Take a Hike … with Mike Monroe: 53rd anniversary of Earth Day to be celebrated at Christmas Hill Park

Red Barn is the last remaining structure from when Henry Miller owned thousands of acres in and around Gilroy

By Mike Monroe

Mike Monroe

Saturday, April 22 marks the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day. This year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet,” reminding us no matter where we are or what we do, Earth relies upon us to continually reinvest our time and energies in support of our natural world.

Beginning at 8 a.m., the city of Gilroy and Recology/South Valley Organics are sponsoring a compost and wood chip giveaway. Compost and mulch help build soil nutrients, retain water and prevent run-off. About 40,000 tons of yard trimmings are collected annually in the South Bay for composting. Bring trash cans, shovels and gloves. The giveaway concludes at noon.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Gilroy Gardening Group will host a plant sale at the Miller Red Barn. A variety of flowers, herbs, heirloom vegetables, succulents and California native plants will be available for sale. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Miller Red Barn Association and Operation Freedom Paws. The Santa Clara Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice to gardeners of all ages. Representatives from the Miller Red Barn Association will show off the newly restored Glen Ranch Barn and talk about its history.

The Barn is the last remaining structure from the days when Henry Miller (1827-1916) owned thousands of acres in and around Gilroy. Originally used for pasture and hay farming, the Glen Ranch transitioned into orchards and vineyards in the Valley of Heart’s Delight. Nearly 700 acres of vineyards and orchards of prunes, apricots, peaches, olives, and walnuts once covered the landscape along Uvas Creek.

Recalling the days when vineyards spread out upon the hillsides, a planting of two grape vines will take place at 10 a.m. at the back patio of the Miller Red Barn. Children are welcome to pitch-in with planting the vines in oak barrels. Johnson’s Garden Center will provide a planting mix with Biochar that will help retain moisture and nutrients for the young vines to thrive — a Grenache and a Zinfandel. Both varieties were historically planted in many early Gilroy vineyards.

Finally, the adjacent DeBell/Uvas Creek Preserve awaits exploration. It was April 10, 2003, when a ceremony took place to honor the legacy of Dennis DeBell, who was a member of the city council and a director of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. He bequeathed $1 million to help establish the preserve, that along with Christmas Hill Park and the Glen Ranch Site total more than 125 acres. The walking and cycling paths, the ballfields, the ranch history and the wildlife of Uvas Creek all serve to make this place a treasured Gilroy landscape.