Wednesday, April 22, 2009
RFHS Greenhouse Alternate: Growing Dome 42' dia.
Our reason for suggesting a Dome Greenhouse as an alternate to the earlier greenhouse design, is that a 42-foot diameter dome will be large enough to hold a good-sized class, it will be brand new, far more energy efficient, half the size and half the price of retrofitting the recycled greenhouse from the City of Glenwood Springs. If we experience less than our hoped-for community support for this project, we may be able to afford the dome, and we can always add another greenhouse, if the program receives more school support than we expect.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Memorandum of Understanding - Draft
The Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (CRMPI) enters into an Agreement with the RE-1 School District, to build a Greenhouse and a 1.5 acre fenced Garden at the Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, CO.
CRMPI and its non-profit partners C.O.R.E., Fat City Farms, Inc., the Basalt Thrift Store and others, will raise the funds necessary to build the greenhouse and gardens, and will organize the contractors and volunteers to construct it during the summer of 2009. CRMPI and its partners will use these facilities for their CSA Farm School program, from May through September each year, starting in 2010, and will train RFHS teachers in the use and maintenance of the facilities, on an ongoing basis, as needed. The 1.5 acre garden will be surrounded by an 8-foot deer fence with gates at the NE corner, for access via the fire lane. The greenhouse will contain a minimum of 1,300 SF in floor area, and will be no taller than 20-feet above the surrounding grade.
CRMPI will also provide:
CRMPI and its non-profit partners C.O.R.E., Fat City Farms, Inc., the Basalt Thrift Store and others, will raise the funds necessary to build the greenhouse and gardens, and will organize the contractors and volunteers to construct it during the summer of 2009. CRMPI and its partners will use these facilities for their CSA Farm School program, from May through September each year, starting in 2010, and will train RFHS teachers in the use and maintenance of the facilities, on an ongoing basis, as needed. The 1.5 acre garden will be surrounded by an 8-foot deer fence with gates at the NE corner, for access via the fire lane. The greenhouse will contain a minimum of 1,300 SF in floor area, and will be no taller than 20-feet above the surrounding grade.
CRMPI will also provide:
Monday, April 6, 2009
RFHS Hillside Garden - CO. Health Dept. reply
Hillside Garden area:
65,080 SF, or 1.5 ac.
Perimeter Fence:
8' tall deer fence, 1,200 LF
65,080 SF, or 1.5 ac.
Perimeter Fence:
8' tall deer fence, 1,200 LF
Jerome,
Please allow this message to serve as a response to your recent inquiry about the proposed greenhouse facility for Roaring Fork High School to be used for educational purposes as well as growing organic crops to be harvested for use in the school kitchen. Neither the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations or the Rules and Regulations Governing Schools in the State of Colorado would preclude this type of endeavor either as a learning opportunity for the students or as a source of produce for the retail food operation.
The Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations do require that all foods come from an approved source and does recognize produce grown on site as approved. The produce is considered to be approved provided that only approved fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or insecticides are used when growing the produce. My understanding of the proposed operation is that is would be completely organic and as a result there should not be a concern regarding chemicals. All produce grown would have to be washed in potable water after harvest and prior to consumption either in the greenhouse or in the school kitchen itself. Based on the information you provided, I understand that the local irrigation water will be used for growing the produce and the City of Carbondale municipal supply will be used for washing both in Th greenhouse and in the school as appropriate.
Provided these parameters, as previously discussed, are followed we would not have objection to the proposed venture for the school.
It is also my understanding that there is interest in implementing a composting program for the kitchen waste. Our concern would be that all food wastes to be composted are stored in such a manner as to prevent contamination of other foods, food contact surfaces, or serve as insect or rodent attractants. While this is an area of expertise for the Consumer Protection Division here at CDPHE, we would like to suggest the following individuals as potential resources for information, guidance and possibly training for establishing a composting program.
Possible contacts are:
The Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations do require that all foods come from an approved source and does recognize produce grown on site as approved. The produce is considered to be approved provided that only approved fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or insecticides are used when growing the produce. My understanding of the proposed operation is that is would be completely organic and as a result there should not be a concern regarding chemicals. All produce grown would have to be washed in potable water after harvest and prior to consumption either in the greenhouse or in the school kitchen itself. Based on the information you provided, I understand that the local irrigation water will be used for growing the produce and the City of Carbondale municipal supply will be used for washing both in Th greenhouse and in the school as appropriate.
Provided these parameters, as previously discussed, are followed we would not have objection to the proposed venture for the school.
It is also my understanding that there is interest in implementing a composting program for the kitchen waste. Our concern would be that all food wastes to be composted are stored in such a manner as to prevent contamination of other foods, food contact surfaces, or serve as insect or rodent attractants. While this is an area of expertise for the Consumer Protection Division here at CDPHE, we would like to suggest the following individuals as potential resources for information, guidance and possibly training for establishing a composting program.
Possible contacts are:
Roger Doak, CDPHE HMWMD: Solid Waste 303-692-3437
roger.doak@state.co.us
Kathy C. Doesken at CSU(Colorado State University)
907-484-0251
Adriane L. Elliot at CSU 970-491-6984
If you have additional questions or need additional resource information, please feel free to contact me again.
