🌿 Welcome to the Garden
Four Leaf Clover Community Garden is built on the belief that healthy food starts with healthy soil. With 40 raised beds filled with crops like tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers, our garden is rooted in natural methods — using layered materials like cardboard, aged manure, and fleece to create a thriving environment for plants and people alike. This page explores our setup, our practices, and our ongoing journey toward sustainable growing.
Inspired by Hügelkultur
At Four Leaf Clover Community Garden, we take a regenerative approach to soil building, drawing inspiration from the German practice of Hügelkultur. This method layers natural materials like old leaves, compost, and aged manure—similar to the fleece and compost systems we use—creating rich, living soil that retains moisture, nurtures beneficial organisms, and reduces the need for synthetic inputs. It’s part of our commitment to sustainable gardening that nourishes both plants and people.
Cardboard as a Natural Weed Barrier
Underneath our beds, we lay down cardboard — a simple, effective way to suppress weeds and build healthy soil. As it decomposes, cardboard feeds soil organisms like worms and fungi while blocking sunlight from unwanted plants. It's a chemical-free solution for weed control that also helps retain moisture and encourages a thriving underground ecosystem.
Fleece for Climate Control
To protect our growing beds, we use horticultural fleece — a breathable fabric that acts like a protective blanket. It helps regulate soil temperature, retains moisture, and shields tender plants from wind, harsh sun, and even early frost. This simple layer supports healthier, more resilient crops while reducing the need for constant watering or chemical treatments.
Manure for Soil Health
At the base of many of our garden beds, we layer aged manure — a nutrient-rich material that jumpstarts soil life. As it breaks down, it releases essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that help plants grow strong and vibrant. Manure also improves soil structure, increases microbial activity, and enhances water retention, making it a powerful natural fertilizer when properly composted.
Companion Planting
In our garden, we use companion planting to help our plants thrive—naturally. This time-tested technique pairs certain plants together to boost growth, repel pests, and improve soil health. For example, basil can help protect tomatoes from harmful insects, while marigolds deter nematodes and attract pollinators.
By mimicking the diversity found in nature, companion planting reduces the need for chemicals, encourages a healthier ecosystem, and makes better use of space. It’s one more way we garden smarter—and more sustainably.
Colorado’s Original Supersoil
We’re proud to source our community garden’s topsoil from Paonia Soil Co.! Thanks to their generous donation of 3 cubic yards—and our additional purchase of 4 more—we were able to fill every bed with high-quality, nutrient-rich soil this season.
Their support has helped us lay a strong foundation for healthy, thriving plants, and we’re thrilled to support a local company that shares our values. Visit their website below to learn more about the amazing soil that’s fueling our garden’s growth!
