Sun Peaks Gardens
The definition of a garden is “a piece of ground, often near a house, used for growing flowers, fruit or vegetables.” Gardens are a big part of what we have incorporated into our model for sustainability. The gardens here come in many forms: water gardens, perennials, vegetable gardens, research gardens… etc.
But the “Garden” that first inspired Sun Peaks was Nature’s Garden; the beauty that composes the property and surrounding land. In 1976, Ray was sitting on a knoll, looking around at the 360 View which featured an unparalleled panorama of Pikes Peak. It was surrounded by 250 acres of trees, ancient rock formations and meadows. He felt a powerful sense of responsibility to preserve the natural beauty of this land.
Ray located the foundation on a knoll where he would disturb the fewest trees, rock formations and natural vegetation.
He built around critical trees and rocks rather than remove them and everything that has been added to the property has been done with integrity and respect towards preserving that which nature had entrusted him.
Frog in garden
For a full description of the evolution of the Gardens to date, go to Sun Peaks Evolution.
The next project will be the building of Greenhouses, so that we can have year-long sustainable vegetables, fruits and plants. It will be a research and learning center for urban gardening; the nitrate-rich water from the Koi pond rotation adds a super fertilizer that changes the level of nutrition and productivity.
Digging area for Greenhouses
