The Day Labor Enterprise Garden is coming back for its second year after producing more than 300 pounds of vegetables in its first year of existence.
Anna Bousquet, manager of the Day Labor Center, which runs the garden, said last years pilot program success was the main motivation behind continuing the program for a second year.
Bousquet said the hope is to have the produce planted in the garden by the first part of April rather than last years June starting date.
The El Pomar Foundation, a Colorado nonprofit organization, is donating $5,000 to the center, though not all the funds will be used for the garden club.
The center will soon pick up the manure and materials to build a new compost bins.
The vegetables that are grown will be used for the soup kitchens, the homeless shelter and the day laborers and their families.
Bousquet said the center has started growing vegetables inside its building at the intersection of Empire Street and Highway 145, and will be transplanted outside when the temperatures get warmer.
I am hoping we can start seedlings by April, she said, explaining seedlings are when plants are transplanted outside during the early stages of growth.
Bousquet said because the center plans to begin the garden sooner this year much more growth will occur and should continue for close to six months.
She also said the center expects to have a better, more productive garden this year because the plant beds are increasing from five to seven plus they are adding an additional compost bin.
We would like to double it from last year, she said, in explaining what a good growing season would be. We weigh it each and every day.
The Cortez Garden Club is donating some of the materials this year and may at some point help out in the growing of the plants.
She said the center will continue to do progression planting, so there will be crops throughout the growing season from the middle of April to early October.
We always want to have something growing throughout the growing season, she said.
Bousquet added that the center is trying to include an educational aspect on gardening to the community, so residents can learn about growing crops.
She also said the center is hoping to form a partnership with the Cortez Garden Club in order for the community garden to continue for many years.