Become A Yardmaster at the Railyard

Here is an announcement from the Railyard Stewards on an opportunity to help keep the park beautiful and learn about the landscape.

We’ve Been Working on the Railyard

Discover how one day of your time, 24 hours over the year, will help the Railyard Stewards keep the Railyard Park on track. Orientation for the new Railyard Yardmasters volunteer gardeners is Saturday, March 24 at the Railyard Community Room, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Local experts will discuss the history, design, and gardens of Santa Fe’s favorite outdoor public space. To register, or for more information contact Alanna of the Railyard Stewards at 505-316-3596 or alanna@railyardpark.org and visit www.railyardpark.org.

Railyard Yardmasters garden together to keep Santa Fe’s favorite public space vibrant and beautiful while learning about life in the high desert. No prior experience or knowledge is necessary! There are many incentives to being a Yardmaster including free training and workshops, the intangible reward of enriching the visitor’s experience of the Railyard Park, and dedication awards.

Did you know that the Santa Fe Railyard Park was created through one of the largest community park planning projects in the country and has won numerous awards? The Railyard Park is an innovative 10-acre outdoor space with community food gardens, unique recreation areas, xeriscaped gardens, and meadows of native grass and wildflower. Along with coordinating the Yardmasters and service learning opportunities at the Park, the Railyard Stewards fill the park with positive, engaging community activities. The more we bring this care and programming to the park, the safer and more vibrant it becomes.

Community Gardens 2012

Do you want to grow vegetables, but don’t have enough space in your yard? Want to learn more about gardening from your neighbors? Meet more people in your area? Join a community garden this year.

Santa Fe has eight community gardens. They are gardens that are divided into individual plots of approximately 10′x12′ but will vary between locations. They have five to thirty-five plots in each garden. Each plot is leased to families or people in the neighborhood for an annual fee of $15-$25. They are open from April to October or some locations may be open year-round. Garden members have access to their plot during the garden season.

The Parks Division has opened four gardens in city parks in the past few years. There are also gardens on privately owned land that are 15 years old. Two more gardens are planning to open in Tierra Contenta this year in Plaza Contenta and at the Zona del Sol location as Earth Care builds youth, community and education gardens. Despite the differences, the gardens all operate in a similar way. Residents can join the gardens in March and April. Each garden has a group of neighbors that coordinates the community, plans activities and may offer classes.

Here is a list of garden contacts:

1. The City of Santa Fe Community Gardens are Sunny Slope Community Garden, La Familia, Maclovia Community Garden and Frenchy’s Community Garden.  Contact Jessie Esparza at 955-2106 for details.

2. Plaza Contenta is opening a community garden in 2012. Contact Dave at 986-2934 or dave@phaseonerealty.com.

3. The El Dorado School Community Garden has a  website for more information.

4. The Milagro Community Garden on Rodeo Road is currently accepting new gardeners and has a waiting list. Email milagrocommunitygarden@gmail.com for information.

5.  Railyard Park has a website  www.railyardpark.org for more information on joining the garden and events and workshops.

Come to Home Grown New Mexico’s March 27th Potluck at 6:30pm at the Santa Fe Complex on Second Street to meet Fabian Chavez and Jessie Esparaza from the Parks Division to discuss community gardens in city parks. Bette Booth from the Community Garden Council will also be available to discuss updates from the spring planning meetings and her experience as a community garden member. Watch our website menu Community Gardens to see updates and additional information.