Making progress!!!

We finally have a plan! We have been working hard to figure out just exactly how we will make this unused space a place for play, discovery, reflection and beauty. Low and behold our plan. Not only do we have this plan, but we are making headway on it! Last weekend the Montclair Dad's Club came and worked hard to help dig irrigation trenches (HARD WORK), place the tables, and refine our garden entrance. We are making friends with our neighbors and making sure our new space will not affect them. Next up, we will build two more planter boxes, plant a vines and lattice for a privacy screen for our neighbors, secure the picnic tables and secure 20-25 stumps for our outdoor seating areas. If you have friends or neighbors or members of your community that have access to good tree stumps (about 18 " diameter) please bring them to our new space (the area north of the Ottertorium).

Another garden work day is coming soon...we are hoping to have the space usable for the spring, when our outdoor space becomes limited because of the construction. Which means we have a good amount of work to do... we'll make it fun though! come join us! We'll be reaching out soon.

For now we are calling this space the Garden Annex...

Bagels and Mulch for all

We've been off to a bit of a slow start for Gardening at Montclair school this year, but yesterday we set things straight with a wonderfully hardy crew that got things going with a bang- our fall compost cleanup day was once again a pleasurable sight of people putting their muscle, sweat, and kindness directly into our school- not to mention having a little fun along the way.
Our big task of the day was a generous (~9 yard) supply of mulch that was donated to our school from Traveres Tree Service. This mulch is now spread throughout the floor of the friendship garden, between all the plants in the native garden, and on top of most of the soil at the front of the school. It was a lot of hard work and now that it has been dispersed everything looks great!
Meanwhile, we weeded and turned the soil in the beds for the friendship garden, and put a few more plants in the native garden, which is getting ready for it's school-wide unveiling on October 3rd.
If you missed this cleanup day, never fear! There are many ways of getting involved with the gardening program at our school, and there is talk of another cleanup day in just a few months. Kids are invited to come and help or just to ride their bikes and play. Bagels and Coffee and juice are served- these events are a wonderful way to build community and to help our school. The old phrase "many hands make light work" really applies on these days- so please, bring a friend!
And to those of you who did come for the Cleanup day-
THANK YOU!!!