The Jubilee Garden is located in the northeast corner of Sacred Heart of Mary parish property, across the ditch and north of the cemetery.
Volunteers plan the layout of the beds early in the year. As spring arrives they prepare the soil, put irrigation lines and weed barriers in place, and plant vegetable starts and seeds. Later they thin, weed, water, harvest and donate to local food banks. Over the course of each growing season, pounds donated are tracked. In recent years totals were:
Year | Pounds Donated |
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 |
3395 4276 4051 3794 4215 4100 |
In 2014 and 2015, a private household allowed the Jubilee gardeners use of a small greenhouse where tomatoes, cabbages, tomatillos and peppers emerged from seeds and grew to the size ideal for transplanting. That greenhouse has changed hands; the new owners were generous enough to allow Jubilee volunteers continued use of their greenhouse.
The produce goes to residents of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, individuals living in poverty and families in need. At the peak of the season volunteers take 400 pounds of vegetables a week to our partner food banks: Harvest of Hope Pantry, Community Food Share and Sister Carmen Community Center. Less frequently we donate to Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), OUR Center in Longmont and the pantry at the Louisville United Methodist Church.
All garden helpers are valued, whether they come regularly to weekday morning sessions or just a few times during the season. Children are welcome with their parents.