Thanks for joining us for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

Date:  May 18th from 3-5 PM

- Opening Remarks (including thanks to donors) 
- Ribbon Cutting (dignitaries)
- Presentation of Pennant Banner & marigold starts (by kindergarteners)
 - Refreshments (boxed wine, cupcakes, sparkling water)
 - Kid games (bubbles, hula hoops)

                  RIDGWAY COMMUNITY GARDEN HISTORY

Fall 2018
We have been grant writing, fundraising, and working with the town and our sponsors to design and start infrastructure on the garden.  The fence is up and we are putting in beds, the path, and irrigation infrastructure. Design elements of the path as well as the gardening bed layout is complete.  Over winter, collaboration with the secondary school shop class has occurred to begin building elements of the garden such as the raised beds, information kiosk, picnic tables, play structures and other infrastructure components. 
In spring, we will finish the install of the beds, toolshed, shade structure, path install, soil installation and look to start gardening mid-May or early June. 
Grant writing and fundraising continues so thank you for your support and look forward to our first growing season in the new space in 2019!  
Spring 2018
 We worked with the town on a revised plan and got approval from town to proceed with their support. 
We decided with town to proceed with a phased garden approach at the same Green Street location The garden will adhere to the vision and original design elements below but will be a scaled approach as we continue to grow. We continue to integrate programs with partner organizations such as the Weehawken Children’s Garden, Voyager, and other community organizations. Town financially committed to building a parking lot, water connections, a walking path and other infrastructure elements to facilitate getting started.
Summer 2017
We are hard at work grant writing to raise at least $20,000 for the infrastructure needs for the wildlife fence, irrigation system, garden plots, main pathway, shade trees, high tunnel, tool shed, info kiosk, picnic benches and bike racks.
Fall 2016​
The RCG team was present and Chris Lance, our Committee Chair, presented our plans to the Town Planning Committee.  We got official sign off and endorsement to move forward from this group to continue to work with the Town to proceed with the grant and the project at large!  
2009 - 2015
Colorado State Extension Service and the Master Gardener Program got involved with the garden and started organizing. The garden moved from 6 members in 2009 to 40 in 2010. This is both a Share garden and a Rental Garden, which means that any community member can join the garden for a nominal fee of $25 per season and garden collectively with other knowledgeable gardeners. We also provide a few Rental plots at a higher fee of $50 and $100 per plot. 
2007 - 2009
The garden was started by a handful of gardeners in Ridgway, and a small percentage of the land was under cultivation.
Use of the private property at N. Laura and Charles was donated by Liza Ortman. She also very generously put in the water tap and erected deer fencing around the property. Liza, a passionate gardener herself, continues to be an avid supporter of the garden and its efforts to bring organic gardening to the Ridgway Community. 
The town of Ridgway approved the Community Garden and agreed to pay for all summer water usage!
Tomten Farm & Institute of Telluride is the umbrella non-profit that has sponsored the garden from the start and holds the 501(C)(3) status for the garden. Tomten is also the main source of grant monies each year, which keeps the garden running.