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Garden Leader Resources

Thank you for being the heartbeat of DUG Community Gardens. We recognize how important of a role you play in the garden, and our goal is to ensure you have all the resources you need to help your community garden thrive and to feel supported throughout the seasons.

We ask all Garden Leaders to utilize the resources listed below — they’re here to connect you with DUG staff and one another in support of that goal. If you have specific questions or concerns not addressed here, please contact Eliza Greene, Director of Garden Leadership.

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DUG
Garden Leader Guide

The Garden Leader Guide is a MUST READ for all Garden Leaders to understand the roles and responsibilities of Garden Leaders, as well as policies for community gardens in the DUG Network. It’s also the place to bookmark to get quick access to seasonal tips and resources for both your and your gardeners’ success.

Access the Garden Leader Guide

DUG Online +
Garden Leader Circle

DUG Online is an online forum to meet, exchange ideas, and get troubleshooting tips from other Garden Leaders! Stay in the loop about gardening tips, upcoming meetups, and need-to-knows throughout the gardening season.

Join THE Garden Leader Circle

Quick Forms 

2024 Compost Ordering Options

To order compost for your garden, be prepared to share your name and contact information, the name of your garden, all relevant delivery information, and the number of yards of compost.

Compost Vendors

Ewing Outdoor Supply

This vendor sells A1 Organics EcoGro compost and will send the invoice directly to DUG. We will deduct this expense from your garden funds. If your garden is private and/or DUG does not manage your garden’s funds, you may still order through Ewing Outdoor Supply, but please pay for your compost up front.

  • Capacity: up to 15 yards per load
  • Compost Price: $39.25 per cubic yard
  • Delivery Price: varies by distance

Call Brittni (DUG Account Manager) to order: (303) 406-8415

A1 Organics

Deliveries are available from Commerce City location

  • Capacity: 3- 8 cubic yards available. If you’d like to order more that 8 yards, call to get a delivery quote.
  • Compost Price: $24 per cubic yard
  • Delivery Price:
    • 1-10 Miles – $137.50
    • 11-20 Miles – $165.00
    • 20+ miles  call to get delivery quote

Call to order 970-454-3492 (ask for Sarah or LV). You can also email attn Sarah or LV at logistics@a1organics.com and insidesales@a1organics.com. No cancellations within a week of the delivery date.

Recommendations

It is recommended to incorporate 0.25-0.5” of finished compost to the first 4-6” of garden soil each season. Newer gardens may need more compost, while more established gardens may need less compost.

To calculate the amount of compost needed for a single plot, enter the dimensions into this online compost calculator from A1 organics. Select “EcoGrow,” enter the length and width of your plot in feet, and the depth of compost you wish to apply.

An average 10’×12’ square plot needs less than 0.1 yard of compost, or 3 cubic feet of compost per season. For bulk compost orders, measure the average plot size (length & width). Multiple by the number of plots and enter these values into the calculator.

Example: 10 plots measuring 10’x12’ enter the following values in this calculator. 

  • length:100
  • width:120
  • Depth: 0.25

EcoGro compost is also sold in 1 cubic feet bags at local Ace Hardware Stores. Denver’s Annual Compost Sale typically occurs the first week of May.

2024 Garden Waste Pickup Options

We partner with companies who pick up bagged garden waste (in 30-gallon yard waste bags like these) and take them to get composted. Contact the vendors directly to arrange a pickup and tell them you are a DUG garden. They will bill DUG directly, and we will deduct it from your garden funds.

Scraps

  • Pickup area: All DUG gardens
  • $100 flat fee for up to 25 bags

Contact tom@scrapsmilehigh.com to arrange pickup

Wompost

  • Pickup area: Aurora, Greenwood Village and Centennial
  • $1 per leaf bag

Contact wompostcoop@gmail.com to schedule order and pickup

Physical Infrastructure DIY Resources

Resources for Unhoused Neighbors

Have any resources we should include? Email us at dirt@dug.org with the Subject Line “Resources for Unhoused Neighbors” and we’ll add it here.

Emergency Responses

National

Trans Lifeline

  • Phone Number: 877-565-8860
    • Oprime 2 para hablar con uno/a operador/a en español
    • 24/7 hotline
  • National hotline run by trans people for trans people in crisis
  • “Connects trans people to the community support and resources we need to survive and thrive.”

