Sisters turns out for garden fair

The Sisters Elementary School Garden Fair was a blooming success despite having to move festivities inside due to decidedly un-spring-like weather.

"I was really pleased with the turnout," said Shannon Pollard, one of the original founders of the school's garden club.

The group made about $3,300 after costs. Fairgoers were able to purchase cartons of compost worms, hanging baskets and vegetable starts, and bid on quilts with drawings from garden club youth.

Baskets of goods donated from local businesses were also available in a silent auction. All proceeds went to the school's club.

Entertainment from Sisters Dance Academy dancers helped bring in parents and grandparents. Many stayed around and shopped.

In its eighth year, the elementary school's garden club offers students the chance to learn about plants, vegetables, worms, recycling and caring for living things, said Pollard.

"If you introduce children to gardening when they are young, more than likely they will still be interested in it when they are older," Pollard said while standing amongst baskets of flowers at the school's greenhouse.

The flower baskets, which were for sale, were planted in March by children and parent volunteers. Students who sign up for the club spend one day a week during their lunch recess or after school planting, watering and learning. Most weeks, they get to take home a project to watch grow, said Beth Huitt, another garden club founder.

Recently, the kids planted seeds in the end of a potato.

"I'm digging out his brains," one boy said to another while he scooped out raw potato so he could add dirt and grass seeds. "I made a tail and carved out some legs,"

another boy replied. The boys drew faces on their potatoes and squirted the top of the potato head with water. Pollard wrapped up each little spud with plastic and the boys ran off to class. Soon their potato person would sprout a head of grass.

"They love to go out the door with pots in their hands," Pollard said. "They usually come back in a few weeks and talk about the plants' growth. They take a sense of pride in that."

Kids often visit the greenhouse, located behind the school's gym, under Pollard's supervision, even when class is not in session. One of the benefits for the students is seeing the result of their gardening efforts. Currently, the children are enjoying colorful tulips they planted in the fall.

When fall arrives, they'll dig up the potatoes they helped plant in the spring.

In the future, Pollard hopes to see recycle bins in the school where students can put apple cores and other foods that worms can compost. She hopes to build a variety of gardens such as rock, native and raised beds.

She adds that the garden club can't function without the help of parent and community volunteers. This year, nearly 20 others are involved. Pollard said that kids and their parents have even "fostered" the red wiggler compost worms by taking home the composting tubs during winter months.

Donations are always welcome, said Pollard, whether it is money, tools, gloves, or especially soil.

"We've gotten positive feedback from community members," she said. "I think it's a great, worthwhile program."