mission
Our mission is to create space where community members
can help each other grow healthy food.
vision
We envision a diverse and vibrant network of
community gardens in Cortez that inspires people to grow
their own food and forge strong social bonds.
goals
Create a shared sense of place by connecting with
and embracing the cultures of community members.
Provide gardening, cooking and nutrition education.
Share healthy food with the Good Samaritan Food Pantry.
Build a sense of community and neighborhood vitality.
Work with local partners to promote healthy eating and
to develop a sustainable, local food system.
COORDINATORS
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READ BRUGGER
I've been part of the community gardening movement since 1977 when I secured a coveted garden plot in a community garden in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. My involvement grew to where I was president of a large community farm that had more than 30 plots, an orchard, solar greenhouse and three part-time employees including a greenhouse manager (me). As a freelance photographer I also chronicled the growth of community gardens in the Boston metropolitan area. My photos have appeared in many publications including Horticulture, The Christian Science Monitor, and numerous gardening books. Our family moved to rural Maine in 1983 where we had a quarter acre vegetable garden. When I retired from the Postal Service I volunteered for Veggies For All which grew organic vegetables for local schools and food pantries on donated abandoned farmland. Coming to Cortez has allowed me to come full circle in my life by re-engaging with the community gardening movement and continuing to grow veggies for a local food pantry. I also get to take photos of gardeners again . . . many of the photos on this website are ones I've taken.
KIRBI FOSTER
I'm originally from Kansas City, Missouri and I’ve been part of the community garden movement since moving to Cortez in 2016. I was fortunate to participate in a community organizing and food justice workshop, where I met many of my current mentors and close friends. I’m part of the original volunteer crew that got the rec center garden started in 2017 and have led workshops, the children’s garden program and the 3rd St Garden initiative, and developed our website and communications as well. My son, now 8 years old, has grown up with me in the garden; I couldn’t have asked for a better environment in which to help us both build a love for people, plants and the soil. There is something very special that happens when we work with others, doing something we believe in, and I’m really grateful to be a part of it. I can usually be found running the Good Sam Food Pantry, finding stuff to compost, sharing seeds and getting way too excited about building food sovereignty in our community.
Monique Knaggs
I've been in Cortez for just over a year and prior to my move here I had started my first garden and was sad to leave it behind. Once my first spring here rolled around I was stoked to discover and become a part of our local community gardens. I'm still a new gardener and have many things to learn but I love being on a path to self-sufficiency and food sovereignty. Our community gardens are an amazing resource to have and I hope they continue to thrive. Currently helping our community gardens manage social media platforms and assisting with communications with the 3rd Street Garden.
