Growing a Vibrant Agricultural Future
Guidestone Colorado, founded in Chaffee County in 2007, was originally headquartered in Buena Vista before relocating to Salida in 2010. With a mission to “grow a vibrant agricultural future through education, community building and partnerships,” the organization has become a local asset, offering programs that provide services to area farmers, educators, youth and community members.
Guidestone’s four cornerstone programs include Farm to School, Farmhands Education, Colorado Land Link (a statewide initiative) and the Hutchinson Homestead & Learning Center.
In the past, Guidestone partnered with Salida Recreation for the Camp Friday Program. Currently, the organization partners with the city to manage the two community garden spaces on City of Salida property: Crestone Mesa Community Garden with 30 raised garden beds and Sonia's Garden at the Touber Building with 17 garden beds. Sonia’s Garden was created as a memorial for Salida’s former City Clerk Sonia Walter, who died unexpectedly in a car accident.
This partnership between the city and Guidestone started in 2020 when City of Salida Parks and Recreation Department Director, Diesel Post, approached Guidestone with the idea to work together to raise awareness of city-owned community garden spaces and develop additional growing spaces for community members.
Plans were developed over the winter of 2020-2021, and piloted in summer 2021 at Crestone Mesa and with six garden beds at Sonia's Garden, which were managed in partnership with Family Youth Initiatives. This year, the City has built out all of the beds at Sonia's Garden, with a total of 47 garden beds between the two garden spaces. In the future, a third community garden space will be built in conjunction with the Confluence Park development.
“The City Council and I greatly value partnerships throughout the local community, and our close relationship with Guidestone really shows the City’s commitment to working through grassroots organizations to effect change in Salida,” said Mayor Dan Shore. “Through our link of Sonia’s Garden to Guidestone, the City is able to bring many stakeholders together to bring food to tables, give a place for respite and recreation, and honor our friend’s memory. Organizations like Guidestone are the lifeblood of Salida.”
The City has provided all of the infrastructure support for the development of these gardens and manages the registration for garden beds. Guidestone's role in this partnership is to be the entity that works directly with the community gardeners, providing education and maintenance support. Guidestone will also be organizing two open-gate events for residents and visitors to view the community gardens and learn more about these opportunities.
“Community Gardens are spaces to cultivate appreciation for local food, education of gardening practices and techniques, health and creativity in our community,” said Executive Director Andrea Cohen. “These projects benefit residents of Salida by providing spaces for folks who may not have a yard or access to growing spaces but want the opportunity to gather with others, learn the skills and enjoy the benefits of growing their own food, while being supported with the infrastructure, tools, and skills support that they may not otherwise be able to access.”
While there is a fee to reserve a bed, the City of Salida offers a scholarship to cover the registration for one or even multiple garden beds. Ultimately, according to Cohen, the goal is to help strengthen the access to locally grown food for all members of the community.
As summer quickly approaches, Guidestone is heading into its busiest season, growing produce at the Community & School Farm on Holman Avenue for the Salida School District and Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, offering youth camps at the school gardens and Hutchinson Homestead, running heritage tours at the Hutchinson Homestead, hosting a youth farmers market at the Boys & Girls Club and School Farm, and more.
Guidestone’s strategies and programming are founded upon the belief that exposing people to experiences on local farms and ranches will enhance appreciation for where food comes from and the commitment and resources needed to produce food locally. The result is a more resilient local food system, healthier community and vibrant future for agriculture.
Andrea said,” We highly value our partnership with the City of Salida, and are grateful to be a part of a city that values local foods and supporting community agriculture, education and food access.”
