Today, Thursday dropped off all the organic soil mixture for the garden bed---about 6 to 7 different formulas to put in. We will have to mix it up just like a cake recipe.
Many of the seniors were there today, enjoying a sing-a-long and I joined in with them for about 20 minutes. A lot of fun since I like to sing!
On my first visit to the Neighborhood House I found out that Gloria, a senior herself, is president of the ‘Canteen’-a large amount of seniors that meet on Thursdays. We hope to invite her as a representative of the Neighborhood House to our presentation, as a thank you for the seniors welcoming us to their center. I found out today, Thursday, 15th, that there are no other presidents…so I hope we can do that. Professors, can we send an invitation to her?
We are still looking into ongoing care of the garden…and I have a few leads that I hope to keep clearing up tomorrow and in the next couple of weeks.
I am prepared to do ongoing care through the summer for one or two hours week if the ongoing care has not been established; however, I am expecting something to come up. As a group we have not yet discussed what our intentions for involvement will be after May 18th.
The president of the board told me today that they have several local businesses that they work with, and we may be able to get some volunteers from there. I also called the Greenburgh Nature Center and have contact with someone there too. Several other places.
The president also let me know they have contacts with the Gannett paper, to do a spread about our work at the Neighborhood House, and one of us will speak to Graziella tomorrow.
Here is our objective again: to create a garden in a senior center which will empower the seniors and offer them recreational and emotional involvement while being an example of sustainable, water-wise cultivation.
The times I have been to the Neighborhood House have been gratifying. Everyone is enthusiastic about our project, and have helped in their own small way---suggested plants that should be grown; how to turn the turf over in the bed to return the nutrients back to the earth; drawing us while we were working away one Tuesday.
I believe this project not only gives to the seniors, it gives back to the earth, and in turn, for our group, it teaches us many new skills that we can use to help our world be a sustainable world.