It feels great to get out on two wheels in the summer, but June is an especially good time to try riding a bike to run errands or get to work! Colorado celebrates Bike to Work Day this year on Wednesday, June 24, and many communities across the Front Range offer breakfast stations where you
Water and the lack of it is on everyone’s minds lately. As another article in this newspaper recently asked, “are local efforts a drop in the bucket” when it comes to statewide water scarcity? Sustainable Wheat Ridge, the volunteer committee that helps shape and implement the Sustainable Action Plan “SAP”, believes that all local efforts
Before sunrise, while most of Jefferson County is still asleep, local farmers are already deep into their workday. Headlamps move through fields as tomatoes are harvested by hand, crates of greens are stacked into trucks and coolers are checked before the drive into town. Hours later, customers arrive at a farmers market to tables lined
Typically, when you spend more, you expect to get more in return. That’s not the case when it comes to the water in Wheat Ridge. Beginning February 1, 2026, Wheat Ridge Water District water bills increased by $5.51 per month on the service charge for single-family residential customers from $11.02 to $16.53 and by $11.02
Margie Seyfer started a new hobby during retirement. Now her garden is a beloved fixture in the community. Seyfer opens her garden for local tours and parties for organizations like the Wheat Ridge Business Association, the Lakewood Kiwanis garden tour and the Wheat Ridge Garden Tour. Welcoming as many as 100 attendees, proceeds from the
The emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle responsible for the destruction of millions of ash trees across North America, continues to pose a growing risk to Colorado’s urban and community forests. EAB primarily attacks ash trees (genus Fraxinus), laying eggs under the bark. When larvae hatch, they feed on the tree’s inner tissues, disrupting
Working at the neighborhood level helps build connections, strengthen community pride, and encourages residents to engage productively in city government. The Sustainable Neighborhoods Network creates opportunities for direct, hands-on environmental improvement, and collaborative idea-building and skill-sharing, all while getting to know your neighbors. It’s a unique approach to build community-level environmental action, strengthen neighborhood resilience
We’re taught to turn off the tap while brushing our teeth, a small act that saves a few gallons a day and reassures us we’re doing our part. It’s the kind of advice that drought checklists and utility bill inserts are made of. While water is being saved at the sink, the urgency is growing.
Wheat Ridge is a beautiful place with a tradition of stewardship for our natural resources. Our nickname, the “Carnation City” is more than just a reference to our agricultural heritage; it represents a way of life embedded in our community. From our expansive trail network to the historic ditches winding through our neighborhoods, we are
We should celebrate the fact that there haven’t been any pedestrian or bicyclist deaths in Wheat Ridge since 2023. After all, our neighbor to the east, Denver, recorded 37 in 2025 alone. But this is partially down to luck, and to Wheat Ridge’s relatively small size. Perhaps even more importantly, should we be concerned with
Extract. Manufacture. Use. Throw away. The “throw away” part is never as simple as it seems. Much of the waste tossed in the rubbish heap comes back to haunt us in various ways. Soil pollution. Toxic off-gassing. Ecosystem destruction. It is an aesthetic blight on our communities. It is also a wholly unsustainable way of
Did you know Edgewater has a community garden tucked behind the historic Orum House located at 2444 Depew Street? This beloved green space is entering a new season as the City resumes full management of the garden. Edgewater residents have top priority when reserving vacant garden plots ensuring that local community members can enjoy the
As Colorado continues to confront longterm drought, warming summers, and the rising costs of outdoor water use, more homeowners are looking for practical ways to conserve water without compromising curb appeal. One of the most successful and accessible solutions come from Boulder-based nonprofit Resource Central, whose Garden In A Box program has helped tens of
Wheat Ridge High School put together one of the seven feature gardens at the Colorado Garden & Home Show. There are currently around 100 students in the agriculture program, 8 of which are second year students in the landscape construction and urban farming class. They anticipate having around 40 in the second year class next
A partnership between the City of Wheat Ridge and an Indigenous food project has dissolved after two growing seasons, with both parties sharing conflicting accounts of what went wrong at Happiness Community Gardens. Narissa Ribera, founder of Ch’il Indigenous Foods and a member of the Navajo Nation, says the City of Wheat Ridge failed to
Autumn has arrived and soon there will be children jumping into leaf piles. (At least I hope, if they are not glued to electronic devices indoors.) Yet there are other purposes for fallen leaves that are too profound not to share here in our October article, as gardeners prepare a crucial rest period for their
Public transit use across the RTD system remains nearly 40% lower than pre-COVID levels. With so many residents choosing their cars over buses and trains, the question remains: why isn’t public transportation regaining traction? RTD’s average rating—2.9 out of 5 stars across 720 reviews—suggests widespread dissatisfaction among riders. At the same time, it’s worth noting
Jason Plotkin began farming when he was 12 while living in a rural Connecticut suburb and never stopped. Plotkin found himself urban farming for the first time when he moved to Denver. He noticed the demographics of wealthy White shoppers frequenting farmers markets where he sold his food. Plotkin always donated the day’s leftover food
Ten years ago I jumped at the opportunity to get a solar energy system in my house. 6 KW in 36 panels covering my upper roof. 2 inverters that would allow me to log on anytime and see just how much power I was collecting from God’s rays of sunshine. An app would calculate just
Rain barrels are a simple yet powerful tool in sustainable water management. By collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops, these systems offer a range of environmental, economic, and community benefits especially in regions like Colorado, where water conservation is critical. Environmental Benefits One of the most significant advantages of rain barrels is their ability to reduce
Join the thousands of Denver area residents who are taking simple steps to improve their community’s air quality and help their neighbors breathe easier! Ground-level ozone impacts our health and environment in the Colorado Front Range each summer. This pollutant we can’t see or smell accumulates the most on hot and sunny blue-sky days, when
Plastics are convenient in the short term, but is convenience worth our health? Once thought to be inert, plastic products don’t just take up space in landfills; they break down into microscopic particles called microplastics. These particles find their way into the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and even
Quite often, I like to discuss what has become the greatest game changer for me as it pertains to gardening successfully in Colorado; and that is mulching. 10 years ago, I adopted deep mulching methods in my permaculture landscape, and have been blown away at just how beneficial it has been. Here are just a
Spring is the time of year when many of us are planning a selection of plants to put in our yards and gardens. If this includes you, I want to share some important advice regarding plant selection. Experienced Colorado gardeners know that our high, dry, intense and inconsistent climate presents unique challenges. Here in our
