into the rind. If it resists puncture and feels hard, it’s mature. If your nail easily makes a dent, it needs more time. The stem should also be dry and starting to shrivel, not green and fleshy.

  Happy Gardening!

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]]>Falling for the GardenMSR GardenMon, 01 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01sep2025657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:68b3b063460ac0674cd9832d

August Recap

Our garden community came together for a variety of events that nourished both soil and spirit. We welcomed Brave Irene’s Poetry in the Garden for an intimate evening among the beds. Mid-month, we gathered at Stellina Pizza Café for Community Constellations, enjoying our neighborhood cafe while raising $400+ to support our mission. We closed out the month with our Monthly Maintenance to tidy the space and keep the garden thriving through teamwork and care.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared their talents, and supported the garden—together, we make this garden the vibrant community space it is.

September Events

September Announcements

Don’t Forget: Attend one Maintenance Event to Maintain Good Standing

As part of our 2025 membership agreement, all new gardeners are required to attend at least one maintenance event this year to remain in good standing. With only two maintenance events left in the growing season, now’s the time to mark your calendars! If you aren’t able to attend a scheduled event, please reach out to us—we’re happy to work with you to find an equivalent way to contribute on your own time.

Officer Elections and Opportunities to Serve

Our annual officer elections are just around the corner! At the September maintenance event, members will vote on the following proposed slate of candidates for the 2026 term:

• Chair/Treasurer – Amanda Stewart

• Vice Chair – Cindy Van Seeters

• Secretary – John Kostek

We welcome additional nominations from members prior to the vote - reach out! Serving as an officer is a meaningful way to help guide our garden community and we’re grateful to members who step forward to help lead the way.

Leadership in our garden is bigger than officer roles—it’s a community effort. For 2026, we’re also seeking committee members to support key areas:

• Maintenance Committee – Help plan and lead garden maintenance events throughout the growing season.

• Membership Committee – Assist with onboarding new members and welcoming gardeners at the start of the season.

• Fundraising Committee – Support the garden through grant writing, seeking sponsorships, and organizing fundraising initiatives.

• Programming Committee – Plan and coordinate educational and community events that enrich the garden experience.

Serving on a committee is a wonderful way to share your skills, contribute ideas, and help our garden thrive. If you’re interested in joining the leadership team, we’d love to hear from you!

Garden Tip: Stop the Snack Attacks

Ever notice a squash or tomato with just one little bite or two taken out? Often it’s not hunger but thirst driving squirrels and mice to “taste test” your harvest. To help protect your harvest, try giving them a better option: set out a bird bath or shallow dish of water so they can sip instead of snack. The bonus? Birds, butterflies, and other pollinators will appreciate the refreshment too! You can also harvest tomatoes as soon they start to turn and avoid leaving fallen fruit on the ground—both of which cut down on temptation.

In Season at the Perennial Beds: September Edition

At Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, you can find an abundance of vibrant blooms and foliage that thrive year after year. Here’s what you’ll find ready to harvest in July in our perennial beds:

• Artichokes. In the 2’x6’ experimental beds along the east fence - just south of the entrance to the community garden - you’ll find two Green Globe artichoke plants. Harvest artichokes before the outer leaves start to open, when they are 4 to 6 inches in diameter and feel solid and heavy.

• Asparabroc. This unique hybrid combines the flavors and textures of asparagus and broccoli. It features thick, tender shoots similar to asparagus with small, broccoli-like florets at the tips. Find it in the stainless steel planters along the west-facing perennial bed.

• A variety of flowers. These hardy perennials provide a colorful display while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.

• Herbs like thyme, marjoram, lavender, lemon balm, tarragon, and sage are flourishing, ready to be harvested for culinary and aromatic purposes. Check out the south-west corner of our perennial beds, which community gardeners can help themselves to!

• Tomatoes. Six prolific, compact tomato plants are nestled alongside our artichoke plants in the 2’x6’ experimental beds. There are two each of Patio Hybrid (medium-sized, red fruits) , Patio Choice Yellow Hybrid (yellow cherries), and Fantastico Hybrid (mini plum fruits). Enjoy!

• Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In August, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute. You can also harvest the bulbets to plant in the fall so that you have your own crop of walking onions next spring.

• Winter Squash. Look for spaghetti and acorn squash growing on the garden’s east fence. To tell if they’re ready, press your thumbnail gently into the rind. If it resists puncture and feels hard, it’s mature. If your nail easily makes a dent, it needs more time. The stem should also be dry and starting to shrivel, not green and fleshy.

  Happy Gardening!

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]]>Turning a New Leaf: September NewsMSR GardenFri, 01 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01aug2025657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:687d589f4db3ab1047dd7c0c

July Recap

July was a whirlwind of creativity, community, and care at Mid Shooks Run:

• Pressed-flower fundraising kickoff: gardeners gathered over a weekend to transform pressed blooms into beautiful cards!

• Garden maintenance day: volunteers came together to repaint plot numbers, maintain tools, water our fruit trees and perennials, tidy pathways, and lay down even more cardboard and mulch—an afternoon of steady work and great camaraderie.

• Summerfest: We joined our neighbors at Shooks Park for Summerfest 2025—bringing our garden’s energy into the broader community and raising $450 for garden infrastructure projects.

• At the very end of the month, we saw the first black eastern swallowtail butterflies from the garden eclose.

Thanks to every helping hand and effort to make July bloom, and thank you to the Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood Association for hosting Summerfest 2025!

August Events

August Announcements

New Plot Numbers.

To reflect the new plots added this spring, we’ve renumbered all the garden beds at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. Plots are now numbered 1 through 50, and each plot may have a number that is different than it was at the start of the growing season. Check out the updated plot map on the Resources page.

