Next volunteer project day is Oct. 25
Gretchen Hofmann has been taking care of organic gardens and biodomes since landing at the Windstar Foundation, an Aspen nonprofit founded by musician John Denver, when she was 25. She made her career stewarding diverse landscapes, even teaching organic gardening at UC Davis. Coming full circle, she is now helping revive the biodome at Roaring Fork High School (RFHS) 41 years later.
An article Hofmann saw in The Sopris Sun back in June coaxed her out of retirement to join a cadre of devoted volunteers bringing new life to the school’s gardens, established in 2010. As described in that article, the gardens fell into decline without students present to help during the crucial summer months. Instead, that work fell on science educator Hadley Hentschel, who transferred from RFHS to the middle school in 2024 when his wife, Lindsay Hentschel, became the high school principal. The agriculture-biology program then took a pause.
Fast forward to 2025, Lindsay and science teacher Megan Ravenscraft set out to bring the gardens back with help from volunteers. Parent Karen Crownhart coordinated a redesign of the outdoor space with Christie Jensen and an overhaul of the irrigation system with donated materials (thanks to Grand Junction Pipe) and labor. The new system can run on ditch water or town water, extending the growing season. Thaddeus Eshelman, an RFHS alum and owner of TE Builders, lent his time and expertise to do the installation and diagnosed electrical issues which were resolved by Green Electrical Solutions.
The Garfield County CSU Extension brought in fresh soil for the biodome, which Hadley got busy repairing over the summer with oversight by Michael Thompson, who designed the biodome with ag visionary Jerome Osentowski. RFHS students and CSU Master Gardeners have put in many hours, however, the work is far from over.
“We need help, we need stuff, we need money,” Hofmann told The Sopris Sun. For several months, she’s dedicated at least 10 hours a week to the project, she said, opening the dome each morning, cleaning up the space and planting new crops with donations and purchases from Eagle Crest Nursery. Deb Beauchamp, Alisa Grimes, Guinevere Jones and the RFHS Environmental Club have assisted her, Hofmann noted.
Upon arriving, she was horrified to find a forest of thistles proliferating outdoors. In addition to installing the new irrigation system, TE Builders helped mow those down, followed by Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers. This particular thistle flowers every other year, so knocking them down two consecutive years, before they spread new seeds, can make a major impact without resorting to chemicals.
No longer a school-specific garden program, the model is bringing in more community involvement (with edible rewards). Anyone and everyone now stands to benefit from getting their hands dirty helping maintain an ideal growing space, albeit in need of some love and attention. In addition to the dome, there’s an orchard that could use some pruning, new outdoor beds in the works and even a set-up for keeping bees complete with an electric fence.
So far, financial support has come from an Aspen Community Foundation donor-advised fund, Carbondale’s Seven Star Rebekah Lodge and Alpine Bank. According to advisory committee member Illène Pevec, “What we really need is $11,000 more to pay for the permanent weed barrier between the new raised bed gardens for students, the wood for students to build those beds and to finish paying the various materials costs.” She added, “Donations to the school are tax-deductible! If anyone knows of a local foundation that might help us, please let us know so we can apply.”
With another couple truckloads of compost to fill the boxes once they’re built, there will be community garden plots available next spring for people interested in planting their own food plants, herbs and flowers.
“This is such a good, open resource for the future,” Hofmann said. This time next year, with enough help, she imagines the beds producing, bees being kept, the orchard thriving and the community hooked in, assuring long-term sustainability.
Another public project day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10am to 3pm. Volunteers are requested to bring their own gloves and tools, if possible, including trash bags, hand clippers, hedge shears, tree pruners, rakes and a broom. Donations of buckets, trash cans, weed barrier fabric and organic soils and fertilizers will be much appreciated.
RSVPs, inquiries and tour requests can be directed to gretsgardens@gmail.com
Folks interested in joining the advisory committee can contact lhentschel@rfschools.com