spring2009newsletter

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Archive of earlier newsletters

From the Cultiva Youth Leaders...

Beekeeping
This year Cultiva! Youth are hoping to get the number of operational hives up to 15 from 13. We are very excited about this. The more hives we have the greater impact we can have educating children and adults alike about our favorite flying, pollinating friends. This year we will be selling more honey at the farmer’s market and Julie will be teaching several beekeeping classes for those of you who want to learn about keeping bees or those of you who want to start your own hive! The classes run from spring all through the summer.

Gleaning
“Gleaning is always fun, man.” (Juan Montoya)
Thousands of pounds of food are thrown away each year that could have been used to feed unfortunate people in our society. When Cultiva! teens glean food they go from stand to stand at the Boulder County Farmer’s Market collecting extra fruits and vegetables that would ordinarily be thrown away after the market. Cultiva! Youth get the unique experience of pitching in to help a cause that is greater than themselves.

Slow Food
Slow food is a great opportunity for teens to learn how to cook! In our slow food classes we learn recipes that include vegetables and herbs from our garden. We have chefs from Boulder restaurants such as Mateo and The Kitchen come and teach the class. Teens in slow food learn how to make healthy dishes, and then get to eat them, of course!

Peace Garden
The Peace Garden is a program that teaches young kids about gardening and the outdoors. We have recently added games and music for the summer. There will be guitar playing and singing for everyone to enjoy, and everyone will be able to participate. Kids also get to plant, play games, make art, create music, and eat and learn about organic food. Can’t wait to see you there!

Sale of Veggie and Herb Starts
“In each little seedling you bring home a part of us” (Sam Streeter)
We sell plant starts so you can start your own garden at home. Our plants are organic and grown with lots of love. We specialize in heirloom and other interesting varieties adapted to this climate. Come to our stand and check out our plants. Our vegetable starts include: spinach, chard, kale, lettuce mix, broccoli, tomatoes (heirloom varieties), bell peppers, jalapenos, cucumbers, squash, zucchini and winter squash. Herb starts include: basil, parsley, cilantro, dill, rosemary and thyme. We also have fruit plants for your garden such as strawberries, raspberries, and rhubarb.
And we’ll have fresh spring veggies to tempt your tastebuds- including: arugula, salad greens, radicchio, beets and onions.

UPCOMING EVENTS

General Garden Events

Gardening classes are happening throughout the spring and summer! Please see below for full descriptions of classes, which range from beekeeping to container gardening!

May 8, 4- 6pm Millennium Harvest House Friday Afternoon Club Rockin' The Gardens concert held in conjunction with Growing Gardens. Come enjoy free bean planting with the kids and great music by creek. Located at 28th and Arapahoe Streets in Boulder

May 16-17, 8am to 4 pm PLANT SALE on the north-east corner of Broadway and Iris. Come for expert gardening advice and the best selection of locally grown plants!

Children’s Peace Garden Events

You can find the Children’s Peace Garden at the following FREE events! We will be planting seeds and making insect masks with children to take home. Please stop by, say hello and learn about our exciting new programming this spring and summer!

Saturday, April 18 10-4 Wild Earth Saturday at NCAR www.wildbear.org
Saturday, April 18 9-3 EarthFest at CU Research Park www.earthfestboulder.org
Friday, April 24 12-4pm Children’s Day at Pearl St. Mall www.ccdboulder.googlepages.com
Monday, May 2 10am-5pm Boulder Home and Garden Fair www.homeandgardenmag.com/fair2009

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COMMUNITY GARDENS

Community Gardens Filled Fast!
All eight of the community gardens (over 400 plots) are full for the 2009 season. Once returning gardeners renewed their plots, the remaining plots were made available on-line to the public and were all taken within three hours! There is a strong demand for community gardens and this was the fastest yet we've filled the gardens.