Project Highlight: Cathy’s Tribute - A Bed of Berries and Gratitude

If you've ever picked a strawberry from the common areas of the garden, chances are Cathy had a hand in it. For years, she’s quietly planted strawberries to share with everyone — a gesture that’s become a sweet and beloved tradition.

This season, Cathy wasn’t able to get them in the ground herself. In her honor, we planted a 4'x4' plot with Yellow Wonder Alpine strawberries — a gourmet variety known for its tiny, creamy-yellow fruits bursting with flavors of pineapple, strawberry, and passionfruit. These everbearing plants are generous, resilient, and carry a bold flavor — much like Cathy.

The next time you're near plot 32, take a moment to admire this quiet tribute. And when the berries ripen, feel free to enjoy a few — Cathy wouldn’t have it any other way.

In Season at the Perennial Beds: August Edition

At Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, you can find an abundance of vibrant blooms and foliage that thrive year after year. Here’s what you’ll find ready to harvest in July in our perennial beds:

• Artichokes. In the 2’x6’ experimental beds along the east fence - just south of the entrance to the community garden - you’ll find two Green Globe artichoke plants. Harvest artichokes before the outer leaves start to open, when they are 4 to 6 inches in diameter and feel solid and heavy.

• Asparabroc. This unique hybrid combines the flavors and textures of asparagus and broccoli. It features thick, tender shoots similar to asparagus with small, broccoli-like florets at the tips. Find it in the stainless steel planters along the west-facing perennial bed.

• A variety of flowers. These hardy perennials provide a colorful display while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.

• Herbs like thyme, marjoram, lavender, lemon balm, tarragon, and sage are flourishing, ready to be harvested for culinary and aromatic purposes. Check out the south-west corner of our perennial beds, which community gardeners can help themselves to!

• Lemon cucumbers. You'll know it's time to harvest when they’re about the size of a lemon and turn from green to yellow. Don't let them turn a deep yellow or they'll be overripe and have a bitter taste. You’ll find them in the northern end of the perennial beds in the corrugated metal raised bed.

• Mexican sour gherkins (AKA cucamelons). These super adorable fruits look like mini watermelons! Harvest when they are about the size of a large grape but still firm to touch by twisting or cutting the fruits from the vine. Be careful not to damage the plants! You’ll find them in the northern end of the perennial beds in the corrugated metal raised bed.

  Tomatoes. Six prolific, compact tomato plants are nestled alongside our artichoke plants in the 2’x6’ experimental beds. There are two each of Patio Hybrid (medium-sized, red fruits) , Patio Choice Yellow Hybrid (yellow cherries), and Fantastico Hybrid (mini plum fruits). Enjoy!

• Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In August, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute. You can also harvest the bulbets to plant in the fall so that you have your own crop of walking onions next spring.

Happy Gardening!

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]]>Sow, What’s New This Month?MSR GardenTue, 01 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01july2025657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:6856e2869169120523ca0b5a

June Recap

In June, we welcomed the first day of summer and about the same time quickly transitioned from daily rain/hail to full sun and 90-degree weather. After enduring weeks of turbulent weather, our heat-loving crops are thriving.

We raised over $650 with our Pop-Up Nursery and put it away for another year.

At our June maintenance event, we continued the everlasting task of weeding, mulching, and nurturing: we mulched an additional 250 square feet of the garden footprint, tended to our field bindweed mite colony and perennial beds, and planted a community strawberry patch. THANK YOU to all the gardening enthusiasts who stepped up to invest in their community last Saturday.

Welcome to July!

July Events

July Announcements

Thank you to everyone who makes our garden grow — literally and figuratively.

Whether you’ve watered a fruit tree, tended neighbor’s plot while they were away, hauled mulch at a maintenance event, or planted a seedling from the Pop-Up nursery, you made a real difference.

Thanks for showing up, pitching in, and being part of what makes Mid Shooks Run Community Garden a vibrant place.

The Dirt on Our Compost Bins

Our temporary compost bins have been hard at work this season — and they’re very close to full! Until we establish a more permanent compost system, you might not be able to add additional materials in our shared piles.

If you’d like to keep composting, don’t forget: you’re welcome to create and maintain a compost pile in your own plot. Alternatively, snag a #5 pot from the greenhouse and build a compost pile right next to your plot! If placing a pot for compost in a walkway, be kind to your plot neighbors and let them use the compost system too. Wherever solution you employ, just be sure it 1) stays tidy, 2) doesn’t attract pests (think fruit and veg scraps, not fat or protein), and 3) gets taken down before October 31st, 2025. Hint: an easy way to take your compost pile down at the end of the gardening season is to turn it back into your soil.

Project Highlight: Herb Garden Perennial Bed Enhancements

This year, we’ve dedicated the south-west corner of our perennial beds to consolidate and grow a variety of herbs for our members. Be on the lookout for Basil, Chives, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, and Walking Onions.

Water Wisely: Mulch Matters

Our beloved community garden is located in a semi-arid desert. As the summer heat ramps up, conserving water becomes even more important. One of the easiest ways to keep your soil moist (and your plants happy) is to apply a layer of straw mulch on top of the soil in your plot. We’ve got bales of straw available for gardeners to use — help yourself! Just remember: straw is for your garden beds only. If you’re mulching pathways, please use the wood mulch, which is better suited for walking areas and won’t break down as quickly. A little mulch goes a long way toward healthier plants and fewer watering sessions!

In Season at the Perennial Beds: July Edition

At Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, you can find an abundance of vibrant blooms and foliage that thrive year after year. Here’s what you’ll find ready to harvest in July in our perennial beds:

• Asparabroc. This unique hybrid combines the flavors and textures of asparagus and broccoli. It features thick, tender shoots similar to asparagus with small, broccoli-like florets at the tips. Find it in the stainless steel planters along the west-facing perennial bed.

