The native soil at this site is high in soluble salts. A soil test conducted by the soil testing facility at Colorado State University revealed soluble salts above 25 mmhos/cm³ and a Sodium Absorption Ratio of 26. These conditions are toxic to plants. These conditions required the building of the raised beds.

Soil added to the raised planters had to be separated from the underlying salty soil. Neglecting to install a barrier would have allowed salts to move into the soil in the beds resulting in plant death. A layer of geotextile fabric was laid on the native soil, four inches of washed 3/4 inch gravel placed over the fabric and a second layer of geotextile fabric then applied over the gravel.

A drainage system was installed below the planters on the east side of the building which drains into the drainage ditch on the far south side of the property. This system will move excess water off the building site.

The planting areas in front of the building are block and stucco to blend with the building. It was planned from the beginning, however, that the remaining planters be constructed from varying materials.

The planting beds on the northwest side of the building next to the chain link fence are built of Allan Block, landscape timbers and green slate. The adjoining beds on the other side of the chain link fence within the compost demonstration site are Keystone and yellow slate. Construction of these beds was done by Deep Creek Landscaping, Grand Junction. The field stone wall in the Compost Demonstration Site was built by Sticks and Stones, Grand Junction.

Walks and walls for the planting beds were provided by various contractors in the Grand Junction area. Ed Gardner, White Water Building Supply, coordinated this construction project, contacting contractors and scheduling this massive effort. Concrete for much of this project was provided by White Water Building Materials, Grand Junction. Grand Junction Ready Mix of Grand Junction also provided concrete for the project. The planting beds immediately north of the Mesa office were built by Eagle Construction, Grand Junction. Walks were designed and installed by Adcock Concrete, Grand Junction, Seriani Concrete, TLF (Tim Frame) Concrete, Ray Neece Concrete, Yriba, R.M. and Martinez Concrete Companies and Mays Concrete, Inc.

The `Gardens at the Mesa County Extension Office'