Root Awakening: Fresh Growth & Updates
In March, the Mid Shooks Run Community Garden appeared mostly serene on the surface, but behind the scenes our community was setting the stage for a vibrant and fruitful future ahead.
March Highlights:
The 2025 growing season officially started on March 1st, and we’ve welcomed 10 new community gardeners this year! Welcome aboard!
It’s spring! Perennials are breaking dormancy, and our community gardeners are preparing their plots and clearing the signs of winter from the grounds.
And now, welcome to April!
April Events:
Mid Shooks Run Community Garden Events
TOMORROW!
Community Constellations at Stellina Pizza Cafe
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Stelina Pizza Cafe
749 E Willamette Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Eat. Drink. Be Merry & GIVE BACK!
Please join us at Stellina Pizza Cafe for a special COMMUNITY CONSTELLATIONS event to support Mid Shooks Run Community Garden. 10% of all dine in sales this evening will be donated back to our organization!
We’re lucky to have Stellina Pizza Cafe right down the block from our beloved community garden. It is located at the corner of Willamette Ave. and Prospect St.in the heart of historic Mid Shooks Run Neighborhood and proudly offers authentic Italian food in a casual atmosphere including our tasty pizza, delicious risotto, fresh salad, house-made pasta and more.
Browse Stellina’s menu and join us for an incredible meal with a purpose!
April Spring Cleaning
Saturday April 26 & Sunday April 27, 2025
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Mid Shooks Run Community Garden
Corner of N El Paso St & E Boulder St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
During April Spring Cleaning, Mid Shooks Run Community Garden will focus on expanding the garden’s capacity by by 28%. We’ll construct 13 additional raised beds, allowing more community members to grow their own produce. Expanding the garden will allow additional households to cultivate their own food, promoting food security, healthy eating, and social connection.
While we tidy the area, we invite volunteers to join us in this important initiative, helping to create a vibrant and fruitful space for all. Bring your tools and be a part of our growth this spring!
Partner Events
Concrete Couch
15th Annual Manitou Lantern Parade
Friday, 4 April 2025
7:30 PM, Parade starts at 8:00 PM
Memorial Park
502 Manitou Avenue Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Come to Memorial Park at 7:30 p.m. to see the lanterns up close, talk to the makers, hear music by CC Jam Band, and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate
Parade starts at 8 p.m., starting at Manitou’s Memorial Park and ending at Soda Springs Park. Everyone can walk in the parade and there will be some lanterns available to carry. RSVP to lanterns@concretecouch.org.
Concrete Couch
The Concrete Couch Collective
Friday, April 11th, 2025
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Hillside Community Center
925 S Institute St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Concrete Couch Collective Art Show Opening. Free event! Food and music will be at the show.
Concrete Couch is pleased to host an art show featuring artwork from its staff, friends of Concrete Couch, board members, and volunteers! The art show is curated by Public Interest Fellow and Colorado College graduate, Sarah Bedell.
The art show is featuring an array of different artwork and will be displayed at the Hillside Community Center.
Come out and support Concrete Couch and see some local art work.
Concrete Couch
Earth Day Celebration
Saturday April 19th, 2025
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Concrete Coyote
1100 S. Royer, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Help with environmental restoration projects and other fun activities!
Concrete Couch
Hubabaloo
Saturday, April 26th
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Concrete Coyote
1100 S Royer St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Come join fellow creatives at HUBabaloo, a design workshop, to dream and scheme our way through a series of design challenges focused on Concrete Coyote: the events space.
All levels of skill welcome!
Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood Association
Annual Membership Meeting
Saturday, 26 April 2025
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
831 E. Boulder St, Colorado Springs CO 80903
Join our partners at Middle Shooks Run Neighborhood Association at their annual membership meeting. Socialize, enjoy some refreshments. Chat with old and new friends and neighbors!
April Announcements:
Perennial Bed Spring Harvests
Community garden members share in the upkeep and maintenance of our perennial beds, and we share the harvests! Our gardeners are welcome to help themselves to the produce. Keep your eyes open for rhubarb, young asparagus shoots, and spring onions.
ETA for Irrigation at the Garden
The Colorado Springs Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Spaces will typically charge water to the garden in May 1st. The supply line to the garden is very small and freezes easily, so you may see the part watering before supply to the garden is turned on.
A Gentle Reminder about the Colorado Springs Climate
In Colorado Springs, April brings about the unpredictable nature of glorious warm and sunny weather, quickly followed by hail and snow storms. These weather events can pose significant threats to plants in the Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, as tender seedlings and blooming flowers are particularly vulnerable to damage.
Despite the challenges posed by April storms, gardeners in Colorado Springs can adapt and protect their plants by staying informed, being proactive, and implementing protective measures to safeguard their beloved green spaces. One approach is to cover delicate plants with row covers or cloches to provide a physical barrier against hail and frost. Additionally, it's advisable to monitor weather forecasts closely and be prepared to take swift action, such as covering garden beds with tarps.
Happy gardening!