Regards,
Susan
Susan ParachiniRetail Food Program ManagerConsumer Protection DivisionColorado Department of Public Health & EnvironmentCPD-GS-B24300 Cherry Creek Drive SouthDenver, Colorado 80246-1530Phone: 303-692-3646/FAX: 303-753-6809susan.parachini@state.co.us
roger.doak@state.co.us
Kathy C. Doesken at CSU(Colorado State University)
907-484-0251
Adriane L. Elliot at CSU 970-491-6984
If you have additional questions or need additional resource information, please feel free to contact me again.
Regards,
Susan
Susan ParachiniRetail Food Program ManagerConsumer Protection DivisionColorado Department of Public Health & EnvironmentCPD-GS-B24300 Cherry Creek Drive SouthDenver, Colorado 80246-1530Phone: 303-692-3646/FAX: 303-753-6809susan.parachini@state.co.us
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The LIST of Issues to be Addressed
Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute ( CRMPI ) and
Fat City Farms, Inc., 501c3 benefactor for this mission
Project Proposal
Roaring Fork High School
CRMPI and Fat City Farms are both non-profit organizations devoted to developing gardens and greenhouses on various community sites including schools. This project is proposed at no-cost to the school district and would provide the following benefits:
Integrated learning opportunities with high school science classes
Provide fresh fruit and produce for the school lunch room
Opportunities for community volunteers to be involved in the garden, greenhouse, and instructional program
The green house, a 32 x 77 foot structure will be removed from a site in Glenwood Springs and reconstructed on a site behind Roaring Fork High School, of approximately one acre in size, that has been mutually agreed upon by Fat City Farms and the RFSD office staff, including Larry Estrada, our facilities director.
In addition to the green house, a small section of land on the south side of the high school will be used for a garden area. The garden area will be fenced to prevent deer from disturbing the garden and will contain a small tool shed to hold the necessary equipment.
The school will be responsible for providing the community, teacher and student volunteers to work with and in the program.
CRMPI will be responsible for work done in the greenhouse and on the garden in the summer time. They use community volunteers and college students
Prior to coming to the Board for approval, CRMPI will create a draft of an MOU that addresses the following:
Liability insurance provided by CRMPI
Provision for a green house manager
Code issues regarding placement of the green house and garden
Code issues/state health issues regarding the use of produce in the school lunchroom
Funds for the program to be provided by Fat City Farms and others
Placement of lights and security cameras behind the building
Damage insurance
Termination of program
Responsibility for upkeep and maintenance
Access to the green house and garden via the fire lane
Parking for volunteers
Solar lighting around the greenhouse for security
Construction materials and height of fence around the garden
Access to water for watering the plants as well as access to potable water for washing and cleaning the fruits and vegetables
Maintenance of grounds around the outside of the fenced garden
Construction and composition of compost bins
Illene Pevec has been meeting with the neighbors adjacent to the RFHS property to insure that we have addressed any issues they may have regarding the placement of the garden or greenhouse.
CRMPI and FCF would like to have an agreement in place by spring and begin the placement of the green house and garden area soil preparation, so the facility is ready for RFHS teachers and students by September this year.
Fat City Farms, Inc., 501c3 benefactor for this mission
Project Proposal
Roaring Fork High School
CRMPI and Fat City Farms are both non-profit organizations devoted to developing gardens and greenhouses on various community sites including schools. This project is proposed at no-cost to the school district and would provide the following benefits:
Integrated learning opportunities with high school science classes
Provide fresh fruit and produce for the school lunch room
Opportunities for community volunteers to be involved in the garden, greenhouse, and instructional program
The green house, a 32 x 77 foot structure will be removed from a site in Glenwood Springs and reconstructed on a site behind Roaring Fork High School, of approximately one acre in size, that has been mutually agreed upon by Fat City Farms and the RFSD office staff, including Larry Estrada, our facilities director.
In addition to the green house, a small section of land on the south side of the high school will be used for a garden area. The garden area will be fenced to prevent deer from disturbing the garden and will contain a small tool shed to hold the necessary equipment.
The school will be responsible for providing the community, teacher and student volunteers to work with and in the program.
CRMPI will be responsible for work done in the greenhouse and on the garden in the summer time. They use community volunteers and college students
Prior to coming to the Board for approval, CRMPI will create a draft of an MOU that addresses the following:
Liability insurance provided by CRMPI
Provision for a green house manager
Code issues regarding placement of the green house and garden
Code issues/state health issues regarding the use of produce in the school lunchroom
Funds for the program to be provided by Fat City Farms and others
Placement of lights and security cameras behind the building
Damage insurance
Termination of program
Responsibility for upkeep and maintenance
Access to the green house and garden via the fire lane
Parking for volunteers
Solar lighting around the greenhouse for security
Construction materials and height of fence around the garden
Access to water for watering the plants as well as access to potable water for washing and cleaning the fruits and vegetables
Maintenance of grounds around the outside of the fenced garden
Construction and composition of compost bins
Illene Pevec has been meeting with the neighbors adjacent to the RFHS property to insure that we have addressed any issues they may have regarding the placement of the garden or greenhouse.
CRMPI and FCF would like to have an agreement in place by spring and begin the placement of the green house and garden area soil preparation, so the facility is ready for RFHS teachers and students by September this year.
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