Our guest columnist this week is Archuleta Senior Inc. (ASI) grower and farmer Kelle Carter Bruno.
She joined the ASI team in August 2023 when ASI purchased through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant dollars a 42-foot growing dome.
The purpose of the dome is to provide a year-round location for fresh fruit and vegetable production to supply the Pagosa Senior Center’s Community Cafe, which serves the community five days a week, providing tasty and nutrient-dense, seasonally inspired meals.
I began working as a horticulturist for the Senior Center this past August with the goal of supplementing the current food program by providing fresh, nutrient-dense, locally grown produce to the kitchen.
This position was made possible by a grant from ARPA, which President Joe Biden signed on March 11, 2021, to combat the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the $1.9 trillion package, $1.43 billion is earmarked for the Older Americans Act (OAA), and the national network of Area Agencies on Aging. The San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging is working in partnership with ASI to provide a greenhouse garden to support the Senior Center and the Meals on Wheels program.
Growing food has been a passion of mine for close to two decades. I have a vivid memory of pulling a carrot out of the ground at the age of 17 and feeling like I had answered a question I didn’t know I had asked.
Like most gardeners, the end of August is a busy time for me. The garden is exploding and those green tomatoes are finally turning lovely shades of red, purple and orange. It’s a time to cook, eat, share and preserve your harvest for the coming winter.
This August I found myself starting seeds and making preparations for a new growing season. The act of placing a seed into the soil is always one of trust and hope. As the season shifted to fall, a time I am usually putting my garden to bed, I found myself beginning a new gardening experiment. Which plants would produce at 7,500 feet above sea level during the cold winter months?
I discussed the needs of the kitchen with the ASI chef, Cynthia Sperry, and paired her desires with the plants that are hardy enough to grow through the cold season. We decided to try collard greens, cilantro, cucumbers, radicchio, dark purple and red lettuces, spinach, fennel bulbs, green and red kale, multicolored chard, dill and cherry tomatoes.
My seeds began to sprout in September. I pulled out the spent plants from the summer season and transplanted the new plant starts. So far I have produced 45 pounds of cucumbers, 50 pounds of lettuce, 33 pounds of kale, 26 pounds of chard, 15 pounds of fennel bulbs and 15 pounds of collard greens in addition to culinary herbs like lemongrass, rosemary and dill.
Cynthia and her team have been making use of the veggies in many of their homestyle meals. The cilantro is used in guacamole that tops Baja-style fish tacos; rosemary adds flavor to vegetarian navy bean and artichoke casserole; the lettuce, cucumbers and grape tomatoes are incorporated in the fresh salad bar; lemongrass is added to red curry codfish and Moroccan stew; the kale and chard have been sauteed up as a nutritious side dish.
It’s bitterly cold this Tuesday morning as I head inside the dome to check on the plants. My car thermometer registers a chilly -13 degrees F. Inside the dome it is warm, humid and 45 degrees F. The condensation has frozen to the window and the trim on the door. The plants are working hard; they are not loving these temperature drops, but they are slowly growing. I am adjusting my thought process to harvesting and washing greens while there is snow on the ground. It is incredible that the growing domes provide the ability to allow for vegetable production in the winter. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the community in this way and to learn from the plants, as they are always good teachers.
If you would like to sample these locally grown vegetables and freshly prepared meals, stop by the Community Cafe at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. Monday through Thursday to dine in or Monday through Friday for Grab-N-Go. All ages are welcome. Please make your reservation for lunch by 9 a.m. each day by contacting us at (970) 264-2167.
Mindful drawing
Mindful drawing is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join our friendly instructor, Roberta Strickland.
Classes are every Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. in the Senior Center. This activity is open to all ages. Help us create an intergenerational community. For those under 18 and/or with disabilities, you are welcome to join us, but we kindly ask you to please bring an adult chaperone with you.
Bingo
The Senior Center will be hosting bingo twice a month on Friday afternoons from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.
Bingo will be on Jan. 19, Feb. 9 and Feb. 23.
The price to participate is free and we ask you bring yourself and a friend for joyful fellowship. We will provide prizes from local businesses for all winners and snacks will also be provided.
No RSVP is required; just show up. All ages are welcome, but we ask those 18 and younger to come with an adult chaperone.
For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.
T’ai Chi Chih and mindfulness-based meditation
The Senior Center will be offering T’ai Chi Chih with accredited instructor Patti Popovich each Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., and longtime local practitioner Udgar Parsons will offer mindfulness-based meditation classes from 3 to 4 p.m. in the dining hall to support older adults who want to discover purpose and fulfillment in this transitional phase of life.
