We'll be singing in the rain!!

Good morning. 

The rain is shining.

The show goes on. 

Gumboots galore. 

Hmmm...

coffee (Bridgehead's of course). 

This is my feeble attempt at a haiku at 7:18am. Not so good but just wanted to let you know we are still forging ahead despite the rain. It is forecasted to stop (if not, sprinkle) around 10:00ish. 

See y'all there!!!

m.

The new orleans (childcare centre)?...

While Richard helped with the construction of the garden bed, the kids displayed no reservations about getting hands on. Many were excited to dig, find worms and others insects, and carefully sow their various vegetable seeds. 

Meet Alex- the worm. Resident worm of the new garden bed at Orleans Childcare Centre.

Volunteer Opportunity: Log Rescuing Tomorrow Afternoon

Help, I need somebody,

Help, not just anybody,

Help, you know I need someone,

Help!  - the Beatles

These logs need a new home. We are planning to head out to Alpenblinck Farm tomorrow  afternoon (leaving Ottawa around 1:15, back in Ottawa around 4:00) to load 'em on a truck and load 'em off at their new home--Trillium and Trille des Bois Elementary School. 

If you are free, contact Minh at 613.262.6775 or by email growinguporganic[at]gmail.com. Carpooling can be arranged! 

Hope to hear from you. 

Cambridge Street Public School

Work is continuing at Cambridge Street Public School since the Earth day event in April. Mixed greens, spinach and radishes are growing well and some are even ready for a harvest. Two more beds were added to accommodate the Kindergarden's bean plants and sunflowers. 

More room to grow.....

Here, Carol, one of our dedicated volunteer, digs a little deeper to make the extra beds. 

Way to go Carol!

There's going to be much more at Mutchmor Elementary

With help from Kendall (Bridgehead staff) and Mark, a group of kids from the neighbouring community centre came over to help with the planting activity at Mutchmor Elementary School. 

After a little team meeting, people got straight to work. 

Looking a little bare but...a little sun, water and TLC will have these beds sprouting in no time.

Work Party this Saturday May 30th, 2009

Trillium and Trille des Bois Elementary Schools are on board and partnering with Growing Up Organic to make food gardens. On MAY 30th, 2009 we will begin constructing several raised beds to transform their current asphalt space towards a space that can produce food. 

Join us this Saturday for a work party. There will be opportunities to help construct raised garden beds from start to finish, gardening and so on. Please email Minh Ngo at growinguporganic@gmail.com if you are interested in coming out for the day.

When:

May 3oth, 2009 (Saturday)

9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m

*Rain date: May 31, 2009 (Sunday)

Where:

Trillium and Trille des bois School

140 rue Genest, Ottawa (in Vanier area)

The before pictures...

The plan...

            

The results? Well, I suppose that's to be determined. 

Hope you can make it out.

First Steps...Orleans Childcare Centre

For more than 25 years, Orleans Childcare Centre has been serving children and families in the Orleans community. This summer, they have committed to making organic food gardens and have partnered with Growing Up Organic to make it happen. This is GUO's first daycare project and we are excited to track its progress. Stay tuned!!

In the meanwhile, we start some seedlings with the kids.

L'Atelier...a little side trip

Invited to attend a little shingdig with Chef Mark of L'Atelier, it is incredible to see what creativity, imagination and curiosity can do to food. Cooking with liquid nitrogen was definitely the highlight for many kids...oh and the popicles too!!!

Ashley Simpson....Pretty in Pink

Bridgehead's own Ashley Simpson joins in on a little manual labour fun at Alpenblick Farm. 

Grrr...

The ladies working hard.

Yep, still working.

 But no worries, we got 'er done.

And then made its way here the next day... 

"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives."

 

Clay P. Bedford

A first at First Avenue Elementary

Kids dig in with paint, laughter and imagination...

Tada....

Finally, plants started in the classroom will have a new home.

Bridgehead: A growing partnership

School food gardens being developed by Canadian Organic Growers through its Growing Up Organic project in Ottawa, will soon be benefiting from the sale of a limited edition coffee blend being created by and sold at Bridgehead coffeehouses.

The Growing Up Organic Blend will be launched on Earth Day, Wednesday April 22, 2009. Every pound of coffee sold will generate $2 for the development of school food gardens in neighbourhoods in which there is a Bridgehead location. In addition to financial support, Bridgehead is encouraging its employees to work with schools on garden construction and maintenance.

Schools already planning to take advantage of this partnership include Cambridge Street Community Public School in Centretown, Le Trillium and Trille des bois in Vanier, First Avenue Public School in the Glebe, and Heritage Academy in Hintonburg. It is anticipated that enough funds will be generated through the sale of the Growing Up Organic Blend to build up to 6 school food gardens.

Meet the Team

Lynda Hall: GUO Project Manager

A real kid at heart, Lynda works really really hard to make school yards like this turn into something kind of wonderful...like school food gardens.

Minh Ngo: GUO Project Coordinator

Although looking forward to cane shopping one day, Minh is rather excited to help small kids and big kids explore agriculture close to home.

Tracey Guptill: GUO Animator

This bilingual and dynamic educator can get anyone fired up about anything and everything from dirt, to worms and even stormwater runoff.