The Colorado Master Gardener Program: Planting Gardens, Growing People


Colorado Master Gardener Outreach in Montezuma County
Friends of the Cortez Farmers' Market


In support of community gardening, Colorado Master Gardener Nancy McGill organized a local group called the Friends of Cortez Farmers Market.  The group’s objective is to help local growers get local food into local kitchens, while also promoting the weekly market as a community event. 

The key interest of the market vendors is for the Friends to expand the number of shoppers.  Of course, our stakeholders also include the general public, whose shopping experience we strive to enhance.

From July till October the Friends staffed an informational booth at the weekly market.  They provided useful information to shoppers, including seasonal recipes and the Montelores Local Food Directory.  They process electronic bank transactions allowing food stamp recipients and debit card users to shop.  They sell cloth shopping bags and “Buy Local” bumper stickers as fund raisers.  They schedule a different nonprofit group each week to use the adjacent Community Booth.

Most directly related to the CMG program was the dissemination of gardening information.  Each week Colorado Master Gardener Volunteers help staff the Friends Booth answering shoppers gardening questions. Their efforts have raised awareness of CSU on-line gardening information and our local Extension office.  While the number of gardening contacts was not extensive, we provided a service that is likely to grow in the future.

We believe the Friends group enhanced the growing of local foods, both by helping market growers and home gardeners.  Next year the Friends are likely to expand their efforts, perhaps to include special activities (e.g., children’s programming) and more promotion of the gardening information.


Contact Us

CSU Extension, Montezuma County Office
109 West Main Street, Room 102
Cortez, CO 81321-3155
Phone: (970) 565-3123
Fax: (970) 564-8615
Email: coopext_montezuma@mail.colostate.edu

CMG Staff