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Container Gardening Workshop was Fun!

Over a dozen folks took part in the Container Gardening Workshop sponsored by the Cultivating Healthy Community grant. Monica Bell is conducting 2 workshops every month on home gardening. This one included participants receiving a container of their choice, potting soil, and their choice of a couple of tomatoes, peppers, basil, eggplants or mustard. Since it was an evening event. Tamales and fruit juices were also served up inside the Children’s Garden. The tamales were delish and the participants toured the garden with its new greenhouse.

Monica said this was the best workshop yet, and many commented on the lovely shaded location under the big oak in our parking lot.

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Some Photos from our Family Garden Day

We got much done at the Family Garden day. Gravel for the cushion material around the playground was moved into place. Cardboard cut and laid as sheet mulching in the garden. Then compost and barriers were put in place for planting the Sunflower Garden. The Preschoolers planted flowers along the entrance walkway.

 

Big thank you to all who showed up. Only got a few pics, but here they are. Results to be seen later as the gardens bloom.

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Family Garden Days!

Family Garden Day Eaton 2012

Family Garden Day at 1270 Eaton Rd this coming SATURDAY, April 21st – from 1 PM to 3:30 PM. If you have wheelbarros, gloves, extra flower bulbs and drought resistant ground cover starts – please bring them.

Take home garden starts, seeds, compost, red worms and wood chips.

We received two small gardening grants. Come check out the new greenhouse we made with supplies provided by the grants.

For more information call our office at 891-5363.

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Seeking Project Support

Like so many other social service organizations serving low income and special needs populations funding for our facilities maintenance has been slashed.

 

 

PROJECT 1: est. cost: $875.00

 

Chico Community Children’s Center (CCCC) is seeking a financial sponsor for replacing the broken door on a storage shed at 22nd andElm Street,Chico. This shed is used by our Pre School Program to store toys, physical activities equipment, and learning aids.

 

We plan to remove this roll up door and replace it with a framed in a 36’wide exterior door and replace or upgrade the short ramp.

 

Cost estimate for the project is $875.00.

 

The storage unit is a sturdy truck box but the plywood door panel sections have rotted out, collapsing the door. The door is currently un-usable and unfixable and a safety hazard for both teachers and students. The rest of the storage unit is in good shape.

 

 

 

PROJECT 2:  Estimated Cost: $2000.00

 

We would like to replace this with a truck box or storage unit with a normal size and lockable door.

 

This shed, also in the Pre School Yard, needs to be replaced. The roof is rusted and bent and leaks. The doors are not securable. The sides are also bent in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Feng Shui at 4C’s

My friend Joan is into Feng Shui. I had her come up and give some suggestions on what could be done at the Elm Street Center to improve “energy flow”. What I got was more than I intended. Here is her list.

  1. Get ride of old wagon in center of parking lot.
  2. Get rid of old bike and debris next to the tool shed.
  3. Plant some bright flowers under the tree by mural tool shed.
  4. Hang lanterns from the tree in Toddler Yard.
  5. Clean out the plants under the tree.
  6. Cover the dirt next to the PSP building with flagstones.
  7. Wrap up the hose by the PSP building.
  8. Move the rack from in front of the building in Toddler Yard.
  9. Hang lanterns or “hand” flags from the gutters.
  10. Pull weeds in front of the fence.
  11. Get rid of the pan with rocks. (she donated a birdbath)
  12. Get rid of the grapevines and replace with something evergreen.
  13. Get rid of the garbage bins by the entrance (or hide them)
  14. Pull weeds at the side, cover dirt, get rid of the rose bush by Office get pots of the same color and plant something that will spill over the edges.
  15. New artistic signs for Office, Infants, After School Program etc.
  16. Hang flags from the trees
  17. Plant succulents where you don’t want weeds; place flagstones.
  18. Paint winding path in playground.
  19. Paint mural on back fence
  20. Rake up leaves.
  21. Wash the awnings over the sandbox area.

Needs List:

  1. Bright colored flowers
  2. Red Lanterns
  3. Flagstones
  4. Hose Rack
  5. Muslin & Fabric
  6. Succulents
  7. Evergreen vines
  8. Rakes
  9. Wheelbarrows.
  10. Birdbath
  11. Same colored pots (color of building trim)
  12. Ground Cover plants
  13. Plants that will achieve height for underneath the windows
  14. small cups for seedlings (kids can plant their own in the ground.)