Start Date
2020 12:00 AM
Abstract
The mission statement of the Denver Botanic Gardens is to connect people with plants. Through a collection of urban food initiatives, the Gardens fulfills the mission by providing opportunities for farming, education and food access to the metro-Denver area. The Gardens’ original site is situated in a densely populated neighborhood near downtown Denver; beyond an on-site demonstration kitchen garden and nearby community garden, there is limited space for urban agriculture (UA) programming. The Gardens’ larger, peri-urban site, Chatfield Farms, offers a unique public garden opportunity. Visitors to Chatfield can observe a working farm with roughly 10 acres of production agriculture. Most of the output is diverted to a community supported agriculture (CSA) program with a portion being reserved for use at farm stands operated by the Gardens in low-income neighborhoods around Denver. These farm stands are in part a vehicle for Colorado’s Double Up Bucks program, which seeks to increase purchases by recipients of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A veteran farm training program operates at Chatfield using the same fields for training. Students in the program receive stipends to participate in land-based, farm education with opportunities for further engagement beyond the bounds of the curriculum. A partnership with the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) affords offsite opportunities for farming, education and food access. In addition to participating and/or observing in farm activities at urban farms on DHA properties, resident feedback influences crop choices and educational sessions. Lastly, in partnership with Colorado State University Extension, the Gardens offers a Beginning Market Farmer certificate course for anyone interested in minimally mechanized farming on five acres or less. Students attend lectures and workshops at metro-area farms and staff from the Gardens and Extension provide technical assistance and/or one-on-one mentorship.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Krishnan, Sarada and Darby, Brien (2020). "Denver Botanic Gardens: Expanding the role of public gardens in urban food systems," Urban Food Systems Symposium. https://newprairiepress.org/ufss/2020/proceedings/19
Denver Botanic Gardens: Expanding the role of public gardens in urban food systems
The mission statement of the Denver Botanic Gardens is to connect people with plants. Through a collection of urban food initiatives, the Gardens fulfills the mission by providing opportunities for farming, education and food access to the metro-Denver area. The Gardens’ original site is situated in a densely populated neighborhood near downtown Denver; beyond an on-site demonstration kitchen garden and nearby community garden, there is limited space for urban agriculture (UA) programming. The Gardens’ larger, peri-urban site, Chatfield Farms, offers a unique public garden opportunity. Visitors to Chatfield can observe a working farm with roughly 10 acres of production agriculture. Most of the output is diverted to a community supported agriculture (CSA) program with a portion being reserved for use at farm stands operated by the Gardens in low-income neighborhoods around Denver. These farm stands are in part a vehicle for Colorado’s Double Up Bucks program, which seeks to increase purchases by recipients of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A veteran farm training program operates at Chatfield using the same fields for training. Students in the program receive stipends to participate in land-based, farm education with opportunities for further engagement beyond the bounds of the curriculum. A partnership with the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) affords offsite opportunities for farming, education and food access. In addition to participating and/or observing in farm activities at urban farms on DHA properties, resident feedback influences crop choices and educational sessions. Lastly, in partnership with Colorado State University Extension, the Gardens offers a Beginning Market Farmer certificate course for anyone interested in minimally mechanized farming on five acres or less. Students attend lectures and workshops at metro-area farms and staff from the Gardens and Extension provide technical assistance and/or one-on-one mentorship.