• A variety of flowers. These hardy perennials provide a colorful display while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.

• Herbs like thyme, marjoram, lavender, lemon balm, tarragon, and sage are flourishing, ready to be harvested for culinary and aromatic purposes. Check out the south-west corner of our perennial beds, which community gardeners can help themselves to!

• Raspberries. There are several raspberry patches along the south and west sides of the perennial beds.

• Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In July, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute.

• Cherries. Hold the cherry and gently pull the fruit. If it is ripe, it will come off easily in your hand with the stem still attached. If it doesn’t pull away easily, leave this cherry to ripen for a bit longer. Cherries will not ripen once picked from the tree, so be patient!

Happy Gardening!

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]]>Hot Crops - Cool NewsMSR GardenSun, 01 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01june2025657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:68390854e1dfe15f0a926f6c

May Recap

May was an incredibly busy month. Early in the month, we finished hauling several cubic yards of soil to the north end of the garden’s footprint. We set up a pop-up nursery, seeded our perennial beds, laid cardboard and mulch over the new garden area, and most of our plots are cultivated. Whew!

June promises a more relaxed schedule (and hopefully, more stable weather).

June Events

June Announcements

June “Pop-Up Nursery” Hours

Pending fair weather, the pop-up nursery will be open every day from 8am - dusk.
During inclement weather, nursery stock will be moved to the greenhouse (e.g., temperatures drop below 50 fahrenheit, hail, strong winds, torrential downpour, etc.).
The last day of our “Pop-Up Nursery” is Sunday, 6/15/25.

Don’t Miss the June 15th Deadline

Attention all garden members: the deadline for cultivating at least 50% of your plot is June 15th. If you find that you will not be able to meet this deadline, or if you know you won’t be able to garden this year, reach out to us.

Project Highlight: South-Facing Perennial Bed Enhancements

This year, we’re enhancing the south-facing perennial bed to support local pollinators and a healthier, sustainable garden. We’ve added several species of native, water-wise, and low-maintenance plants to support local biodiversity while conserving resources. Be on the lookout for these additions:

• Larvae host plants are specific plants that provide food and shelter for the larvae of certain insects, playing a crucial role in their development and life cycle. Often, these species are specialized feeders; they cannot digest plants other than their host-plant.

  • Butterfly weed- AKA orange butterfly milkweed, and host plant for monarch butterfly larvae. It typically begins to bloom in late spring and continues through summer. Stratified over winter and direct sown in April.

  • Lance leaf coreopsis - host plant to the Wavy-Lined Emerald moth larvae. Lance leaf coreopsis features long, narrow, lance-shaped leaves with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that have a central disk surrounded by petal-like rays. Direct sown in April.

  • Pearly Everlasting - host plant to American Lady butterfly larvae. Pearly Everlasting features delicate, silvery-green leaves and clusters of small, white to creamy flowers that resemble tiny daisies, creating a stunning contrast with its lush foliage. Direct sown in April.

  • Rocky Mountain Bee Plant - host plant to several species of white butterfly larvae. Slender, upright stems adorned with clusters of small, tubular, pink flowers. Stratified over winter and direct sown in April.

  • Showy milkweed - host plant for monarch butterfly larvae. Large clusters of vibrant pink flowers sit atop sturdy stems that reach heights of three to four feet. These perennials were transplanted from soil blocks last summer and will bloom in 2026.

• Living mulch - these low-growing, ground cover plants are intentionally used in gardens and agricultural settings to provide many of the benefits of conventional mulch: they suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture, and prevent erosion. Our aim is to eventually replace the mulch with species that have additional features: evergreen aesthetics, pollinator-attracting, and drought tolerant.

  • Creeping Thyme (Pink Chintz) - a low-growing, aromatic herb with small, rounded leaves and clusters of tiny purple-pink flowers that bloom in the late spring and early summer. Transplanted from rooted cuttings last summer.

  • Dragon’s Blood Sedum - Dragon's blood sedum features vibrant, deep green leaves that form dense, sprawling mats. In the summer, this mat will be adorned with star-shaped, pink flowers. With cooler temperatures and over the winter, these leaves will transition to burgundy until the spring. Transplanted from rooted cuttings in April.

  • Sedum Hispanicum - the only stonecrop variety that is technically an annual. Easily reseeds itself each fall after it blooms with small, pale pink flowers with red centers.

  • Sedum Octoberfest - a low carpet of light-green foliage that blooms in late summer to early fall. Its namesake comes from its prolific blooms of tiny, white star-shaped flowers that resemble beer foam. Transplanted from rooted cuttings in April.

• Pollinator-friendly perennials

  • Monarda - AKA Bee balm features square stems and lance-shaped green leaves. Blooms from June to September are presented in clusters and resemble tiny tubes. This variety is purple, but they come in other colors including red and pink. Stratified over winter and direct sown in April.

  • Gaillardia - AKA Blanket flower, showcases a stunning combination of fiery yellow, orange, and red. Blooms from late spring through the summer and can continue to produce flowers well into the fall. Direct sown in April.

  • Echinacea - AKA coneflower, is a hardy native renowned for its long bloom time that ranges from early summer to late fall. The flowers have daisy-like heads heads with prominent, cone-shaped centers. Petals come in a variety of colors - purple, pink, white, and orange. Flowers and roots are often used in teas and herbal remedies. Once established, echinacea requires minimal watering. Stratified over winter and direct sown in April.

  • Prairie coneflower - is a vibrant and resilient native wildflower that blooms from early summer to fall, attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Stratified over winter and direct sown in April.

