At a time when the Earth and visions of sprouting gardens are cold, The Sustainability Project invites all to join in the 2nd annual Seed Celebration on January 20th at the Gilsum Elementary School Community Center. Get a jump on the 2007 growing season, learn about local food and farm initiatives, and treat your children to a day of fun-filled nature and gardening activities. This is also a great opportunity to network with other farmers, gardeners and sustainable community activists.
The doors open at 9:30 a.m. and a full schedule of speakers, workshops, and demonstrations begins at 10:00. Morning presentations include “Riding the Waves to a Sustainable Future” with Valerie Piedmont at 10:00; “Wild Edibles” with Genevieve Lounder at 10:30; and “Landscaping with Native Species” with Janine Preston at 11:00. Bring a blanket and picnic lunch to enjoy during a noon concert. Soups, Chili, locally baked bread, as well as desserts and hot beverages will be for sale as well.
Afternoon presentations include “Seed Saving” with Carolyn Sweet at 1:00; “Edible Forest Gardening” with Pablo Fleischmann at 2:00 and a demonstration on spawning mushrooms with Dave and Jenny of Wichland Woods at 3:00.
Throughout the day, experienced gardeners will be on hand to help you plan your garden and to choose and order seeds well-suited to this region. Information tables and demonstrations by local wildcrafters will compliment the day and children’s activities led by Tim Stillman, Kristin and Eli Moses and friends will be ongoing, engaging both the young and young at heart.
There will be a two-hour break before the celebration resumes at 6 p.m. with a potluck, followed at 7:00 by an African Dance and Drumming Circle led by Chelsea Agee and Anive Holmes. The final event of the evening will be a Dance Jam with a mix of electronic, rock and reggae music from 8-10 pm.
The suggested donation for the event is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for children and $18.00 for families. No one will be turned away for lack of funds and barter exchange on the day of the event is available. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Sustainability Project’s effort to promote seed saving, earth friendly horticultural methods and the “Stewards of the Earth” Gilsum after-school program. Please call me 352-1887 or Carolyn 835-2290 for more information, or if you would like to volunteer your help during the event. Pablo says, "Come sprout forth in 2007!"