Successful First Annual Seed Swap
Hey everyone, this is intern John Hallett. I am writing to thank you for helping to make the First Annual Growing Gardens Seed Exchange a resounding success! Here are some of the statistics: 15 gardeners donated over 100 packets worth of seed, roughly 45 people attended the exchange, over 500 packets worth of seed were dispersed and we raised $67.30 for the Gardenship Fund. I thoroughly enjoyed organizing the event and I am already excited for next year! I owe a special thank you to the gardeners that volunteered and to McGuckin Hardware for their generous gift card. I wish everyone a great gardening season and I encourage you to try saving some of your seeds.

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Growing Gardens Wish List

15 passenger van

Cargo Van for the Farmer’s Market

Wheelbarrows

Wheelbarrow tires

Flower cooler

Items for the Silent Auction

¡CULTIVA! YOUTH PROJECT

Come Visit Cultiva at the Farmer’s Market!

Save the Date- ¡Cultiva! Harvest Dinner SEPT 10, 2009

We are excited to announce that we will be celebrating our 10th Anniversary of Cultiva this year at our 10th Annual ¡Cultiva! Harvest Dinner. Mark your calendars and join us for a fall celebration of the wonderful youth of ¡Cultiva! .
We will have some new chefs this year – including Antonio Laudisio and Bradford Heap. Bradford Heap created this event for Cultiva back in 1999- so we are especially excited to have him return to celebrate 10 fabulous years.
And we’ll be welcoming back Howard Treppeda and Shamane Simons- two of our long-time chef supporters to help complete a fantastic 4 course menu featuring seasonal, sustainable and locally grown food.

We are always in need of Silent Auction items, if you can think of anything to donate, please call Vanessa 303- 413- 7248 x1. Be creative- almost anything will work from gift certificates, to artwork or crafts, items for the home or garden, and travel items. Thanks for your help!

Yummy Spring Recipes!

Radish with Arugula Sauté

4 servings

2 tbsp unsalted butter
8 radishes
2 c. coarsely chopped arugula, well rinsed and towel dried
Salt, freshly ground pepper

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the radishes, and cook, stirring often, until barely tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
Add the arugula to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Return the radishes to the skillet and mix. Season with the salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Braised Radicchio with Raisins and Pine Nuts

Serves 4

¼ c. golden raisins
2 tbsp pine nuts
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, halved and sliced
3 tbsp white wine vinegar, plus more to taste
1 tsp sugar
1 lb. radicchio, quartered lengthwise
Salt, freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp minced Italian parsley

Put raisins in a small bowl, cover with warm water and let stand 30 minutes to soften.
Preheat oven to 325˚F
Toast pine nuts on a baking sheet until golden brown and fragrant, 12-15 minutes.
Heat olive oil over moderate heat in a skillet large enough to hold all the radicchio in one layer.
Add onion and sauté until soft and sweet, about 10 minutes.
Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and the sugar.
Drain water from the raisins and add additional water, if necessary, to make ¼ cup.
Add water to skillet; arrange radicchio in skillet cut side down. Season well with salt and pepper. Scatter the raisins over the radicchio.
Cover, adjust heat to maintain a simmer and cook until radicchio is tender, about 15 minutes.
Scatter the pine nuts over the radicchio, then remove from heat and let radicchio cool to room temperature in skillet.
To serve, scoop about half of the onions, raisins, and pine nuts onto a serving platter. Arrange radicchio cut side up over the onions. Top with remaining onion, raisin and pine nut mixture. Taste and sprinkle with a little more vinegar if necessary. Garnish with parsley. Serve at room temperature.

Roasted Radicchio with Gorgonzola* and Balsamic Vinegar

*If you’re not a Gorgonzola fan, this is equally delicious with Brie, Swiss, aged Cheddar, or smoked Gouda. You can substitute lemon juice for the balsamic vinegar.

Serves 4

1 medium head radicchio, cut into 2-inch wedges
¼ c. olive oil
Salt, freshly ground black pepper
Balsamic vinegar
4-6 oz. Gorgonzola [or other cheese], sliced

Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Lightly oil a 2-quart baking dish.
Using a pastry brush, brush the radicchio generously with olive oil and place in a single layer in the baking dish. Season with salt and pepper.
Bake the radicchio for 20 minutes, turning wedges over once midway through cooking. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and top with cheese. Return to the oven until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

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CHILDREN'S PEACE GARDEN

Children’s Peace Garden Programming has expanded allowing more children to be involved inworking and learning in the garden!

