Avon Salvation Army Adapts Knapp Ranch Garden for Drought

“The mild winter we experienced is prompting us to rethink, plan ahead and make subtle but necessary modifications in our organic gardening efforts.”

That’s the opening salvo from The Salvation Army’s Avon location, a quiet pivot point where climate change meets community food security. It’s not just about keeping plants alive up here at 9,000 feet. It’s about survival. It’s about understanding that the seasons are no longer predictable neighbors but demanding landlords, and the rent is due in water, heat, and careful planning.

Picture this: Knapp Ranch. The air is thin, the soil is rocky, and the sun hits harder than it does down in the valley floor. Here, the organization is growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs for distribution to neighbors in need at their food pantry. And they’re doing it thanks to the Knapp family’s philanthropic legacy. But the game has changed. The mild winter that just passed wasn’t just a break from the cold; it was a warning shot.

“We are adjusting our horticultural operations to adapt to a potentially hotter summer with expected drought conditions by planting and growing foods that don’t require too much water or energy.”

That matters because if you’re trying to feed the hungry in Avon, you can’t afford to waste resources on crops that wither under stress. This isn’t theoretical. This is the reality of high-altitude agriculture. Geography, environment, and climate conspire against you. You’re living in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, where the margin for error is razor-thin.

So, what’s the fix? Alpine xeriscaping. It’s becoming an intrinsic part of how Coloradans approach gardening, landscaping, and horticulture. High-altitude gardening already implies low water consumption, but now it’s being weaponized against drought. Seeds are chosen specifically for arid environments. The goal is purposeful awareness. By fall, the produce coming out of Knapp Ranch won’t just be organic and sustainable by default; it will be sustainable by design.

Sustainable practices are being carefully implemented in all aspects of the garden and greenhouse operations. From seeds to table. The mission is to provide nutritious and culturally appropriate foods for people in need, but they’re doing it in a way that respects nature and the precious resources of the area. Having a green thumb goes beyond keeping house plants alive. It means understanding and applying techniques that, while limited, are responsible.

There are innovations, too. A composting effort led by the food pantry team. It’s a modest undertaking in the beginning, but the compost they build will provide excellent nutrients for their crops. They’re also harvesting seeds from their best crops to reduce future buying costs. It’s a closed loop. It’s efficient. It’s necessary.

But the sustainability push isn’t limited to the soil. The upcoming Empty Bowls fundraiser, led by Erin Allen, president of U.S. Bank, is getting a green makeover. Thanks to the guidance and vision of the team at Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, this community event will carry a lighter carbon footprint this year. The Vail Center’s 2026 Empty Bowls Fundraiser is set for Friday, Aug. 14.

It’s a small shift, but it ripples outward. When you consider that the Western Slope is grappling with water rights, heat domes, and the economic strain of supporting a growing population, these garden tweaks aren’t just about lettuce. They’re about resilience. They’re about ensuring that when the next drought hits — and it will — the food pantry isn’t just surviving, but thriving.

The Knapp family gave the land. The Salvation Army is stewarding it. And the community is watching, waiting to see if these adjustments hold up when the summer heat truly arrives. It’s a test of adaptability. It’s a test of care. And it’s happening right here, in the shadow of the mountains, one seed at a time.