  • Rudbeckia - AKA black-eyed Susan, lights up gardens with its cheerful yellow petals and distinctive dark centers. Flourishing in a variety of soil types, blooms from late summer to fall. Stratified over winter and direct sown in April.

Mulch For Pathways

Community Garden Members - if you’d like to cardboard and mulch the pathways around your plot, there is mulch at the community garden. There’s a pile located outside the garden’s north fence - help yourself. To add an extra layer of water retention and weed barrier, consider putting down cardboard before adding the mulch (you’ll need to bring some cardboard from home - we used our cardboard stockpile at our May maintenance event).

Burn Notice: Know Your Noxious Weeds

Noxious weeds are plants that are legally designated as harmful to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or property. Uproot them on site! We have two weed species that are noxious to Colorado that regularly make an appearance at the community garden:

Happy Gardening!

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]]>The Thyme Is Now: June Garden NotesMSR GardenThu, 01 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01may2025657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:68116e4a5d4793578e1cde11April Recap: Raising the Beds, Raising the Bar

April was a landmark month for our garden — together, we modified 7 raised beds and built 6 brand new raised beds to expand our capacity! This achievement was no small feat and would not have been possible without the time, energy, and heart of our incredible volunteers. From hauling 13 cubic yards of soil to coordinating deliveries and wrangling logistics, you showed up and got it done.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every person who lent a hand — your service to this community is deeply appreciated, and because of your support, we were able to complete this phase of our garden expansion project 6 months ahead of schedule.

We’d also like to express our sincere gratitude to Alpine Lumber for donating most of the lumber, to Homegrown and Happiness for delivering rabbit manure just in time, and to our garden members who contributed fasteners and lumber. Your generosity helped turn a big idea into beautiful, tangible garden space that will nourish both plants and people for years to come.

May Announcements

May Events

Show Up - Dig In - Maintenance Matters

As we head into the heart of the growing season, this is your friendly — and essential — reminder to attend our monthly maintenance events. These gatherings are not just about weeding and wheelbarrows — they’re a chance to connect, contribute, and help keep our shared space thriving.

If you're unable to make any of the scheduled dates, you can still contribute! Reach out to the maintenance committee to get a list of solo tasks that need doing. There’s always something to help with, no matter your schedule.

Our garden runs entirely on volunteer power — there’s no staff behind the scenes. We are the ones who make this place work, so let’s keep showing up for each other and for the space we share. The more hands, the lighter the load — and the stronger our garden community becomes. Let’s all do our part to keep this space growing strong.

Water Schedule

We are pleased to announce that our partners at the Colorado Springs Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services will be turning on the water to the community garden on Monday, May 5th.

Produce In Season at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden

Members of Mid Shooks Run Community Garden are welcome to enjoy the fresh produce available in the perennial bed system, located along the south and west fence line. This space is designed for shared cultivation, allowing everyone to harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs as they ripen. Please remember to be mindful of others by taking only what you need and leaving some for fellow members. Regularly check the beds to see what’s in season and happy harvesting!

Rhubarb is currently in season at the community garden, particularly flourishing along the west perennial bed. To ensure the best flavor and tenderness:

• Harvest rhubarb when the stalks reach a height of at least 12 inches and are firm to the touch.

• Gently grasp the stalk near the base and twist it while pulling upward to avoid damaging the plant.

• Leave some stalks on the plant to encourage continued growth throughout the season.

• Always remember to discard the leaves - they are toxic if eaten.

Walking Onions are currently in season in the west perennial bed of our community garden. These resilient plants provide something tasty throughout the year, but the spring months are especially favorable for harvesting greens.

• When picking walking onion greens, use scissors or a sharp knife to snip the outer leaves, allowing the inner leaves to continue growing.

• Aim to harvest only a third of the plant at a time to ensure sustained growth and vitality.

• Use the leaves in recipes that call for green onions, such as salads, soups, or as a garnish to elevate your meal.

Welcome our First Five New Additions to Our Planned Food Forest

The first new fruit trees for our food forest project have arrived at the community garden: three apple trees and two peach trees! Each variety was carefully selected for cold-hardiness, compactness, versatility, and disease resistance. In addition, we wanted to provide variety and staggered harvest times while promoting cross-pollination. Although they’re only a few feet high this year and we won't see fruit from these trees for a couple seasons, we embrace the essence of gardening: patience and long-term reward.

Here’s some info on the varieties selected:

• The Zestar! apple is known for its crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor. Because it’s an early-season apple, it is often used for fresh eating and is well paired with foods such as walnuts, cinnamon, cheddar cheeses, and brown sugar. But it is versatile - it’s firm texture makes it suitable for use in a variety of baked goods, sauces, desserts, and salads. This apple can be stored up for two months without refrigeration.

• Enterprise apples offer a uniquely spicy taste and excellent disease resistance, promising a reliable crop in the coming years. They are versatile and can be used for both fresh eating and cooking, but are particularly well-suited for baking, sauce, and storage, and are known for their delicious, sweet-tart flavor that improves with age. Their firm texture makes them a good choice for pies and other baked goods, and they also keep well in storage, making them a great option for wintertime snacking. Mid-season crop.

• Renowned for their juicy sweetness and satisfying crunch, Honeycrisp apples are another versatile and delicious fruit. Suitable for both fresh eating and baking, this apple can be stored up for several months in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. They are extremely cold-hardy and produce a late-season crop.

• Frost peaches are yellow-fleshed freestone peaches with a light blush over greenish-yellow skin. They are equally prized for their sweetness and creaminess, adding diversity to our harvest. Again, this is a versatile fruit that can be enjoyed fresh, in salads, preserves, deserts, or even savory dishes. This is a mid-season crop that ripens in July or early August.

