Tolland Youth Garden Beds Getting Ready to Wake Up!

Heads up, everybody – things are getting crazy in the Tolland Youth Garden world  -- crazy good!

Even as our brand new beds are sleeping under their black plastic blankies, we’re whirling around like sugarplums getting ready for spring awakening.

As a teaser, I’ll let you know that we’re finalizing the course and workshops descriptions we have scheduled for the Tolland Recreation Department Spring and Summer programs. Stay tuned for that publication.

I want to emphasize that, as talented and hardworking as everyone on the committee is, we can’t accomplish all there is to accomplish without lots of help and participation from all areas of the community. There is room and need for help from adults with teaching skills, businesses who can sponsor activities with time, money or supplies, and most importantly – grown-ups to get the word out to the kids, and to help get the kids to garden. If there is any way you think you can help, let us know. If you want to help but aren’t sure how, ask. My email address is mauclairz@yahoo.com. I can put you in touch with some helpful people if I can’t answer your question myself.

In the meantime, while we wait to hear from you and while we continue working for things to fall into place, let me give you a better introduction to many of the people involved.

I’ve already mentioned a few of the organizations and individuals who have helped thus far: the people at Tolland County Agricultural Center (TAC), the orchards that, along with a donation from Big Y, helped sustain us during our groundbreaking (Kollas, Johnny Appleseed’s, Wright’s), the 4-H Piston Pushers, the Tolland Elementary PTO, the Recreation Department (hugely helpful in many ways), the Lions Club (we’ll be using their donation soon to put up fencing),  Ande Bloom of Eastern Highlands Health District, Carolyn and Michael Dehetre, Merilee Beebe, Irving and Marsha Fuller, and Kyle Ferguson, student Youth Garden Photographer.

Now we’ve also had a productive, inspiring meeting with Tolland High School science teacher John Powell. He’s very enthusiastic about incorporating the garden into curriculum. He and Tolland Public Schools Science Coordinator and Teacher of the Year Carolyn Tyl have some thoughts. John also works with a group called Visions. They’re teens who enjoy volunteering their skills in an incredible number of ways, and I can’t wait to meet them for their ideas and energy.

Lastly, and most happily, I share here some brief bios of the Tolland Garden Paths Youth Garden Team ~

Rev. Sandra Benjamin, Chair of the Tolland Garden Paths (TGP) Youth Garden Team, an avid gardener for 35 years, a founding member of TGP, working to grow the club from 8 members in 2001 to 42 members today. A priority in her 30-year ministry with the United Church of Christ has been to work with non-profits to address issues related to children's and families’ health in urban and rural communities. 

Sheila Ciccone, President of Tolland Garden Paths, is a new and enthusiastic gardener. She brings years of experience as a professional in corporate information technologies to the team. Tolland Garden Paths is the parent of the Tolland Youth Garden Team.  You should check out the website: www.tollandgardenpaths.webs.com.  (You don't have to register or be a member to visit the web site.)

Heather Freeman grew up by her father's side playing and helping out in the community garden he spearheaded in Enfield, CT. Now as a mom to two young sprouts of her own and as a member of the community she strongly believes every child should have the tools and skills to maintain good health. Nothing puts a smile on her face quicker than watching her girls knee deep in dirt or plucking earthbound carrots from the garden.

Kyle Ferguson is a 7th grader at Tolland Middle School (TMS), Youth Garden Photographer, a 4-H member and an aspiring photographer. His photos of Youth Garden activities appear in this blog and have accompanied grant applications for the benefit of the Youth Garden project. 

Debbie Kupfer, Liaison to UConn Extension Service, retired after teaching Middle School for 35 years. She earned a Master Gardener Certificate from UConn and volunteers at the UConn Extension Service CT Children’s Garden and the gardens at Mark Twain House. 

Fran Maynard, Tolland Public Schools Liaison, retired after teaching Middle School for 21 years and serving as a school administrator for 11. She continues to work with student teachers and to instruct at the college level. A Certified Master Gardener, she volunteers at the Channel 3 Kids Camp Summer Gardening Program. 

Paula Robinson is Youth Garden Liaison to Channel 3 Kids Camp in Andover, CT where she is Coordinator for the Summer Gardening Program (providing camping and outdoor education and gardening experiences for over 4,000 children ages 6 – 16). Retired after teaching preschool for 20 years, she is a Certified Master Gardener and, since 2005, a volunteer at a local organic farm. 

Carol Salsbury, Correspondent with Community Groups, spent 40 years working for State of CT in administrative capacities in Depts. of Mental Health, Social Services, Public Health, Office of Policy and Management and Correction. She spent the last 8 years as Deputy Commissioner of Correction for CT where she led the effort to establish prison vegetable gardens, the harvest served at prison meals. 

Carol Zerio, Liaison to UConn School of Agriculture, holds a degree in horticulture from UConn and comes from a gardening family. Her aunt and uncle owned Tow Paths Nursery in West Hartford, CT. The Julian and Edith Eddy Rock Garden at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT is named after them. Her grandfather was a well-known landscape architect, an 1896 grad of the Storrs Agricultural School (now UConn). 

I, Michele Auclair, Tolland Youth Garden Blogger and Liaison to Tolland High School, was born and raised in Tolland, in a family of farmers, beekeepers, and cultivators of enormous vegetable gardens. I have experience in many areas (writing, editing, landscaping, organizing, administrative assistance and tutoring), but not so much in growing vegetables, so I am excited to share news of and assist with the Youth Garden growth.