Lions Visit the Tolland Youth Garden

Tolland Lions Club members, Len Bach and
Duane Mathews, stopped by the Tolland Youth Garden to present a check for $500
to help cover expenses for the new storage shed on the garden site. The Lions
are part of a collaboration between the Tolland Garden Paths Youth Garden, the
Tolland Lions Club, Kloter Farms, Ellington High School Carpentry Class and the
Tolland Department of Recreation. What a great model. Non profits, business,
government and education working together to provide opportunities for Tolland
and Ellington children, youth and families to get involved in community
service, education and recreation.

The shed makes it possible for teachers and students in Youth Garden programs
to have gardening tools and teaching resources handy and ready to use. The shed
itself is becoming a teaching resource. Dave Benjamin installed a rain water
collection system from the shed roof, a valuable teaching tool for lessons on
environmental stewardship. Student artists: Eliza, Emma, and Julia Browning are
painting the life cycle of butterflies on one outside wall. Gina Carroll
painted a mural showing the cycle of plant growth from seed to foliage on
another wall. A scale hangs from the corner of the shed at every class to weigh
the harvest that is donated to local food pantries and community kitchens.

Stop by and check out our garden and snazzy shed. Look for our happy sprout
signs pointing the way to the garden from the Lions Ball Field
and the Old Post RD parking lots.