• Celebrated for their rich flavor and firmness, Contender peaches are medium to large freestone peaches with firm, yellow flesh and red-orange skin. They are known for their firm texture and resistance to browning, making them a versatile choice for various uses: fresh eating, canning, freezing, and baking. The Contender peach is known for being cold-hardy and having excellent disease resistance. This is a late-season peach that ripens in mid to late August.

Kindness and Compassion

In today’s climate, where outrage and division are just a breath away, remember: this garden is a place for connection, not conflict. It’s a shared space where people of all backgrounds come together with a common purpose — to grow food, community, and understanding.

While we can’t control what happens outside our fence, we can choose how we treat one another within it. Please approach each other with kindness, patience, and respect. A simple act of generosity or a moment of empathy can go a long way in keeping our garden not just green, but truly good.

“Pop-Up Nursery” Coming Soon

To fundraise for the garden, we piloted our first ever “pop-up nursery" last year. After seeing promising results, we’re bringing it back this growing season. Starting Saturday, May 10th, you’ll see a variety of annuals for sale every weekend (Saturdays and Sundays) at the garden until Saturday, June 14th. All proceeds from the pop-up nursery are reinvested back into the garden. This year, we’re excited to focus our fundraising efforts on the community garden’s food forest project and create a thriving ecosystem that benefits both our members and the broader community.

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]]>May in Bloom: Garden Growth & Good NewsMSR GardenTue, 01 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01apr2025657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:67e9d084de70c46208f81157In March, the Mid Shooks Run Community Garden appeared mostly serene on the surface, but behind the scenes our community was setting the stage for a vibrant and fruitful future ahead.

March Highlights:

• The 2025 growing season officially started on March 1st, and we’ve welcomed 10 new community gardeners this year! Welcome aboard!

• It’s spring! Perennials are breaking dormancy, and our community gardeners are preparing their plots and clearing the signs of winter from the grounds.

And now, welcome to April!

April Events:

Mid Shooks Run Community Garden Events

Eat. Drink. Be Merry & GIVE BACK!

Please join us at Stellina Pizza Cafe for a special COMMUNITY CONSTELLATIONS event to support Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. 10% of all dine in sales this evening will be donated back to our organization!

We’re lucky to have Stellina Pizza Cafe right down the block from our beloved community garden. It is located at the corner of Willamette Ave. and Prospect St.in the heart of historic Mid Shooks Run Neighborhood and proudly offers authentic Italian food in a casual atmosphere including our tasty pizza, delicious risotto, fresh salad, house-made pasta and more.

Browse Stellina’s menu and join us for an incredible meal with a purpose!

During April Spring Cleaning, Mid Shooks Run Community Garden will focus on expanding the garden’s capacity by by 28%. We’ll construct 13 additional raised beds, allowing more community members to grow their own produce. Expanding the garden will allow additional households to cultivate their own food, promoting food security, healthy eating, and social connection.

While we tidy the area, we invite volunteers to join us in this important initiative, helping to create a vibrant and fruitful space for all. Bring your tools and be a part of our growth this spring!

Partner Events

Join our partners at Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood Association at their annual membership meeting. Socialize, enjoy some refreshments. Chat with old and new friends and neighbors!

April Announcements:

Perennial Bed Spring Harvests
Community garden members share in the upkeep and maintenance of our perennial beds, and we share the harvests! Our gardeners are welcome to help themselves to the produce. Keep your eyes open for rhubarb, young asparagus shoots, and spring onions.

ETA for Irrigation at the Garden
The Colorado Springs Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Spaces will typically charge water to the garden in May 1st. The supply line to the garden is very small and freezes easily, so you may see the part watering before supply to the garden is turned on.

A Gentle Reminder about the Colorado Springs Climate
In Colorado Springs, April brings about the unpredictable nature of glorious warm and sunny weather, quickly followed by hail and snow storms. These weather events can pose significant threats to plants in the Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, as tender seedlings and blooming flowers are particularly vulnerable to damage.

Despite the challenges posed by April storms, gardeners in Colorado Springs can adapt and protect their plants by staying informed, being proactive, and implementing protective measures to safeguard their beloved green spaces. One approach is to cover delicate plants with row covers or cloches to provide a physical barrier against hail and frost. Additionally, it's advisable to monitor weather forecasts closely and be prepared to take swift action, such as covering garden beds with tarps.

Happy gardening!

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]]>Root Awakening: Fresh Growth & UpdatesMSR GardenSat, 01 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000https://www.midshooksruncommunitygarden.org/announcements/01march2025657e754c1843535d6d6bbaa8:6583b1f9bd1abf4ed6514d9e:67be5e04fc32f43ac96fdf13

Gardening Enthusiasts!
Winter may have painted the garden with stillness, but beneath the surface, seeds of preparation have been sprouting all season long! While the beds lay quiet, dedicated volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes—planning planting schedules, brainstorming workshops, and gearing up for the vibrant months ahead.

The Official Growing Season Starts Today!

Spring is knocking, and it’s time to dig in! The official start to our gardening season is March 1st, and we’re ready to watch the garden come to life. Whether you’re sowing seeds, preparing beds, or simply soaking up the early spring sun, we’re excited to grow alongside you.

2025 Membership Fee Deadline Passed—Act Fast if You Missed It!

A quick reminder: the deadline for returning gardeners to submit their 2025 membership fees was yesterday, February 28th. If you missed it but still want to stay involved, please reach out ASAP. We don’t want anyone to miss out on another fantastic season with us, but we need to be fair to our waitlist.