It’s spring in the garden which means a return to digging in the dirt! The Children’s Peace Garden has expanded their spring, summer and fall programming to include increased field trip and classroom visits, fun days in the garden when BVSD is off, a return of our spring after school garden club and an expanded summer camp offering.

New summer camp programming includes exciting week long themes such as Planting A Plenty, Tractors and Tools and Garden Olympics. Tried and true favorite field trip activities include meeting our honeybees, exploring the edible parts of plants and preparing snacks from fresh garden produce. The classroom visit program has expanded to include new garden based hands-on presentations for grades K-5.

The Children's Peace Garden Program involves children from 4-10 years of age who learn about the life processes of plants, the interdependency of species, where their food comes from, how to grow food, nutrition and respect for each other and the environment.

Children’s Peace Garden Spring and Summer Classes

At the Children’s Peace Garden students learn about local food, organic gardening practices, the importance of biodiversity and community, and connecting with the Earth. We have fun and get our hands in the dirt! For more information about The Children’s Peace Garden, please contact Annie Sweeney at 303-413-7248 x4 or annie@growinggardens.org. Complete descriptions and registration for all of the Children’s Peace Garden Programs can be found on our website: www.growinggardens.org.

After School Garden Club
Tuesdays in May:
May 5, May 12, May 19, May 26
3:45-5:15 $12 per child per visit
sign up for all 4 for $40
It’s spring in the garden which means a return to digging in the dirt! During the Children’s Peace Garden Spring After School Garden Club, we will explore the tools of our trade. What is needed to get the garden planted and producing fresh veggies for us to enjoy? We’ll transplant in the greenhouse, dig and plant in the Children’s Peace Garden, build habitats for insects and birds, visit our bees as they continue to make honey and make tasty treats from our spring plantings.
Tuesday, May 5: What’s Growing On in the Peace Garden?
Tuesday, May 12: Busy Bees
Tuesday, May 19: Garden Games
Tuesday, May 26: Planting Extravaganza

BVSD Days Off in the Garden
Monday, April 27
Tuesday, April 28
9am-3pm $60 per child per day
The Children’s Peace Garden will be hosting two days of fun and learning during BVSD Days Off (4/27 and 4/28).
Activities on Monday include: a tasting tour of the gardens, planting seeds for the gardens and some to take home, making our mid day snack from fresh produce, and using different art mediums to design the garden for the summer.
Activities on Tuesday include: a visit to our bees to see how they fared the winter (and we’ll taste the honey), we’ll start to plant seeds and prepare our new garden beds for transplants (using the garden bed designs we created on Monday), and we’ll celebration our hard work with fresh food and drinks from the Peace Garden!

Summer Camp
Plant, grow and taste from the pizza, salsa and salad garden. Play in the bean pole teepees. Cook using the power of the sun. Create unique art through hands on gardening activities. Build exciting new relationships with people, plants and insects. Spend four fun-filled days learning in the Children’s Peace Garden. Ages 5-10. Summer camp runs Monday – Thursday from 9am-3pm.
June 8-June 11 Planting a Plenty
June 22-June 25 Garden Olympics
June 29-July 2 Art in the Garden
July 13-July 16 Bugs, Butterflies and Bees
July 27-July 30 Tractors and Tools
August 3-August 6 Tasty Treats from the Garden
Payment is due at time of registration.
The cost is $210 for each four day session of the summer day camp.

Growing Gardens is conveniently located in Boulder at 1630 Hawthorn. This organic agriculture site is home to the Children’s Peace Garden, Cultiva! Youth Project, Hawthorn Community Garden, Able Garden and Greenhouse.

For more information about The Children’s Peace Garden, please contact Annie Sweeney at 303-413-7248 x4 or annie@growinggardens.org. Complete descriptions of all the Children’s Peace Garden Programs can be found on our website: www.growinggardens.org.

