Cheryl Montelle, founder, and visionary of Mil-Tree, received an initial grant in October 2023 to build a potting shed designed by Mia Torres, a local artist, in an area of the Historic Retreat Center that was once a self-sustaining farm in the 1940s. Recently, this area was assigned to a folk music school and garden, and the signs along the path still carry that name. The garden remains and grows through the generosity of the Retreat Center and Terry Taylor-Castillo. The current work on the garden is through Mil-Tree and grants from Yucca Valley Measure Y and the City of Twentynine Palms.
The usual day for the community to gather and work is Sunday, but people gathered last Thursday, May 23. It was getting hot by nine, but people were there cleaning up the wicking beds from the spring vegetables and preparing for the summer planting.
Montelle, always seeking ways to foster connections and support among Veterans and the Community, initiated the construction of the shed. With the shed now standing, military veterans and community members have united to further develop the cooperative garden.
The garden group, led by Crystal Wysong and Head Gardener Janet Tucker, convenes every Sunday morning, with adjusted times to combat the summer heat. This inclusive initiative welcomes everyone to participate.
Phase one of the garden was designed to utilize the Wicking Bed principle, where water stored in a reservoir is pulled into the soil by osmosis, ensuring optimal hydration for the plants. Phase One includes 23 Wicking Bed barrels.
Phase Two involves constructing a Raised Bed Garden for larger vegetables using drip irrigation. Tony Walters from the Mojave Water Agency mentors this phase of the garden and also provides guidance through online courses and site visits.
When I was at the site, Mark Grden, a retired Veteran, was working on the raised bed, shoring it up and building a frame out of donated materials to add sailcloth to protect the plants from the extreme desert heat.
The first two composting beds, covered with heavy plastic, were in various stages of decomposition. The third bed will consist of newly composted soil. The gardeners and the Food for Thought Restaurant inside the Retreat Center supply food waste.
Phase Three, beginning in the fall, involves creating and planting the High Desert Food Forest. This permaculture concept involves native and desert-adapted food-producing trees and shrubs, which do not need to be replanted each year and provide lasting food security for the community.
The gardens are a teaching tool for desert gardening and an activity that many can participate in and contribute to. Friendships and connections are created, as well as the absolute joy of getting your hands in the dirt and supporting Mother Earth.
Join the gardening efforts or come for the company. Mil-Tree is also looking for tools, gardening supplies, or money donations.
Directions to the community garden:
From the main entrance to the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, look for signs for the Folk School and follow those. You will begin to see hand-painted wooden signs for the Garden as well. Follow the signs to the west, beyond all the buildings, and curve down the hill to the old farm. Park in the shade along the Tamarisk Trees to the right of the shipping container and you should see the Garden Potting Shed to your left.
There is also a back entrance/exit to the Retreat Center. It is a bit out of the way, depending on which direction you are coming/going, but a safer way to get in/out without having to slow down before pulling out on the highway.
Once you are at the garden, it is easy to find it. You just make a right at the top of the hill when you leave the garden, instead of heading towards the Retreat Center buildings. Follow this dirt road, through the open chain link gate, and this will take you to Yucca Mesa Road, just south of Highway 62.
For more information visit Mil-tree’s website.