A Warm Welcome to Our New Members

February brought a flurry of activity with new membership sign-ups. We’re thrilled to welcome fresh faces to our garden community! To all our new members—welcome to Mid Shooks Run Community Garden! We can’t wait to meet you, share our green spaces, and learn from one another.

Coming up in April: Community Constellations at Stelina Pizza Cafe

MEET, GREET, DINE & GIVE BACK to a Great Cause!

Please join us at Stellina Pizza Cafe on April 2nd between 3pm and 9pm for a special COMMUNITY CONSTELLATIONS event benefiting Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. 10% of all sales that evening will be donated back to our organization!

Stellina is located the corner of Willamette Ave. and Prospect St.in the heart of historic Mid Shooks Run Neighborhood | 749 E Willamette Ave, Colorado Springs, and proudly offers authentic Italian food in a casual atmosphere including our tasty pizza, delicious risotto, fresh salad, house-made pasta and more.

Browse Stellina’s menu and join us for an incredible meal with a purpose!

Gardening Enthusiasts!
As winter blankets the landscape, anticipation for spring and gardening begins to stir. Spring is just around the corner, and this is the perfect time to reflect on last season’s successes and challenges while dreaming of new possibilities. With seed catalogs in hand and garden plans forming, prepare to nurture the earth once again. Soon the soil will warm and new growth will emerge, bringing life back to our gardens.

2025 Events Are Posted
We’ve updated our events page so community members can plan ahead. With few exceptions, we meet on the last Saturday of the month to work collectively in the garden during our Monthly Maintenance events. We ask community gardeners to attend at least one of the Monthly Maintenance events to help ensure a healthy and thriving environment for all plants and fellow gardeners.

Our social calendar will be lighter this year than it was last year, but we are planning two Community Constellations, an end-of-season Harvest Festival, and will share some great events our partners at Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood have planed. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, check out what we have planned this year.

A Note for Returning Gardeners:
The deadline for 2024 gardeners to notify garden leadership of their intention to return for the 2025 growing season was yesterday. If we weren’t able to get in touch, we’re sorry to see you go. Plots from 2024 gardeners that didn’t respond to inquiries were released to the waitlist today.

Don’t miss the next deadline! Returning gardeners should make sure to submit membership fees by February 28, 2025. If any returning gardener has not received their invoice, please reach out!

Happy New Year, Gardeners!
May 2025 bring you plenty of opportunities to connect with the earth, enjoy the beauty of nature, and grow something wonderful—both in and out of the garden.

Welcoming the new Board of Directors

In the spirit of growth and new beginning, we are thrilled to announce the non-profit incorporation of Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, effective 1 January, 2025. As a non-profit corporation, Mid Shooks Run Community Garden is excited to transition into a new governance structure. The Board of Directors will be succeeding the guidance team, streamlining decision-making and enhancing our ability to serve the community effectively. This change allows for clearer lines of accountability and more cohesive leadership, which is essential for the garden's growth and development. We believe this transition will strengthen our community ties and make our garden a more vibrant and sustainable place for everyone involved.

A Note for Returning Gardeners
Returning gardeners from 2024: keep an eye on your inbox this month! We’ll be reaching out via email to gauge your interest in gardening with us this year. Look for a personalized message from msrgardencos@gmail.com and be sure to reply by January 31st to reserve your spot at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden this growing season.

2025 Goals
We’re excited to announce our two primary goals for the year:

1. Maximizing Our Expanded Space: By midseason, we aim to have a detailed layout that will make the most of our newly expanded 1,000-square-foot area, and be in the process of implementing these plans. We’ll use this space to increase the number of plots available and to plant fruit-bearing trees and bushes. If you have ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

2. Securing Grant Funding: We’re working to obtain at least one grant by the end of the year to support our initiatives and help the garden flourish. If you see an opportunity that aligns, please send us the details!

There will be plenty of opportunities to help make these goals a reality, so stay tuned for ways to get involved.

Happy Holidays to all!

2024: A Year in Review

This time of year reminds us of the importance of connection, reflection, and gratitude. This past gardening season has been marked by growth and opportunity: with investments exceeding $4,000, we revitalized the garden area, upgraded our infrastructure, and purchased the first fruit tree saplings for our upcoming food forest project. Furthermore, the garden footprint expanded by over 1,000 square feet, allowing us to enhance our capabilities and offer even more resources for our community.

Our efforts to increase community engagement were met with enthusiasm. We successfully planned and hosted over 20 community gatherings, fostering sustainability, education, and collaboration among neighbors. These events not only brought people together but also supported the endeavors of our partner organizations and reinforced our commitment to community development. Because so many members of our community wish to be a part of Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, there is a waitlist for available garden plots and plans to expand our capacity and welcome more participants.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants in our community for their invaluable contributions.

Each milestone achieved is a direct reflection of the incredible teamwork and unwavering commitment you have all shown. Your efforts have resulted in a flourishing garden that not only grows wholesome produce but also strengthens our entire community.

We celebrate this accomplishment together and look forward to continued growth in 2025.

October Recap

Community gardeners gathered to expand our garden fence, successfully adding an impressive 1,000 square feet to the garden. What initially seemed like a daunting task of intense, back-breaking labor turned out to be a collaborative effort that showcased the strength of our community. The process was made significantly easier thanks to the combined support of numerous volunteers and an auger! This is an exciting addition to the community garden that will allow us to increase both our capacity and the benefits of being a community garden member.

November Events At A Glance

The 2024 growing season is now officially closed and it's time to overwinter the garden footprint. Let’s come together to wrap up the season and set the stage for future growth.

Giving Thanks

It's a time to reflect on the abundance around us—nourishing plants, dedicated gardeners, and the supportive community that cultivates this shared space. This season, let's give thanks for the growth we've experienced together and look forward to the harvests yet to come.

