Spring 2001 NewsletterStaff: Ramona Clark, Executive
Director The
Earth Laughs in Flowers.. New Gardens at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless Written by Andy Gross, Horticultural Therapy Intern and Homeless Shelter Staff Member The Boulder shelter
is growing this spring! Not in terms of size, but rather in terms of vegetables,
herbs and flowers. Growing Gardens and a slew of volunteers descended
on the shelter to construct 4 large raised beds on March 31st and April
7. These beds will soon be spilling over with cherry tomatoes, sweet basil,
and other assorted garden delights. The garden construction is part of
an interagency effort to provide those in need with fresh produce and
education about nutrition and gardening. Some of the groups involved include
Growing Gardens, Community Food Share, EFFA, CSU Cooperative Extension,
and the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. Upcoming Events!! April 16 (all day) Garden Party Come and enjoy a FUN
new event this summer to be held at the North Boulder Community gardens.
Food Tasting Stations for gardeners to show off their produce. Youth Projects are Sprouting this Spring! Our programs for children and teenagers have really taken off in the past year! We now offer a school gardening curriculum for elementary and middle schools and a service learning program for school and community groups. We have even built a new garden for Sojourner Middle School students to plant food to share with those in need through community meals that the students will prepare. We have also just started working with the Shining Mountain Waldorf School to plant four garden plots at the Foothills Community Garden. ¡Cultiva! Project Five youth leaders are currently working with staff on a variety of projects including, planting tomato and other plants in the greenhouse, planning for the summer program, helping to design and plant the Children’s Peace Garden, and establishing two public housing site garden programs. Watch for us the the Boulder County Farmer’s Market starting April 21!!
A group of dedicated volunteers and Cultiva! youth have been working hard to plan this year’s garden. We are very excited to watch it blossom this year with a strawberry patch, sunflower houses, bean pole teepees, honeysuckle tunnels, edible flowers, a sensory garden, and of course the butterfly garden. Come check it out this summer and bring your children to play and learn. The Peace Garden curriculum begins June 12 and runs through August 17. Children will take part in a 5 week series of lessons and activities to teach children the value of community, friendship, repsect, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. To sign up your child or group of children, call our office at 303-413-7248. Seed Swap! Anyone? Written by Daniel Roth, CU INVEST Intern and Community Gardener Plants are the basis of life as we know it on Earth. From medicine to soil stability, from sun storage into food systems, plants provide nourishment and essential living requirements to the vast majority of life forms. The increasing loss of Earth's biodiversity is, to say the least, a tragic result of our time. As seed companies are bought out in the name of profit, the threat to biodiversity is exacerbated considerably. To offset these current trends - trends including a growing interest in genetically engineering seeds without a grounded understanding of future implications, Growing Gardens is interested in creating a seed exchange system. This system will enable us to develop an on-site seed bank that we may all participate in. The more the merrier. This idea comes as part of an effort by Growing Gardens to move into a more sustainable future - a future in which we all empower ourselves in fun, exciting, and most of all, practical ways. Not only will we be able to enjoy growing seeds that are local and diverse, we will also be establishing a repository of viable seeds for future generations to use! We will be putting together a seed exchange committee this spring that will engage in a pilot project. The project will include designing a system and implementing it by fall of 2001. If you have knowledge, prior experience, or a general interest in being a part of this project please contact us! We welcome your ideas! More Boulder Community Food Project News..... Public Housing Gardens
and Outreach Efforts Thank You to our 2001 Supporters!USDA Greenhouse Update! Growing Gardens is
planning to build a greenhouse-classroom to support all of our current
programming and add additional community resources! It will be a demonstration
of the culture and technology of renewable energy and utilize the principles
of sustainable architecture. Visitors can experience the practical applications
of solar power, including the generation of electricity, solar water pumping
and thermal radiant heating. Gardenship Fund 2001! Thank You!! |