PICKers, library host planting day
PRESQUE ISLE — The Presque Isle Clover Kids (the PICKers) 4-H Club, working with the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, hosted a spring planting day on May 2 at the library.
Contributed photo
PLANTING FUN — These two youngsters get in on the fun at the spring planting day held recently. They learned how to start seeds using items such as rotisserie chicken containers.
The event was the kick off for the PICKers’ Summer Garden Project. This project includes seeds being started and raised in the library’s greenhouse. In June, these seedlings will be moved outside into new garden beds that the 4-H will build. The Summer Garden Project is hosted by the PICKers but is open to all members of the community and will also be incorporated into the children’s library summer reading program.
It was a beautiful sunny spring day for the spring planting. A great turnout of children and their families, totaling approximately 30, were on hand. Demonstrations were given by the 4-Hers on how to use peat pellets to start seeds and how to properly plant seeds. Examples were also given of how individuals can use items from around their home to start the seeds and protect baby seedlings. For example, using rotisserie chicken containers to start your seeds in as well as using milk jugs to cover and protect baby plants from frost.
All children were given pumpkin and sunflower starter kits to grow at home and free seeds were also given out to everyone who attended. The kids all had a great time planting seeds, checking out the greenhouse and just getting a little dirty.
And as of May 9, one week after planting, bachelor buttons and marigold seedlings are already up and growing in the greenhouse. The PICKERs invite everyone to stop by the library when in town to check out the baby plants in the greenhouse and to check out some great gardening books from the library, as well as find out how to get involved with the summer gardening program.
Members of the PICKers 4-H Club are Alyssa Smart, Emma Smart, Frederick Smart, Alivia Smart, Piper Galipeau and Sierra Galipeau, with Christa Galipeau serving as club leader. Anyone interested in joining a local 4-H Club, or for more information about 4-H, please contact Linda Trickey at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service at 1-800-287-1469.
