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7.28.2021 Bugs in The Garden & Beyond!

Bugs in The Garden and Beyond!

You are invited to a special Open Garden event this Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 am at Hintgen Elementary School garden.  Bugs in The Garden and Beyond! is a BioBlitz event sponsored by Strive 2 Thrive Coulee Region and the Driftless Area BioBlitz.  Local author, Nick Nichols, will be at the event reading his children’s book, Worm McWorm and The Decomposers.  

We will help you become a citizen scientist by teaching you how to use the app iNaturalist to collect data on the biodiversity in the garden.  All of the observations made using this app on July 29th anywhere in the Driftless region will be compiled into one set of data. If you can’t make it to the Open Garden, you can still be a citizen scientist in your own backyard by contributing observations to iNaturalist.  Scientists will then use the information to learn more about what is currently happening in our ecosystem.

A bonus for event attendees is that each household will receive their own copy of Worm McWorm and The Decomposers, to take home.  We hope to see you in the garden!
Watch this video to learn about what a BioBlitz is, how you can participate and enjoy a reading of Worm McWorm and The Decomposers, by author Nick Nichols.
Applications Due Today 

Have you ever wished you could be a part of the GROW Team? Now is your chance! If you or someone you know is passionate about making a positive impact on youth through seed to table garden education this is the opportunity for you.  

We are looking to fill a Garden Operations and Greenhouse Manager position. We are also looking for a Garden Educator to join the organization.

Follow this link to learn more details about these positions. Please share with anyone you think would make a great addition to the GROW Team.  Applications are due today, Wednesday, July 28th, 2021.  
Thank you to the People’s Food Co-op and all who rounded up during their “Give Where You Live” campaign in the month of May.  All of those contributions added up to a big donation of $680.95 to fund GROW programming. 
That’s enough to fund 170 garden lessons!
Open Garden Activities and Special Events
 
Join us at our upcoming Open Garden events. The gardens are producing so much.  Every day in the garden offers something new to learn and observe!
 
Thursday, July 29th
8:30 to 10:30 am
Hintgen Elementary School
Activity: Bugs In The Garden & Beyond Bioblitz with reading of Worm McWorm and The Decomposers by local author, Nick Nichols.  Each family in attendance will receive a free copy of the book!

Tuesday, August 3rd
4:30 -6:30 pm
La Crescent – Hokah Elementary School Garden
Activity: “Vitamins & Minerals for GROWing Success”

Thursday, August 5th
8:30 -10:30 am
La Crescent – Hokah Elementary School Garden
Activity: “Vitamins & Minerals for GROWing Success”

Tuesday, August 10th
4:30 – 6:30 pm
Hamilton / SOTA I School Garden
Activity: “Garden Snack Creation Station”

Tuesday, August 12th
8:30 – 10:30 am
Hamilton / SOTA I School Garden
Activity: “Garden Snack Creation Station”

  
All events are open to the public and free of charge. 
Bring a friend for a relaxing and educational time in the garden.
Get your own garden passport to bring to the Open Garden events.  Your passport book along with GROW staff will help you complete garden “challenges.” You will get a GROW stamp of approval for every Open Garden “visit” or “challenge” you complete.  On September 10, 2021 bring your passport to the Great GROW Get Together at Pearl Street Brewery to get your own GROW t-shirt and entries into a GRAND PRIZE Drawing.  Earn one GRAND PRIZE entry for every stamp of approval in your passport!Each passport has a coupon for one GROW t-shirt and 2 adult tickets to the Great GROW Get Together to be redeemed on Sept. 10th, a $30 value for a cost of only $10 per passport!    

Go to GROWLaCrosse.org/garden-passport-events/ for details.

All are welcome to the Open Garden events.  You do not have to have a passport to attend.  If you decide you’d like a passport they will be for sale at each Open Garden event throughout the summer.
Looking for Garden Volunteers

Are you looking for a safe activity for your family to do this summer?  We are looking for volunteers to help care for our school gardens.  No matter your gardening background or availability we have opportunities for you to get involved.  Go to our website to fill out the volunteer interest survey.GROWLaCrosse.org/volunteer-2/.