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Indian Peaks Elementary and Rocky Mountain Christian Church Team Up To Build a Community Garden

On Saturday, October 21, 2017, Indian Peaks Elementary and Rocky Mountain Christian Church teamed up to see a three-year-long dream come true. Three years ago, 3rd-grade teacher, Jamie Lockwood, joined the Indian Peaks Elementary team.
Macie May
Macie May

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

On Saturday, October 21, 2017, Indian Peaks Elementary and Rocky Mountain Christian Church teamed up to see a three-year-long dream come true.

Three years ago, 3rd-grade teacher, Jamie Lockwood, joined the Indian Peaks Elementary team. It did not take long for Ms. Lockwood to begin talking about a community garden. Unfortunately, at the time, resources to carry the project through were not available.

Rocky Mountain Christian Church (RMCC) has recently begun their Kids Hope program at Indian Peaks Elementary. Kids Hope is a community service project that offers mentorship as well as reading and tutoring services.

When asked what inspired RMCC to join up with Indian Peaks Elementary, Shan Moyers, Lead Pastor of RMCC, said, "We want the community to know that we (RMCC) are for the community and for helping kids. We have enjoyed working together to build something for this community."

After beginning their Kids Hope program, RMCC wanted to do more and asked Indian Peaks' principal, Kathi Jo Walder, if she had any projects that needed their attention. Ms. Walder mentioned the community garden project, that Ms. Lockwood had suggested. RMCC thought this was a great idea and began working on the garden project idea.

Barry Young, Missions Pastor at RMCC, designed the layout of the garden and submitted it to the staff at Indian Peaks Elementary. From there Ms. Lockwood's classroom and several members of the staff gave their feedback until a final plan was agreed upon.

Indian Peaks student asking about his class's planter box on the community garden plan. (Macie May/Longmont Observer)

The final plan includes a planter box for each grade level, planter boxes for flowers to attract bees and a rock path. Each student will place a rock that he/she has painted and each year the kindergarten classes will add their new rocks. "Each year, each student will have a place in the garden," commented Ms. Lockwood.

Rocky Mountain Christian Church team serving a pancake breakfast to volunteers and families. (Macie May/Longmont Observer)

Saturday's event included a pancake breakfast and performances by each grade. Church volunteers and school staff worked together to get everyone fed and children were in charge of handing out bottled water to all who attended.

Now that the garden is in place, the students are tasked with the job of researching the plants that they believe would grow best there. In the spring, RMCC will help the school find and plant all the plants that the students decide to use. In addition to the students having a new, hands-on learning environment, the parents are invited to use the garden as well. The food grown there is for the community as a whole to use and harvest from. The school has heard from several parents who are excited to use the produce from the community garden at home.