Work Parties bring in Many Hats and Skills

5-29-23

While many were camping Memorial Weekend, teams of volunteer gardeners put on their hats and gloves and dug in. These special one-off sessions give the gardens a jumpstart on the summer.

First up on Monday was - Salish Coast Elementary Production garden  where Farmer Neil Howe  kept people busy.  Friend of the garden, Bonnie Obremski,  and PT School District Food Director, Shannon Minnihan,  put out a call-to-action and 15 volunteers showed up with shovels and a lot of "can do".  A newly donated picnic table quickly filled with trays of starts, water bottles, and tools.

A big thanks to Candace Mangold (pictured top left) Brook Weber, Bonnie Obremski , Linda Brooking, Mado Most and Diane DiPreet.  (pictured above)  Also helping out: Kathy Ryan, Amanda Millholland, Magi Adenau, Mary Hunt, Cole and Azalea Russell, Linda Brooking, and Jay McDowell.

Three hours of soil-toil and the entire production garden had rows ready for starts and the paths for alder chips. The work party came just in time as a multitude of plant starts are ready to go into the ground.

Production from the garden will go primarily to the PT School District with excess produce going to the Food Bank. It's the first in a series of farm-to-fork experiences for the kids. Once they get to the middle school they'll be able to taste the difference in fruit in their 70 tree orchard. Later at a highschool level, they can take cooking classes from the produce grown in their garden. 

Keep watch for the next group work party; you'll meet new, fun folks and maybe gain a couple new skills