Kristin Grote's Page
Kristen has dedicated herself to food security issues in McKinley County.
She has been working on the Community Garden,
which she hopes will produce fresh produce for Wild Sage Produce market,
a local co-op, which offers a varied selection of organic and healthy foods.
The Community Garden offers a COMMUNITY COMPOST,
where local gardens can bring food waste, coffee grounds, etc.
The compost collection will then serve the needs
of the garden as well as local gardening needs.
Kristin has been learning high-desert gardening techniques at workshops in Arizona.
Also she has gathered local input from farmers on the Do's and Don't.
She understands the challenges (wind, prairie dogs, short growing season, dry climate, etc.)
but will begin planting in June...and see how it goes.
Her focus on food security does not stop with gardening, she also devotes her
time to the Community Pantry, where she does research, writes grants,
and is involved in the day-to-day developments.
The Community Panitry has recently received the proper funding requirements,
to begin construction on a new, innovative building that will better serve the community's needs.
Finally, Kristin has formed a partnership with the YCC
(Youth Conservation Core), a group of young adults,
who develop trails and now develop gardens.
They have been a good resource to the labor intense responsibility of running a garden.
Kristen teaches techniques and facilitates knowledge,
which will eventually translate into a group of skilled young adults.
Their most recent endeavor coupled the efforts of Kristen Grote, Patrick Barnett, local volunteers,
Ganado High School, and the YCC, with the "Earth n Straw" Builders Group to develop and build a Strawbale Toolshed. This shed is located adjacent to the garden and as TOOL SHED implies,
will house all of the garden's tools.
In the future, Kristen would also like to see a Farmer's Market, if local support is able to drive it.