Niwot Community Association discusses community garden, National Night Out

Niwot Community Association board members had a bit of a "green-storming" session at their August meeting.

Niwot resident Terry Purcell approached the group with the suggestion that Niwot needs a community garden. "I've been talking to people as I work at the Niwot Market and everyone has been enthusiastic about the idea," he told NCA board members. "This could be a really wonderful social gathering place for the community."

Purcell said he was bringing the idea to the NCA because of the community aspect of the gardens. "We would need to work out a lot of details, but this could be a wonderful idea for our community," he said. "I see some absolutely beautiful yards in Niwot, so I know we have many talented gardeners in town. We could get some of the kids in town involved and let them get in there and learn and get their knees dirty. This could really grab our community's imagination."

Purcell acknowledged that there are many logistical areas to be planned before a Niwot community garden can come to fruition. "Naturally you have to find some land, and water, and funding, and come up with an organizational plan for everything. But this could really be something great!" he enthused. "And it would be a good carbon offset. It might be only a small amount, but every bit helps."

NCA Board members were enthusiastic too. "This idea has so many opportunities for green education, earth stewardship, sharing of locally grown produce, beauty and fostering community," said board member Diane Zimmermann. "I think this would be a really fun idea and turn into a special gathering area."

"Sharing the wisdom is what gardeners do," agreed NCA member Laura Skaggs. "A community garden would be a wonderful teaching and learning environment."

Board member Pat Murphy suggested that any effort should also involve the newly revitalized Niwot Garden Club. "We certainly have a lot of expertise we can tap into with that group," she said.

NCA Vice-President Julie Breyer suggested that the effort also may want to include Niwot Elementary School. "A few years ago we had a science garden at the school that included plants from every planting zone found in Colorado," she said. "It was a wonderful teaching tool for the students. We could see if there's any interest from the school in becoming involved in a community garden."

Zimmermann and Purcell agreed to form a subcommittee of interested community and NCA members to start exploring the idea of a community garden. Interested persons can contact Zimmermann at her NCA email address at Diane@niwot.org.

In other business, NCA President David Limbach discussed the success of the Aug. 3 National Night Out event. "We had a bigger turnout than we anticipated," he said, "and the partnership with the Boulder County Sheriff's office worked very smoothly."

Limbach suggested that it may be time to have the recycling and composting "gargoyles" help with the NNO event. The volunteer Gargoyles program, in place for the Rock & Rails concerts, has students stationed at the receptacles to guide people to properly either recycle or compost their waste. "The students love it because they can get service hours," said Breyer, who helps coordinate the program.

"I think that we could use their help at this event too," Limbach added.

NCA members soon will turn their attention to the annual Niwot Clean Up Day set for Sept. 18. The event is open to NCA members at no charge; non-members must pay $40 a carload. "All the pieces are in place for this event," coordinator John Barto said. "There will be details next month."