The sun slants through the honeycombed matrix of the grow dome at the SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab as Project Director Charlie Love enthusiastically discusses the features: an above-ground pond to regulate temperature, a donation of mature fig trees, raised beds ready to plant with a variety of growing things. It’s a passion project in the making, and Love’s eyes glint with pride and excitement for all that’s been accomplished since its inception and anticipation for what’s to come.
The SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab has been a labor of love and community support for the last three years. A science teacher at Riverview for over a decade, Love visited the former Ohana Kuleana community garden as a hands-on learning experience with thousands of elementary students. When the garden closed, Love got to work, partnering with Rod Barker to preserve the communal garden space and the educational opportunities it provided.
“I was thrilled to be involved, as I was struck by the community that I saw,” Barker reminisced about the Ohana garden, “So many people: kids and community gardeners doing things together in a very positive spirit.”
Love contacted Barker regarding a plot of unused property at Riverview Elementary, and everything came together. As Barker noted, “There was good energy from the school, Dr. Cheser, and certainly from Charlie.”
Barker and a handful of local contractors and artisans grew the idea beyond a garden into a shared educational space with a grow dome, indoor learning lab, and world-class facilities to inspire and nurture the community alongside students. Drawing on input from Riverview students (Barker’s alma mater) and insights from local garden and nature enthusiasts, contractors, architects, and other community experts, the vision quickly came to life.
“SOIL can be defined in three words: education, sustainability, and community,” Love explained. “It really benefits the students, not only for the work that gets done but also for bringing the community together. There’s a lot of neat ‘cross-pollination’ that echoes the original garden, where passionate expert gardeners with specialized knowledge interact with kids. The students’ energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and they get the benefit of being part of the greater community in the learning environment.”
The SOIL Lab aims to be just that: a community space where students of District 9-R and different facets of the Durango community can enjoy events and educational opportunities or simply appreciate the open garden hours to read a book, walk among the raised beds, and pick a few communal herbs to take home. Currently in phase two of the six-phase project, the grow dome opened in Spring 2025. An indoor learning space, The Hub, is slated to begin construction next year, with a Food, Forest, and Farm lab and “Soil Shed” to follow. The last phase will see the construction of the Inspire Sustainability Education Center. Love has added several integral members to his team to sustain gardening and learning spaces, including Garden Manager Allison Riederer, interns from Fort Lewis College and Durango High School, and a full-time Americorps member.
Love and Barker envision a diverse event community for SOIL’s facilities: 9-R students and educators, food and business entrepreneurs, culinary artists, internships, career and technical education, drawing on Indigenous and cultural wisdom, and events such as last year’s Animas City Night Bazaar.
“We want to get a lot of people enjoying the garden as an inspiring space to gather,” Love maintained. “Artists and vendors, bands, cooking demonstrations like tortilla making from corn grown in the garden. No matter who you are or what you’re into, there will be something here that will benefit you. If community is one of our three words, we’re thinking of everyone in the community.”
Love and his team are eager to take on bringing a hands-on learning lab, educators from around the world, and continued passion for growing things to our community. With Durango’s support and tons of positive energy, the SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab is well underway to achieve its vision as a dynamic, state-of-the-art facility where students and community members can gather and learn.
“The energy of the children and the joy they bring, the families and neighbors, all make the learning environment and the future of what we do together so much more fun,” Barker added.
Currently offering free monthly workshops on a range of topics as well as open garden hours, the Durango community is always welcome at the SOIL Lab. To learn more, get involved, or donate, visit www.soillab.org.
By Elizabeth Miller
