Community Garden Underway in Coulterville California

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Looking to Build an Arch and Add a Name

COULTERVILLE, Calif. – In addition to a radio station to cover news and play music and a new arts and crafts movement to bring more creative people to this Gold Rush town, some locals are working on a new community garden to help bring the community together and grow some healthy food to help feed the local food banks for those suffering from “food insecurity” in these trying times.

For years, no matter where I happen to be in the spring, the weather inspires me to dig in the dirt and plant growing things in the ground, especially my favorite Cherokee Purple tomatoes. During the Covid pandemic, I grew some beautiful ones in Western North Carolina.

This spring, after making the move to California in the fall, I was inspired again by a film on Amazon Prime, “Dare to be Wild.” It’s an inspirational biographical drama on the life of Irish gardener, landscape designer, author and public activist Mary Reynolds, who dared to dream and won the Gold Medal at the 2002 Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Watch the International Trailer here:

One of the features of her garden was a moon gate entrance.

Back behind the historic Gazzolo building on Main Street, the former Saloon and Dance Hall where John Muir certainly hung out in his day, there is a back entrance to the grounds. I’ve been thinking of a design for a moon gate for a pedestrian entrance to the new garden. Yet a moon gate might be overly ambitious. But perhaps we could at least install an arch, featuring a name for the garden.

Since we recently started a new Facebook page for YosemiteRadio.Org, I thought we might have a garden naming contest. But before I even posted something about that, we were discussing it at the Old Johnny Haigh Saloon and we already have one suggestion for a name.

As many of you already know, a local geologist and mother recently died in a partial tunnel collapse outside Knights Ferry in Calaveras County, Twyla Capurro, who lived right up the street.

The name Twyla is the abbreviation of “twilight,” and means “woven of double thread.”

How about the Twyla Memorial Community Garden?

The story was covered by a local weekly newspaper.

Coulterville mother is killed in irrigation tunnel collapse

Ms. Capurro, 35, was a mother of two young boys, Bodi and Levi, and was engaged to Kyle Lovelady.

Her father, Chuck Capurro of Nevada City, said his daughter was a beautiful person who radiated light.

“I want to thank the community for keeping her light shining and reaching out with love and compassion,” he said. “That is what’s keeping me going.”

“The boys and I are surrounded by loved ones and the love from our community is so very real,” Lovelady wrote on social media

She was working as a geologist for Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, an engineering and design firm based in Clovis, on the Canyon Tunnel Project when a “rock fall” occurred inside the tunnel on April 14 at 3:42 p.m. Capurro was trapped inside the tunnel.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to her family, friends, and all that had the opportunity to meet Twyla,” the company said in a statement. “This is an incredibly difficult time for our entire organization.”

Capurro moved to Coulterville about three years ago. Her father said she previously lived in Paradise, but was forced to move after the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people and displaced 50,000 residents. The Camp Fire is considered the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history.

Daniel James, a family friend, wrote that Capurro was “known for her contagious smile, her warm and friendly personality, and her adventurous spirit for anything involving nature and life. Her ability to light up a room and her love for the outdoors inspired everyone around her.”

“Living in Coulterville, CA, Twyla built a life filled with love and care for her family and friends,” James wrote. “And her sudden loss has left a profound void in the hearts of those closest to her.”

So we would like to hear from members of the community on this idea, or other suggestions. If this works we could hold a memorial service and a grand opening. Inspiration abounds in this interesting and historic place. We also need more help from volunteers.

We would like to start an email list for those interested in volunteering. If interested send an email to info@yosemiteradio.org

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