Boulder’s Community Comes Together to Create Food Security and Climate Resilience by Transitioning Landscapes, and Throws a Festival

Bee Festival 

The Bee Boulder Festival took place at Civic Park in downtown Boulder adjacent to the Farmers Market. The event featured more than 16 tabling organizations, engaged over 30 volunteers and welcomed more than 750 visitors. Though all pollinators are important, Bee Fest focuses specifically on native plant and insect education. “Learning about bees always makes my heart happy, and I’m glad we have a fun and educational event like this in the City of Boulder,” said festival patron Kaya S. This is one of the many reasons the festival is so important to the work of the Nature-based Climate Solutions team. Educating the public about how and why we protect and prioritize native species will help us make the city more resilient. 

The weather could not have been more perfect for a festival of this kind. Aside from the tabling organizations, there were three opportunities for kiddos to engage with nature art! One table hosted by Zaiya Woods had kids creating ‘pocket gardens’ using a mixture of soil, fertilizer, clay, and native seeds packed into cute shapes like stars and flowers. Faith Williams hosted a sun print making station where people could use flowers, water, and special paper to make a beautiful design that transferred with the sun. The face painter, bubble blower, and stilt walker were also popular.

Jeff and Paige performing “Bats (Oh Baby!)”

Families enjoyed two lively nature and science themed music performances by Jeff and Paige. They played some of our favorites like “Thank You Honeybee” and “Get Outdoors!”. They bring such life and energy to the festival, and it’s one of our favorite parts! 

The festival was a success, and we look forward to hosting it again next year. Thank you to all the organizations who tabled: PLAY Boulder Foundation, Growing Gardens, Mountain Mamas, City of Boulder Open Space, City of Boulder Climate Initiatives, City of Boulder Forestry, CU Museum of Natural History, Community Fruit Rescue, Garden-to-Table, Bee Chicas, Pollinator Advocates, Meadow Pro, Harlequin’s Gardens, People and Pollinators Action Network, Xerces Society, Growing Up Boulder, and of course, Jeff & Paige. 

Tantra Lake Food Forest

Residents of Tantra Lake Apartments, a Boulder Housing Partners community, transformed a degraded and unused lot into a thriving food forest with an adjacent pollinator garden. Prior to planting day, contractor and landscape architect AJ Carillo and his crew constructed a water-harvesting system—known as a berm and swale—to capture rainfall and direct it through the site where trees would be planted. Partners also helped stage trees and dig planting holes in preparation.

Daniel Hanson (Tree Trust) prepares the trees for planting.

On planting day, residents, staff, and volunteers gathered at 8:30 a.m. to share breakfast burritos made by a resident and receive instructions. After emotional opening remarks from project co-manager Jamillah Richmond, project sponsor Mike Reichert, and AJ Carillo, the group divided into two teams: one focused on planting the pollinator garden and the other on planting trees.

Mike Reichert (Tree Trust) gives an introduction for the day

Photo credit: Jason Houston & Dewi Marquis-Houston

It was a sight to behold; people coming together despite different backgrounds, cultures, and ages to transform the landscape into an oasis. The space was filled with laughter, chatting, and good music. “It was hard work, but good to see the community doing something so important for each other”, said resident Elijah S., echoing the feelings of many on that day. Although the volunteer time was scheduled to end at noon, the pollinator garden still needed a lot of work and many people stayed later to finish. By 3 p.m. the work was done. Our hope is that residents and wildlife alike will enjoy the buzzing pollinators, chirping birds, the colorful flowers of native plants, and sweet fruits of cherries, plums, pears, apples, and peaches in a few years. 

Planting!

Jamillah, Gabi, and AJ loosen the roots of a large tree to prepare it to be planted.

This project was made possible through collaboration with PLAY Boulder Foundation/Tree Trust, the Arbor Day Foundation, the Cielo Boulder Foundation, the City of Boulder Climate Initiatives, and Boulder Housing Partners.

Before and after the landscape transition at Tantra Lake

BCSIS/High Peaks Landscape Transition

Before September 17, 2025, the strip of land in front of BCSIS and High Peaks Elementary Schools was mostly unnoticed and uninspiring, home to some thirsty turf grass, weeds, and a dead tree. In one day, City and BVSD staff, parents, students, and staff from the PLAY Boulder Tree Trust transformed the 2,375 sq ft space into a beautiful garden, including 7 new trees. Replacing the turf will save the school 26,000 gallons of water each year, and the new garden will provide food and habitat for pollinators, create shade for the community, and help cultivate a sense of school pride. 

This planting is the first in a series of projects for a climate resilient schoolyard transformation pilot at High Peaks/BCSIS, led by the City of Boulder's Climate department in partnership with BVSD, and with support from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The rest of the landscape improvements will be designed by the neighborhood and school community, including students, and will be implemented in Spring 2026.

Written by Caroline Petterson

Before the landscape transition and what it should look like in 10 years time.