This year has been one of notable achievement for Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. Our efforts in outreach and engagement have paid off, resulting in such a high level of interest that we now have a waitlist for new members. We are grateful to have raised and invested over $3,000 into the garden, allowing us to replace essential equipment and augment our space with two new picnic tables and fencing materials.

Each of these accomplishments reflects the hard work and dedication of our community, and we are thankful for everyone who contributed to this success. It clearly showcases the incredible teamwork and unwavering commitment of our dedicated members, as well as the vital support and encouragement from our guidance team. As a result of our combined efforts, we have a flourishing garden that not only provides wholesome food but also strengthens vital local connections.

Other Announcements

Call For Ideas. With the expansion of our community garden, we are planning to build a food forest and want your input! Please share your thoughts on plant varieties that thrive in our climate, require minimal maintenance, or offer unique flavors and benefits. Consider plants that can provide fruits, nuts, or foliage, as well as those that support pollinators and enhance biodiversity. You might suggest perennial vegetables or nitrogen-fixing plants that can work harmoniously with our existing setup. If you have an idea, please reach out!

The 2024 Growing Season is Officially Over. Ensure your plot is left in the same (if not better) condition than it was found. Only perennials, if any exist, should remain and they should be managed for appearance. Remove all stakes, strings, poles, tomato cages, Wall-o-Waters, and any other items that may easily blow away from your plot. Take these items home with you - please don’t contribute to the tomato cage graveyard!

Free Plot Winterizing Supplies in the Greenhouse. Give the 2025 growing season a boost by planting a fall cover crop in your plot: improve soil health, enhance nutrient retention, add nitrogen, suppress weeds, and prevent erosion during the winter months. Here’s how it works:

• Azomite.

  • Azomite is a natural mineral product derived from volcanic ash that has been fossilized over millions of years. It is rich in trace minerals and essential nutrients, making it a popular choice among gardeners to replenish missing minerals.

  • After you have removed all annuals and infrastructure from your plot, distribute 1/4 pound (for 4’x8’ plots) or 1/8 pound (for 4’x4’ plots) of azomite across your soil and gently work it into the top 3 inches of the soil.

• Fall Cover Crop.

  • At end of season cleanup, sow the cover crop seeds in your plot and lightly mulch with straw. No further care is required.

  • After the cover crop flowers in the spring (or you’re ready to kick off the 2025 growing season), till the cover crop into the soil. Viola! Green manure!

We have a large bag of Azomite and several pounds of cover crop seeds that are a blend of Austrian Field Peas, Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, Annual Rye, and Winter Rye in the greenhouse. Please help yourself to amend your plot!

Next steps for the 2025 growing season. If you’re interested in gardening with us next year, that’s great! In December, a member of the guidance team will reach out individually to our community garden members over email, gauge their interest in the 2025 growing season, and advise on next steps. Typically, we’ll ask for a yes / no decision by the end of January. If the response if “yes,” we’ll also email an invoice and ask that plot fees be paid by the end of February. Members who wish to retain their plots the next growing season can do so in perpetuity, provided they remain current on plot fees.

Help us plan for the 2025 growing season. If you know you’re coming back next year (or not coming back), no need to wait until December, let us know now. By doing so, you give our guidance team a head start on all the great work they do in the background to maintain our shared space.

September Recap

September marked a month of accomplishments, events, and community spirit . We celebrated our final potluck of the year, graciously hosted by Kat and Jonathan of the Membership Committee. Thank you for your hospitality!

Cindy earned the 2024 Weeding Warrior award - a testament to her dedication - as she filled so many buckets of weeds this year that she eventually stopped tracking. Congratulations and impressive work, Cindy!

We represented our community by participating in the Fall Shooks Run Cleanup, spearheaded by our partners at Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood Association.

In addition, Alo and other members of the Fundraising Committee hosted a productive kid-friendly workshop in the garden, engaging younger members in hands-on gardening activities.

Lastly, Lauren and Alex from the Programming Committee introduced a new twist with a YouTube Edition of Talks and Tastings, allowing members to curate their own content while enjoying seasonal recipes and gardening tips.

October Events At A Glance

As we wind down the 2024 growing season, October has a light event schedule. The two events that we are holding are very, very special, and we need your help making them a success!

For the weekend of Saturday, October 12th and Sunday, October 13th, we’ll be adding ~1000 square feet to our garden footprint by expanding our fence line northward. We need help digging post holes, setting posts, and securing fence. This is a labor-intensive process, and the more community members who come to help, the more likely we are to accomplish our goal this weekend.

If you do come to help, thank you! Also, remember to wear work clothes including closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and bring tools to work with! We anticipate needing shovels, hammers, and powered drills with bits and drivers.

Other Announcements

October 31st is the last day of the 2024 growing season. This is our last official month to garden! Community garden members who wish to continue cultivating their plots past this date: awesome! Contact us for approval and so we know not to confuse your setup with abandoned infrastructure / crops.

Planned Water Shut Off. City of Colorado Springs Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces has scheduled the winterization of our irrigation system for October 15th. They will be drained and blown out to prevent freeze damage over the winter. This means that our irrigation hydrants will not supply water again until April or May of 2025. If there is an early freeze, we may lose irrigation before the 15th.

End of Season Cleanup. At the end of the growing season, ensure your plot is left in the same (if not better) condition than it was found. Only perennials, if any exist, should remain and they should be managed for appearance. Remove all stakes, strings, poles, tomato cages, Wall-o-Waters, and any other items that may easily blow away from your plot. Take these items home with you - please don’t contribute to the tomato cage graveyard!

