As the days grow longer in Archuleta County, many residents begin to feel the pull back to the garden. There’s something about spring in Pagosa Springs, the promise of new growth, the smell of soil warming in the sun, and the simple joy of being outdoors, that invites people to slow down, reconnect, and start planting.
This season, Healthy Archuleta is once again opening the garden gates to the community, offering opportunities for people of all ages and experience levels to learn, grow, and connect through food. Having recently completed a successful biennial Food Summit, Healthy Archuleta is now turning its focus toward practical, hands-on ways to support the community, and gardening is one of those pathways.
Beginning in May, Healthy Archuleta’s Seed to Supper gardening program, also known as Siembra La Cena: Grow It • Harvest It • Cook It, returns with a hands-on, five-week series designed to guide participants from seed to harvest. Classes will take place on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00pm on May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, and June 10, with that final session serving as a volunteer day in the garden.
Rather than sitting in a classroom, we will be out in the garden beds themselves, first at Vista Lake Community Garden (located at 230 Port Ave, near the PLPOA Admin Building), and later at the Pagosa Springs Community Garden (located downtown along the Riverwalk in Centennial Park), learning by doing. Along the way, they’ll explore everything from building healthy soil and starting seeds to managing pests, watering wisely, and harvesting what they’ve grown. The program is designed to be welcoming and accessible, with all materials provided and families encouraged to participate together.
Gardening in the mountains is not without its challenges. With a growing season of just about 90 days, local gardeners often find themselves watching the calendar as closely as the weather. Late frosts, curious wildlife, and limited water can all test even the most experienced grower. And yet, those same challenges are part of what makes gardening here so rewarding.
With a bit of creativity, using tools like greenhouses, grow domes, or high tunnels, the season can stretch well beyond its limits. Fast-growing crops like greens can be harvested in just a couple of months, while summer favorites like tomatoes and squash thrive in the height of the season. Over time, many gardeners discover that success isn’t just about what grows, but about what is learned along the way.
And the benefits reach far beyond the garden beds. Gardening offers a chance to move your body, spend time outdoors, and support your mental well-being. It can ease the strain of rising grocery costs and, just as importantly, create space for connection, neighbors sharing tips over a fence, families working side by side, and community members coming together around something as simple as growing food.
Now in its fourth year, Healthy Archuleta’s gardening program continues to grow as part of a larger vision that supports local food production, strengthens community connections, and builds a more resilient, food-secure Archuleta County. Through partnerships, community gardens, and hands-on learning, the work is rooted in the belief that when people come together around food, stronger communities take shape.
As spring unfolds, the invitation is simple: step outside, try something new, and join your neighbors in the garden.
Spots in the Seed to Supper classes are limited, and early registration is encouraged. To learn more or sign up, visit
https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org or register directly at https://pci.jotform.com/form/261124858566162
For updates on upcoming events and opportunities, visit www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org.