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Board of Directors

PresidentLeni Wilsmann

Vice President:John Lainson

Treasurer: Sue Easterlin

Secretary: Michelle Leifeste

Laura Coblentz

Mark Retzloff

Julia Wrapp

Lianne Shepherd

Jim Hagen

Growing Gardens Staff:

Ramona Clark–
Executive Director

Vanessa Keeley–
Deputy Director, Director of ¡Cultiva!

Christopher Cross–
Development Director

Julie Finley–
Outreach and Education Director

Annie Sweeney–-- Children's Peace
Garden Coordinator

Cathy Chittum-
Community Garden Coordinator

Trudy Cronan–-- Horticultural Therapy Coordinator

Ben Turner-¡Cultiva! Grower

¡

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

Classes at Growing Gardens

Container Gardening

Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of vegetables or a garden of flowers in containers. Planter boxes, wooden barrels, hanging baskets and large flowerpots are just some of the containers that can be used. The container gardener is limited only by his imagination.

Date: Saturday May 23rd
Location: Growing Gardens Greenhouse, 1630 Hawthorn Ave
Time: 9:00 to 11:00
Cost: $35 includes material fee

Class includes:

Demonstration of how to plant flower, veggie/ herb containers as well as hanging basket arrangements and strawberry containers.
Designing your Container
Types of soil best suited to container gardens.
Varieties of suitable plants and containers.
Care for your garden and insider tips.

Bring your own container or hanging basket (less than 5 gallons). We will provide potting mix, and a variety of plants/ herbs and veggies to choose from. Take home your very own container garden!

Minimum 6 students $35

Instructor-
Ramona Clark designed and planted container gardens for Sturtz and Copeland Nursery and Greenhouses for two years during their summer season. She has 11 years of farming and community gardening experience in Boulder County and has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Boulder County Farmer's Market. She is a current member of the Boulder County Food and Agriculture Policy Council. Ramona has managed an organic farm and worked at retail nurseries, gardens and greenhouses.

Soil for Veggie Gardeners
Good soil management is the key to success in the garden. This class will introduce you to the basics of soil structure and texture, how soils provide nutrients to plants, microbial action in the soil and more. Why cross your fingers and hope for the best when you can garden from a place of knowledge? Class will be followed by Q and A session.

Date: Saturday June 13

Location: Growing Gardens Greenhouse, 1630 Hawthorn Ave
Time: 9 to 11:00
Cost: $35

Instructor-
Joel Reich is the Horticulture Agent for CSU Extension - Boulder County. He has a Masters degree in Horticulture from Oregon State University. He has had the good fortune to grow veggies in California, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, and Cuba.

Insects: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
All insects in the garden are not pests. In fact, most are not and many are desirable. This class will teach you to identify locally important pests and beneficial, as well as how to manage the former and encourage the latter. The class will include an insect hunt and question session in the community gardens.

Date: Saturday June 27

Location: Growing Gardens Greenhouse, 1630 Hawthorn Ave
Time: 9 to 11:00
Cost: $35

Bee and Beekeeping at Growing Gardens

This years Beginning Beekeeping Series is underway and buzzing with excitement.

The Cultiva Beekeeping is is expanding to 18 to 20 colonies this year and the youth and bees are hard at work growing food, pollinating and making honey, come support the kids at the farmers market. We hope to have a good supply of our wonderful, raw, natural comb honey starting this summer. Remember eating local honey is good for all of us!

If you or some one you know is interested in learning more about these wonderful pollinators or support our program please have them contact Julie Finley at Julie@growinggardens.org

Volunteers

Spring 2009 Volunteer Open Hours

Tuesday, 11am – 4pm

Wednesday, 9am – 5pm

All Open Hours are at the Growing Gardens Greenhouse, 1630 Hawthorn. Come join us for and celebrate Spring by planting and transplanting!

There will be no volunteer hours on Memorial Day.

The Volunteers have once again made our for the community work possible. Growing Gardens is so very grateful for all the time, effort and skill shared!

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