Free Plot Winterizing Supplies in the Greenhouse. Give the 2025 growing season a boost by planting a fall cover crop in your plot: improve soil health, enhance nutrient retention, add nitrogen, suppress weeds, and prevent erosion during the winter months. Here’s how it works:

• Azomite.

  • Azomite is a natural mineral product derived from volcanic ash that has been fossilized over millions of years. It is rich in trace minerals and essential nutrients, making it a popular choice among gardeners to replenish missing minerals.

  • After you have removed all annuals and infrastructure from your plot, distribute 1/4 pound (for 4’x8’ plots) or 1/8 pound (for 4’x4’ plots) of azomite across your soil and gently work it into the top 3 inches of the soil.

• Fall Cover Crop.

  • When you have finished with end of season cleanup, sow the cover crop seeds in your plot and lightly mulch with straw. No further care is required.

  • After the cover crop flowers in the spring (or you’re ready to kick off the 2025 growing season), till the cover crop into the soil. Viola! Green manure!

We have a large bag of Azomite and several pounds of cover crop seeds that are a blend of Austrian Field Peas, Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, Annual Rye, and Winter Rye in the greenhouse. Please help yourself to amend your plot!

Next steps for the 2025 growing season. If you’re interested in gardening with us next year, that’s great! In December, a member of the guidance team will reach out individually to our community garden members over email, gauge their interest in the 2025 growing season, and advise on next steps. Typically, we’ll ask for a yes / no decision by the end of January. If the response if “yes,” we’ll also email an invoice and ask that plot fees be paid by the end of February. Members who wish to retain their plots the next growing season can do so in perpetuity, provided they remain current on plot fees.

Help us plan for the 2025 growing season. If you know you’re coming back next year (or not coming back), no need to wait until December, let us know now. By doing so, you give our guidance team a head start on all the great work they do in the background to maintain our shared space.

August Recap

Each plot at Mid Shooks Run Community Garden tells a story of hard work, collaboration, and the shared joy of cultivating the soil. This month, we purchased and hauled over 2,000 lbs of building materials in anticipation of our garden expansion project. And in partnership with Stellina Pizza Cafe, we came together as a community to raise over $250 for the community garden and to support a local business.

As the month of August progressed, long-season crops began to make their appearance at the garden. Early in the month, the first vibrant tomatoes and cucumbers emerged from the vines, bringing renewed energy and anticipation. By the end of August, the garden was overflowing with fruits and vegetables: zucchinis, peppers, eggplant, and winter squash joined the table, creating a bounty of fresh produce. The atmosphere was filled with camaraderie as members shared gardening tips and swapped produce, recipes, and smiles.

September Events At A Glance

Ready for Harvest at the Perennial Beds

At Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, there’s something exciting coming into season every month! Here’s what you’ll find ready to harvest in August in our perennial beds:

• “Little Dumpling” Acorn Squash. This acorn squash has atypical markings. To tell when it’s ready to harvest, check the stem and the skin. The skin should be hard, and it should be difficult to pierce with your fingernail. The stem will be dry and woody. To harvest, gently twist the woody part of the vine until it snaps off, being careful not to damage the vine. In addition, keep the flesh from becoming stringy by storing acorn squash in a cool (55 Fahrenheit or under), dry place. Look for acorn squash in our experimental beds (near the garden entrance) and growing along the east fence.

• “Waltham” Butternut. Butternut squash is ready to harvest when the skin has turned a deep, tan color and is hard to the touch. If the skin has green markings or is easily dented with a fingernail, then it’s not ripe! The stem connecting the squash to the vine also provides clues: it should be dry, woody, and brown. Gently twist and cut the squash from the vine, leaving a few inches of stem attached to enhance storage quality. For best flavor and to prolong storage life, make sure to cure your butternut! After harvesting, store butternut in a warm, dry area for about 10 to 14 days. Ensure good air circulation and avoid direct sunlight. Once cured, butternut squash can be stored in a cool, dark place for many months. Remember to check regularly for any signs of decay to maintain quality during storage. Look for butternut squash in our experimental beds (near the garden entrance) and growing along the east fence.

• “Moranga” Pumpkin. This pumpkins is ready to be harvested when it reaches its full color: a deep orange-pink! Like other winter squash, the stem and the skin will give you clues to readiness: the stem will start to turn brown and dry out, and the skin will be difficult to mark with a fingernail. To harvest, use a sharp knife to cut the stem, leaving several inches attached to the pumpkin to help prolong its storage life. Consider curing harvested pumpkins, especially if they will be stored long-term. Look for pumpkins in our experimental beds (near the garden entrance) and growing along the east fence.

• A variety of flowers. These hardy perennials provide a colorful display while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.

• Herbs like thyme, marjoram, lavender, lemon balm, tarragon, and sage are flourishing, ready to be harvested for culinary and aromatic purposes. Check out plot DD, which community gardeners can help themselves to!

• Lemon cucumbers. You'll know it's time to harvest when they’re about the size of a lemon and turn from green to yellow. Don't let them turn a deep yellow or they'll be overripe and have a bitter taste. You’ll find them in the northern end of the perennial beds in the corrugated metal raised bed.

• Mexican sour gherkins (AKA cucamelons). These super adorable fruits look like mini watermelons! Harvest when they are about the size of a large grape but still firm to touch by twisting or cutting the fruits from the vine. Be careful not to damage the plants! You’ll find them in the northern end of the perennial beds in the corrugated metal raised bed.

• “Tidy Rose” Tomatoes. Three Tidy Rose tomato plants are nestled alongside our winter squash. You’ll find them in the experimental beds, just south of the entrance to the community garden. These compact, indeterminates don’t need staking and will continue to produce until the first frost. Enjoy!

• Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In August, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute. You can also harvest the bullets to plant in the fall so that you have your own crop of walking onions next spring!