T’ai Chi Chih and mindfulness-based meditation are not martial arts, but rather tools for self-healing. Softness, flow and effortlessness are the guiding principles in these practices.
All classes will be free for older adults (age 60 and better) and will last approximately one hour in the dining hall.
No special clothing or equipment is required for either class.
For more information, call (970) 264-2167.
Senior Conversations
Join us Mondays at 1:15 p.m. for a series of “Senior Conversations” with local Bill Salmansohn.
He will lead the group through mindfulness exercises and discussion of various topics pertaining to aging in Archuleta County. Explore and discover for yourself answers to your questions and concerns.
The meeting will be held in the Senior Center in the dining hall. Snacks will be provided.
Healthy aging and yoga therapy class series
Gather with local yoga practitioner AJ Connors for a series of evidence-based healthy aging and yoga therapy classes at the Senior Center geared for adults and older adults of all ages.
This yoga series promotes healthy aging for individuals with therapeutic classes offering yoga tools and education for strength, resilience and wellness.
Classes are designed to address different aspects of healthy aging and are geared toward accessibility and gentle practice. The themes for the class will include physical and mental well-being utilizing movement, meditation and breathing practices.
Mats and chairs will be provided; it’s optional to bring a blanket, and please wear comfortable clothing.
The class is offered Mondays 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the dining hall.
Share lunch Monday through Thursday
Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den, aka the Community Cafe, in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Thursdays at the Community Center between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. It is open to all. Pickup is available all week, including Fridays.
Our dining hall is open to all ages and welcomes you all with kindness and warmth. We provide hot/cold meals for anyone in the community interested in a nutritious and delicious meal. For those 60 or older we request a suggested donation of $10, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10.50 charge for guests under the age of 60.
Meals include a main course, side dish, fruit/dessert, garden salad plus beverage. Some popular menu items include Frito chili pie, pork tenderloin with harvest chutney, Singaporean pork ribs, vegetarian lasagna, Hawaiian shrimp with coconut rice and always a beautiful green salad. Many of our items are locally sourced and organic.
Our chef works with a team of local food professionals to hand-prepare your meal for dine-in service in our cozy dining room (with an amazing view of the San Juans) or for takeout (via our convenient drive-through). Our menu changes daily.
To reserve your meal for the day, please make your reservation via text or phone call to (970) 264-2167 by 9 a.m. weekdays.
Community Cafe menu
Thursday, Jan. 18 — Stuffed bell peppers (beef), roasted cauliflower, dinner roll, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Friday, Jan. 19 — Mushroom, broccoli and cheese quiche, wilted spinach, garden salad, fruit, chocolate hazelnut torte and milk.
Monday, Jan. 22 — Beef spaghetti with garlic bread, peas and pearl onions, garden salad, fruit, German chocolate cake and milk.
Tuesday, Jan. 23 — Moroccan stew, hot artichoke and spinach dip, pita chips, garden salad,vanilla yogurt and fruit, and milk.
Wednesday, Jan. 24 — Chicken fajitas with tortillas, sour cream, salsa and guacamole, garden salad, fruit, flan and milk.
Thursday, Jan. 25 — Crispy codfish with tartar sauce, green beans, dinner roll, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Friday, Jan. 26 — Pork kielbasa, German potato salad, sweet and sour cabbage, garden salad, fruit, Bavarian cream puffs and milk.
Grab-N-Go meals
Dine-in and Grab-N-Go meal reservations and cancellations are required. Please call or text by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you want to pick up a meal. A suggested donation of $10 helps to sustain our program. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10.50. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to make a reservation.
Meals on Wheels
We deliver fresh Meals on Wheels five days a week (and provide frozen Meals on Wheels for weekends) to homebound Archuleta County residents. Call or text us at (970) 264-2167.
Text reservations
Don’t forget that we offer a convenient texting service for you to communicate with us. Text us at (970) 264-2167. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are canceling a reservation, please include your name, phone number and the days you want to cancel.
Texting services are available for dine-in meal reservations, Grab-n-Go meals and Meals on Wheels recipients.
Hand and foot card game
Whether you are new to hand and foot or interested in learning, please join us most Thursdays at 1:15 at the Senior Center.
This card game involves four rounds of playing until the final round is reached — some two to three hours later. Plan to stay and meet some new friends or catch up with those you have missed over the last couple of years.
No experience is necessary, so come willing to learn.
Supporting ASI
Please support our ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County.
You may mail your donation to P.O. Box 3444, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 or please visit our website, http://www.psseniors.org/ (donation button). Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. For more information about Archuleta Seniors Inc., please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.