 

Denver Only

Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) Program

  • 7 days a week, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
  • STAR “deploys Emergency Response Teams that include Emergency Medical Technicians and Behavioral Health Clinicians to engage individuals experiencing distress related to mental health issues, poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse.”
  • Phone Number: 720-913-STAR (7827)
  • 2022 Mid-Year Report

Denver Health’s Mobile Crisis Service: 

  • Phone Number: 844-493-8255, text “Talk” to 38255
    • 24/7 service 
  • Provides mental health support to residents of the city and county of Denver and to the Mental Health Center of Denver clients during/after a crisis.
  • Website

Outreach, Education, and Testing

Denver Only

Harm Reduction Action Center

  • Office at 112 E. 8th Ave. provides syringe access to participants Monday – Friday from 9:00am – 12:00pm
  • Health education, street outreach, presentations, meetings, and administrative time happen each afternoon.
  • “The Harm Reduction Action Center promotes public health by ensuring that people who inject drugs are educated and equipped with the tools to reduce the spread of communicable diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C and to eliminate the proliferation of fatal overdoses.”
  • Services include:
    • Syringe disposal (including in your garden spaces!)
    • Naloxone and Narcan
    • STI testing
    • Fentanyl testing
    • Hygiene products, food access, safe community space
    • Referrals
  • Website
  • Phone Number: 303-572-7800

LifePoint Needle Exchange, Vivent Health

  • Office open for general services Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm
  • Request an appointment here
  • Phone Number: 720-385-6898 (call or text)
  • General Services include:
    • Behavioral & Mental Healthcare
    • Case Management
    • Pharmacy
    • Housing Services
    • Food Pantry
    • Dental Care
    • Medical Care
    • PrEP
    • HIV Testing
    • STI Testing
    • Lifepoint Needle Exchange
    • HCV Testing
    • HIV/HCV Education
    • Overdose Prevention & Naloxone

HeyDenver

  • Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm
  • Free, queer-centered, safe, and confidential STI & HIV testing for under/uninsured folks
  • Safer substance/harm reduction tools
  • Website
  • Phone Number: 303-962-2880
Jefferson County Only

Points West Syringe Services Program

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:00am – 5:00pm
  • Harm reduction program committed to reducing the potential harms associated with drug use in a respectful, non-judgmental and compassionate environment.
  • Safer substance/harm reduction tools including syringes, naloxone, fentanyl test trips, safer sex tools, everyday hygiene items, and more.
  • Website
  • Phone Number: (303) 239-7078

Food

Denver Only 

Denver Community Fridges

  • Locations here
  • For free, 24/7 access to refrigerated, frozen, and pantry goods, as supplies last:

Feeding Denver’s Hungry

  • Website
  • For free groceries multiple days a week

Metro Caring, Fresh Foods Market

  • Website
  • For free groceries multiple days a week

SAME Cafe

Mutual Aid Monday

  • Hours: Monday nights, 4 – 7pm
  • Location: 14th and Bannock. 
  • For hot meals and mutual aid supplies
  • Website

Food Not Bombs

  • Sunday afternoons, 3pm (usually at 22nd and Stout, location changes. See @denverfoodnotbombs on Instagram for changing details)
  • For hot meals
Front Range 

Kaizen Food Rescue Community Pop-Up Food Share

Food Bank of the Rockies

Shelter

Aurora Only

Comitis Crisis Center Emergency Housing

  • Phone Number: (720) 505-2628

Emergency Cooling Stations in Aurora

Denver Only 

Samaritan House (Women, Families, and Veterans)

  • Phone Numbers:
    • Samaritan House Downtown (Women 18+): (303) 294-0241
    • Samaritan House 48th (Women 18+): (720) 799-9506
    • Samaritan House Downtown Extended Stay (Single Women, Families, Veterans): (720) 799-9371
  • Website
  • Flyer

Dolores Project

Urban Peak (Youth) 

Denver HOST Find Shelter tool

Cooling Stations at Denver Recreation Centers

Front Range

The Family Tree Homelessness Program Hotline 

  • Overview: Offers emergency shelter, an information help line, homeless prevention services, case management, education and employment services, and various other supportive services.
  • Website
  • Phone Number: (303) 467-2604

Apply for Safe Parking 

Jefferson County Only 

Jefferson County Emergency Cooling Stations

Other Resources

Mile High United Way

Denver Alternatives to 911 Sheet

Locating Housing Resource

Connect a Veteran to Housing

FindHelp

History of Houselessness

Additional Videos

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