The Troy Chavez/Dandelion Project Dome
The Troy Chavez Memorial Peace Garden was started in 1994 by Ana Chavez to honor the memory of her son, Troy, and all young victims of violence. With funding from numerous organizations and individuals and lots of solid hard work this generous plot has blossomed into a lush, leafy, green respite of flourishing trees, vegetables, and flowers. On this warm summer morning Ana strolls through the garden she inspired over 15 years ago, graciously welcoming and visiting with everyone. The summer of 2010 has seen the conversion of the 22-foot greenhouse at the garden into a functional space with the efforts of Lauren Cooper and 11 other members of the student group, Engineering For American Communities, from the University of Colorado. Lauren co-founded the student group to give CU Boulder engineering students the opportunity to brainstorm, design, fund, and manifest their ideas for the space with a lot of hands-on work and help from the local neighbors and students. They've included hand-painted planting beds, hanging planters, and water distribution in their plans. Today the students from EscuelaTlatelolco are applying stucco to the interior garden bed walls. Joshua and Mark are proudly putting in their 2nd, Josue his 3rd, and Martha her 4th summer of gardening skills. Mark and Jaime, teachers at Tlatelolco, use the garden to academically integrate lessons such as math (plotting size of beds with size of plant growth), biology (use of indigenous plants and herbs), sociology (social impacts of food production and labor rights), and environmental health. The morning of August 21st is the time to celebrate their efforts with the Urban Market. Extra produce and delicious handmade items like jalapeno jelly will sell out with the profits going right back into the garden. How do the students feel about their time in the garden? "It's fun. Except for the weeding."
Please read more about Troy Chavez and the non-profit youth organization started by his family at their website.
Funding for this growing dome was given by the Colorado Home and Garden Show, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, The Troy Chavez Memorial Peace Garden, and Global Children's Gardens.
