Monte Rio is a small community where many homes are settled in the heavy shade of redwoods, Doug Fir and Bay Laurel trees. The limited sunlight in these areas makes gardening a difficult if not impossible task. In 1993 local organic gardener Marcy Martin began the Riverside Community Garden located on the east end of the Monte Rio Beach parking lot and at the entrance of the Riverfront Meadow. The 22 ground plots and raised beds are all enthusiastically cared for by local folks who enjoy this warm and sunny spot in which to grow food, watch birds and just relax.
The Parkside Community Garden is adjacent to the Tennis and Basketball Courts on the site of the Monte Rio Amphitheater and the Monte Rio Youth Center. All 24 plots are raised beds, carefully tended by dedicated gardeners. In this semi-public location you will find colorful vines growing on the fences, making a showy display for everyone enjoying the Tennis Courts or just walking past.
Creekside Park Communal Orchard and Farm is located a half mile south of town on the Bohemian Highway. This one-third acre farm was established with the intention of providing the community with an opportunity to tend public land in the interest of producing food for the farmers and the greater community. Throughout the year, the farm is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers who plant, propagate, tend and harvest both the permanent plantings as well as the rotating crops on the flat bottom within the fenced growing area. In exchange for use of the land and irrigation water, farmers also contribute to the tending of park environs outside of the fenced food producing area.
Any revenue generated from produce sold from the farm is invested back into the farm and the park. The flat bottom area of the farm is irrigated with a modifiable drip system, with lines reset seasonally as required, depending on the particular time of year. The flat bottom row crops are supplied with water stored in on-site catchment tanks. The farmers, who have maintained responsibility for each year’s plantings, share in the harvested produce. Excess produce is sold on the property or donated and any proceeds reserved for future improvements to the communal farm.
The Dutch Bill Creek Trail was designed by Landscape Architect Ann Baker of Petaluma and is intended to offer visitors an understanding of native plants which were valued and harvested by the native Pomo Indians, and which still provide supplemental food for native and migrating birds, insects and animals.
Please look for the low metal identification signs to help locate the various plantings. Starting at the bus turn-around, a park visitor walking the one-third mile trail will encounter cherry, walnut and oak trees, the fruit of which were all used by the Pomos as important food sources.
California roses, which are planted at several locations, were used to create medicinal rose hip teas. Logan, coffee, service and thorn-less black berries, located adjacent to the Skate Park, are other examples of native fruits.
Within the Communal Farm and Orchard, look for plum, apple, hazelnut lemon and walnut trees.
Other edible plantings include blueberries, red grapes, kiwis, red raspberries and black-cap berries which may be harvested for the public to enjoy.
Please do not pick the fruit unless signs in the park indicate an abundance and say “free for the taking”.
**Interested in joining the Farmers?** Please contact Brian @ 707-490-7606
Our gardens have been supported by Wellkind
