PLPOA owners invited to weigh in on Garden on the Trail project

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2021/07/Garden-on-the-trail.jpg
Rendering courtesy Food System/Food Equity Coalition
Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association residents are invited to the annual appreciation barbecue on July 31, at which time they can share ideas for the planned Garden on the Trail project.

By Rose D. Chavez
Food System/Food Equity Coalition

Save the date for Saturday, July 31, at 1 p.m. for the annual Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA) owners appreciation barbecue and, new this year, Garden on the Trail project at 230 Port Ave. (look for the gazebo near the lake). 

Community members throughout PLPOA are invited to attend the annual event, connect over food, music and games with neighbors and walk the site of the future community garden. Residents will also get the chance to weigh in on the design and programming of the future garden space and are asked to come and share their ideas for this upcoming community gathering site in the Vista neighborhood. 

This project is a collaboration between PLPOA and the Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition, who are together seeking funding from the Colorado Health Foundation to support the necessary infrastructure and programming needed to activate this vital community space. 

The need for additional community garden space was identified through a local community food assessment that was completed in 2020 by the Food Coalition. PLPOA, in collaboration with the Food Coalition, identified a piece of land, 230-foot by 50-foot, near the lake behind its offices and in proximity to the gazebo. The space is ideal, with fertile land, a water pump to irrigate the future gardens and additional room for a community gathering site, all within the Vista neighborhood. 

This Garden on the Trail project will augment the existing community garden space, expanding and allowing for intensive local food production for residents of PLPOA and community supported agriculture produce donations to supply the local Food Pantry Network. This effort supports the community by building the capacity for nutrition security so that all residents can contribute and benefit from an equitable community based food system.

Volunteers interested in advancing nutrition security in Archuleta County are needed to help with this event and are asked to contact the food coalition at community@fsfearchuleta.org or by calling (401) 371-3227.