Horticulture Club Work Day/ Seed Party Round 3

Today marked day three of the Pope Horticulture Club Plant Sale seeding day, plus just a day to get some work we've been meaning to get done for the growing season. Wednesday was supposed to be the day to get every single one of our 1500 some seeds planted, but due to a lack of perlite and soil, we had to scrap by with a mere 600. But we did get a lot of work done, thanks to all the people who came out to day! Really, I want to thank each and ever one of you individual  and if I knew all your names and where to find you, I would. We out such a wonderful turnout, and because of it, we finished all the needed work in less than an hour! So, pat your selves on the back, you hard workers! In summary, today we seeded, weeded, painted, hoed, transplanted, and just enjoyed the warmth of the sun and each others company. All in all, and I think I can speak on the behalf of all the board members of this wonderful club, it was a flying success! Tomorrow, we shall purchase some goods to finish seeding and some garden soil for the raised beds we pre-tilled today, and get ready for some more fun. Due to the frost this weekend, though, we shant be able to plant in the raised beds until next week, but hey, thats okay. Working with nature means patience, no matter how baldy I yern to dig my hands into that loamy soil and plants some veggies. I'm just glad to be a part of a club of such welcoming, accepting, and flat out fun, individuals with whom I can wait out the rainy days. Thanks again so very very much all of you who came out today, Matt, Andrew, Lauren, Teri, Sue, Logan, Olivia, Hannah, Erin, Nethra, Harpreet,Halona and anyone who I missed! You guys rule!

“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.” 

― Masanobu Fukuoka, The One-Straw Revolution

(Check the Pictures below!)

The Sue Pout

Hannah making sure there's no standing water

Tiny Seeds!

Max in the greenhouse

Plant Power!

Ellie and the author and her potato!

First of the bee's pollinating our rosemary!

Weeding!

Matt disposing of the unnecessary 

Beautiful Bees

Hannah seeding

Weeding again!

Matt helping prep the bed for tilling!

Andrew and Lauren!

Hannah and Erin!

Culinary Garden Overview

Salutations readers! For those of you who are unaware, Pope Horticulture Club has been in partner with the Pope Culinary Program. Our first major project for them is the culinary garden, located near the back of the school, to the side of the bus parking lot! Teri and I first assembled the garden out of recycled cylinder-blocks from the old fish pond in front of the greenhouse during winter break, and we are very proud to inform you that, as of a few weeks past, this hidden garden is beginning to yield the fruits, or more specifically, the herbs and vegetables of our labor! Within this lily-pond shaped raised garden grows some hardy kale, iceberg and romaine lettuce, broccoli, parsley, rosemary, oregano and cilantro, all for use by the culinary program at Pope! They get fresh herbs and veggies for class, and we get to build, plant, get dirty, support life, and inspire. Isn't community just wonderful? So next time your roaming around the back or waiting for the bus, give the garden a peep, and give anyone in horticulture club a big high five. Big big huge thanks to Teri for hauling cylinder blocks completely around the school in the dead of winter, and may I add, not complaining once or loosing the smile from her face. Also, big thanks to Andrew, Hannah, and Teri for helping fill garden soil, plant, and mulch!  “Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” -Ruth Reichl

(Check the pictures Below!)

Grow parsley grow! 

Rosemary, romaine lettuce and kale in the background!

Lettuce and broccoli adjusting to their new homes!

Teri lounging out by the garden!

Andrew adding to his farmers tan!

Pope Plant Sale: Seed Sow Showdown Part 2

Today marked the second seed party (for those of you who are unaware of this strange terminology, a "seed party" is a term that we at Pope Horticulture Club use to describe the joyful, yet tedious task of planting new seeds in our lovely greenhouse) for our plant sale in the upcoming months to support our club and the greenhouse. After school on this rainy day, our hardworking, and might I add, immensely attractive, crew came out, even though burdened by a nights worth of homework and the fatigue from a Monday at school. We hauled bags of soil in the rain, filled trays, watered, and ultimtetly planted 700 forms of life. Just think, our young, filthy hands, though the world may view our age as immaturity, and our hair and clothes as "phases", started a cycle of life today. A cycle of life that will grow and grow and grow and eventually, hopefully, support others, in the form of food or flower. Plants are quite amazing, arent they? So if you ever feel like you have not made an impact in the world today or ever, plant some seeds, start some life. You'll feel better' I swear by it!

(Check the pictures below!)

The two wonderful women behind Pope Horticulture Club!

Andrew, aka "The Punny One"

Adding some perlite, getting the ratio down!

The gang!

Teri and I getting ready to start the seed party!

Last seed party looking good! Tomatos!

Teri plus seeds equals awesome!

Some Super Sweet Sites to Share!

So, those who know me even slightly know that I'am huge into permacutlure and just about everything to do with sustainable living, from integrated systems to aquaphoincs to green manures to soil. This being said, I love to read about permcautlure desgins, small scale farms and homesteading. So, basically, I'm here to share my favorite  and in my personal opinion  the best sites around. So come explore,learn and get inspired!

First is http://milkwood.net/. Milkwood is a permaculture farm located in AU that offers a great vairtey of hands-on courses and hosts quite an informative, wonderful blog.

Next,  is http://www.waldeneffect.org/. The Walden Effect is the blog of Mark and Anne Hess, author of the great book "The Weekend Homesteader", who homestead and live sustainably on their property in Virginia. 

Last(for now), is http://thegreenhorns.wordpress.com/ The Greenhorns is simply, pretty freaking awesome. Basically, it is an organization that informs and inspires a new generation of young farmers. To learn more about The Greenhorns, and to find GREAT GREAT resources on organic, small-scall agriculture  visit http://www.thegreenhorns.net/

Check em' our farm folk!

Oh! and the wonderful Teri just sent me this awesome blog! Get inspired!
http://recyclinggardenmom.blogspot.com/

Tritt Elementary Service Project Work Day One

The Plan
Tritt Elementary Service Project Work Day One

So today, as you might be aware, was Pope Horticulture Club's first work day on our service project at Tritt Elementary! And me oh my, was it a day! Rising with the early sun, like true workers, we arrived at the school with breakfast still in hand, bed-head going strong, but nevertheless, smiles on our faces. For those of you who are unaware of the work we are doing over at Tritt, I'll fill you in a bit: The wonderful Mrs.Jarvis, a science teacher at Tritt, offered our club the opportunity to give back to our wondrous community by completely  redoing their Nature-Nook located int eh annex of the school! We will be fixin up their bog, constructing both a butterfly and native-Georgia plants gardens, and just over-all maintenance of the area to help with the kids education, promote sustainability, and create an awesome hangout spot. Today marked the start of this project. We transplanted a few trees, tackled a few bushes, removed the dead and dying, rototilled, pulled weeds, attacked a mystery root, hung out with awesome kids, and overall, had a great time getting tired, dirty and buff. Overall, it was a it success! When your body aches at the end of the day, you know it was a day worth spending. Big thanks to Andrew, the bush master, Taylor, Gretchen, and especally our president, the wonderful Teri. Also, big big thanks to Mrs.Jarvis, who made this project happen and all the parents and kids who came out today and lent us a much-welcomed hand! You all were great and I cannot thank you enough! So if you missed it today, be sure to make it next time! Who knows, you might just get to plunge into the bitterly cold refreshing river water of the Chatt with us for a reward!

(Check the picture below!) 

Our little awesome aussie helper!

Andrew getting ready to help transplant

Teri doing some weeding!

Taylor workin hard

One of our little weeders!

Double team tree takedown!