PTSD/FBG Farm Tour 2023
A perfect fall weekend for showing off the PT High School and Salish Coast gardens
9-19-2003
It was a great weekend to introduce the FULL K-12 PT School District Farm-to-Fork program and their corresponding FBG support system of growers and gleaners.
(Above) Candice Cosler who first imagined and championed the program in 2008 is seen up to her knees in squash and marigolds at the new Salish Coast Production Garden. It is the last in a series starting with the establishment of the PTHS Production/Culinary Garden in 2008, the Blue Heron 70 tree Orchard in 2012, and the Salish Classroom Garden that started/stopped/started again when the new Salish Coast School replaced the Grant Street school.
With all four gardens in place, students can learn to love what they eat, and grow it for themselves at every grade level. The one dish that all students love? "Pesto!", said Food Services Director Shannon Minnihan, "Even the first graders like it."
Folks also learned how the Food Bank Growers and Gleaners provide volunteer hours and stability to gardens that don't stop growing just because school is out for summer. Veggie surplus that doesn't go directly into school meals or freezer goes to the Food Banks. The Gleaners also provide a steady flow of fruit to the school district meals.
The PT High School garden was open only on Saturday. Former PTSD Food Services Director Stacey Larsen and Master Gardener Doug Van Allen spoke with folks touring from Kitsap who were excited about the school gardens. They also chatted up former volunteers who loved seeing how the gardens have expanded.
Lys Burden and Kathy Ryan also greeted guests.
The Salish Coast Classroom and Production gardens were open both Saturday and Sunday and benefited from being on a main road between two other featured farms. Most of the attendees were neighbors who “have been driving/walking/biking by for the past couple years" and wanted to see the inner workings.
Farmer Neil Howe answered questions on Saturday and Garden Teacher Leta Fetherolf and Shannon Minnihan fielded questions on Sunday. Volunteers, Milly Lierman, Keith Lierman, Erik Livingstone, Bonnie Obremski, Mike Farrell, and Mary Hunt also answered questions with the support of FBG Garden Coordinator, Dianna Wiklund.
Those who toured were stunned at how much produce comes out of the garden, over 2000 pounds since Memorial Day. Daily the produce is turned into 750 meals.
A big thank you to all farmers, administrators, teachers, cooks, and volunteers who have been working to bring this program to maturity. We're excited to see where it's growing next!
Related Topics
