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#LovelandCO - Still a green thumb: Loveland high schooler keeps up community garden started when she was 10-years-old

Story by Austin Fleskes, March 22, 2025

"Lauren Dietz was only 10 years old when she signed up for a Thompson School District contest to make an impact in her community. When the fifth grader at New Vision Charter School won, she used the money for a community garden to try and cut down on food insecurity in Loveland.

"That garden is still operating today, and the 15-year-old Mountain View High School freshman has no intention of stepping away from it.

"'I wouldn’t want to pass this off to anybody else,' she said. 'This is a passion project that I love doing and I want to keep doing it.'

"Lauren’s Community Garden offers 10 metal planting plots at the Loveland Youth Gardeners’ farm in east Loveland where residents can plant and grow their own food. Throughout the season, they are given the chance to work with other gardeners and and even get advice from LYG master gardeners to learn more about the ins and outs of growing.

"The free opportunity asks only that the gardeners be able to tend their space at least 30 minutes every other day and volunteer some of their time with the #YouthGardeners.

"Lauren won the Thompson Kids Can Change the World contest in 2021, receiving $250 with the goal of making a positive difference in her community. She said she looked to set up the community garden because she saw the impact of #FoodInsecurity on her community during the pandemic, explaining as she stood near the 10 metal planting plots at the Loveland Youth Gardeners’ farm in east Loveland. She said she saw the contest as an outlet to address that.

[...]

"Residents looking to apply to be part of the community garden this year can do so online at lovelandyouthgardeners.org. The growing season runs from May through October and those looking to apply must do so by May 1."

Full article:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/still-a-green-thumb-loveland-high-schooler-keeps-up-community-garden-started-when-she-was-10-years-old/ar-AA1BqkCl
#BuildingCommunity #CommunityGardens #FoodSecurity #SolarPunkSunday #Colorado