Plant a Smile at Pelion Outdoor Classroom!
It seemed like the kids thought we were fibbing about the ants defending peonies! We love this tiny story of symbiosis because we cannot get alligators and cranes to visit Pelion...yet.
There are a handful of lessons we do to observe Spring Equinox. With the 5th graders, they monitor how perennials emerge from their dormant period. With 6th graders, we do a scavenger hunt, acknowledging spring's very accelerated, brief, and unique changes!
Soggy days bring reflection. Are you a champion for school gardens or outdoor classrooms? Gardens are a tremendous amount of work. School gardens often last only 5yrs due to many issues--waning support, teacher turnover, student/parent matriculation, maintenance needs, and funding irregularities to name a few. There are so many challenges. Can you think of a person you could introduce to Pelion that might remove some challenges?
We thrive on your garbage. Recently a few people have inquired about dropping of buckets of organic waste and YES we accept it but we don't have the capacity to go pick it up from you so please collect and drop off the full buckets from the same spot you got the empties.
Would your organization like to table or share an activity?
Help organize this event by messaging Beth Kwiatek. Folks are needed to pickup and transport gear, guide groups through the service zones, collect donations of flowers for planting, greet& sign in volunteers, run activities/games for students during the festival, AND document everything with photos or video.
Stop over to my Gardening Tips table! Thanks to the generosity of Groundwork Market Garden and Grassroots Gardens I will have veggie seedlings and veggie seed packets to give away.
WOW! Reminds me of when Mrs.Moda brought her class and their human puppet masks etc LOVELY
This is the Six Nations popping corn (thanks Sylvin) we grew in 2024. It is cured and ready for popping! You can also grow some yourself with the same seed. Ears will have a range of ivory, burgundy, navy and the pastel tones of those colors. Can be grown in small mounds of 5-8 stalks. FIND US AT Groundwork Market Garden SATURDAY to take some home. https://www.facebook.com/share/18k42zeogq/
Bring a $1 and take home enough worms to start your own farm or worm bin!
If your common milkweed has exceeded its intended boundaries NOW, during this soggy weather, is the best time to chase the runners with a good fork. Ideally, before the adult monarchs arrive! As always, our duplicate natives will be available later during U-DIG events and plant sales.
A big thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer in April! This season we had something incredibly rare which was a dedicated team from UB’s Philosophy Dept that chose to work with us on building a native plant nursery. The team returned each Saturday + a few additional days to work on next steps. They helped us remove pesky mulberry and tree of heaven saplings and oriental bittersweet vines. The team will also leave a legacy at Pelion by planting 2 native redbuds which you’ll notice blooming at the tree line soon. #volunteermonth #earthmonth
We have a summer project coming up with Locust Street Art and you can help us by donating broken pots or magnets!
Ms.Weaver brought out 2 of her ELA classes to bask in the golden glow of spring! Do you have a favorite poem/poet that we should share this month?
30 RUMPS is a lot to fit. Whenever we see a bench on a curb we snatch it! WE DO NEED MORE BENCHES! We garbage picked these 2 last year and I finally had time to recover them with a sunflower print. Since much of our furnishings are 2nd hand they usually require repair. If you can tinker a bit we currently have another bench that needs attention so we can put cheeks on it again asap.
Fans, we will be selling the native 🍿 popping corn 🍿we grew! You can either grow it or pop it at home! Look for our story time blankets.
Make your basement or shed less scary?
BUILD a fairy house and txt us a pic!
SO MANY BABIES---SQUEEEEEEEEE!
FANS, we will be celebrating Earth Month efforts--please come say HEEYYYYYY!
Cutie PATOOTIES! Visit with us. The April date is great for teachers and the May date is geared a bit more toward kiddos. Tour sponsored by the Air & Waste Management Association - Niagara Frontier Section
ANY DASH'S shopper can help in this way--even if you've never visited Pelion. Turn your receipts into seeds, tools, and soil.
Walmart member/shoppers do not have to scan receipts--collection is automatic at checkout. EVERY DIME ADDS UP! Download the Box Tops for Education app today to start raising garden funds.
Pelion is committed to both the share and gift economy. We will continue to provide many free learning opportunities and resources to neighbors, students and visitors. Our mission includes eco-literacy and stewardship. But there is always a struggle in maintaining what we can do with wanting to do more because the needs around us are so large. Pelion did a lot of fundraising the last two years because many parts of our decade+ old garden needed repair, replacing or upgrading. Thank you to those who donated funds or time. As we navigate the new fiscal landscape we hope you can join us in maintaining what we've built and helping those around us also achieve a quality of life that includes safe streets, accessible sidewalks, clean lots, welcoming butterflies, bright flowers, and cheerful greetings. Please seek new ways to be generous with your time, talents, skills or abundance. Offer before someone musters the courage to ask.
SOGGY SOGGY SOGGY Ms.Caesandra will switch up the task list a bit but we're still ON! Wear boots
We love seeing our spring bulbs bloom. Over the years the bulbs that got donated in earlier fall seasons have diminished somewhat--especially the tulips. Remember us in Fall 2025 and drop off any extra bags of crocus, muscari, tulip or daffs. We always see a variety of bees on the crocus and muscari!
Seriously. We can remedy that this season!
We are very lucky to once again have access to the growing benches at the MLK Greenhouse before it closes for extensive renovations.
Go out there and find some maple farms for Maple Weekend
It doesn't matter if you're 10yrs old or 50yrs old--grab your parents and go get some pancakes with real maple syrup for Maple Weekend
Secure your spot today: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSe8H8mdr9s.../viewform Adult only event. $25 per ticket - includes 1 beverage of your choice!
One thing folks who've not yet grown their own food don't realize yet is the SCALE required to feed more than your tummy, or your family, or a school. Pelion can grow more food with more helpers and funding. We cannot grow enough to feed 1,000+ students a lunch--or even part of a lunch. The 200 students who visit us weekly pretty much clear out whatever might be ripe that week. Want to see an urban farm that has the scale to feed many more people? Check out Groundwork Market Garden. More food also means more help is needed. They're offering a great opportunity to exchange fresh nutrition for your labor!
We are excited to join the event but even MORE excited to have a PLACE TO BRING BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING???!!
March 2025: Today I collected a whole garbage bag full of litter from the front fenceline--mostly because it's so windy but also the snow has melted. Photos look like they held up over the winter. Not clear if they're going to be quality enough to last more than 2 winters though. Next 2weeks will have daytime temps in the 50s+60s March 2021: A legit early spring?? March 2018: Could it really, really be ... Spring??
It's truly a fascinating history
