Here’s an update on the “Growing Food by and for Growing Bodies” – The Ayden Boys and Girls Club Garden Project.  You can see our other articles on the subject here and here.

On Friday July 9 the youthful gardeners at the Boys and Girls in Ayden got to sample the fruits of their labors.  Guided by Joni Torres and Nancy Bray our budding agriculturalists harvested some of their crops (tomatoes, basil, and Pak Choi [Chinese Cabbage]).  They then participated in preparing several enticing recipes in their new kitchen (Caprese salad with cheese, and Stir fried Pak Choi in sesame oil) and served these delectable dishes to staff.  They then consumed the rest themselves.  All agreed that the whole process from Plantings to Plate has been great fun and a grand learning experience – possibly even “…more fun than the computer room.”  Now is that a success or what?  Stay tuned for more to come.

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From Plantings to Plate

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Rainy evenings on both June 29 and 30 failed to dampen the spirits and the fun encountered by over 30 youthful participants and their parents from Peace Presbyterian Church of Winterville.  By breaking the summer’s heat wave the rain only added to the theme of the activities they encountered.  The “Water is Life” theme for their Vacation Bible School was established by their minister Jane Rose and aspects of this theme were explored through A Time for Science (ATFS) activities developed and presented by Nancy Bray (a.k.a. “Mother Nature”) and Leah Connell (ATFS’s Nature Interpreter).

Groups of students were guided by “Mother Nature” to identify the many daily needs and uses they had for water, to recognize the importance of clean water for these uses and to estimate just how much water they typically used in a day’s time.  At the well and pump, near the ATFS Demonstration Organic Garden, each participant learned through experience just how much work was involved in pumping and retrieving only a very small portion of their estimated daily water needs.  Through this experience they had a greater appreciation for the difficulty many people in the Developing World have in obtaining their daily water needs and the true value of the easy accessibility of clean water we have in our modern society.

Leah led groups of participants in exploring the near-shore environment around one of the ponds on the Bray Hollow Nature Conservancy for evidence of other forms of life that also depend on the availability of habitable water.  Beaver dams, minnows, dragon fly larvae, water beetles, etc. were just a few of the items encountered.  This hands-on activity made a deeper impression on the participants of the importance and value of water to all living creatures.

A brief “hay-ride” tour of a portion of the Bray Hollow Conservancy, driven by John Bray (a.k.a. “Father Time”) and guided by “Mother Nature,” allowed participants to view Contentnea and Little Contentnea Creeks and to see additional ponds with different living populations and thus to demonstrate the existence of many different types of surface water bodies and their different effects.  Though the weather kept most of the critters from view (They all seem to have sense to get in out of the rain.), other habitats and evidence of the creatures living in and around them, such as various birds, deer, beaver, bugs, etc., were pointed out in this brief excursion.

Using an “Enviro-Scape,” simulator Leah guided groups in an exploration of various human activities that contribute to point and non-point sources of contamination and pollution of surface and ground waters.  Participants saw the simulated effects of water runoff that might be contaminated by agricultural, industrial, domestic and recreational activities and how these activities could affect the water bodies they recently viewed and the water that we obtain from them.  Through their discussions they were brought to the realization that such contamination of the aquatic environment generally result from the demands that together we all place on those who supply our food, our living and material needs, as well as our recreational activities.

Through these activities we trust that all participants (both children and parents) left with a greater appreciation that water is, indeed, our source of life.  In their wrap-up discussion of what they learned and/or what they are thankful for several of the responses were:

Terry: How we take water for granted because it is easy to get unlike the 8 hours some women spend getting water.
Ried: I’m thankful for being able to turn on the tap.
Margaret: We have clean water.
Pam: We can wash or shower after dirty work. Many can’t.
Ridge: I will donate the money I get for my birthday to help people get clean water.
Bryan: Take shorter showers.
Terry: Use water bottles, skip bottled water.

Finally, as an added attraction, everyone was able to get “up close and personal” with the nose-wheel tire that went into space and back on the Space Shuttle Endeavour, Mission STS-113.  This historic item is on loan from NASA and the Eastern NC Regional Science Center, Inc. (DBA Go-Science).

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Water is Life – June 2010

PITT COUNTY RECOGNIZED
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

The unique and productive partnership between Pitt County’s Soil and Water Conservation District, the Bray Hollow Conservancy, and A Time for Science earned a 2010 Annual Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).  This award acknowledges the inventive program that has been developed among these organizations to serve environmental and science education as well as environmental protection.

Begun in 1970, the NACo’s Annual Achievement Award Program recognizes innovative county government programs.  Awards are given in a number of program categories such as arts and historic preservation, children and youth, community and economic development, jails-corrections, county administration, emergency management, environmental protection, health, human services, libraries, parks and recreation, transportation and volunteers.

The introduction to the award description reads as follows: “Conservation is not a new initiative in Pitt County, North Carolina, but in today’s evolving community it has become more important than ever.  Environmental education is a priority for the County of Pitt, because education is the key to conservation.  Getting citizens outside and exposing them to hands-on activities is a great way to stimulate interest in environmental awareness and that is the objective of our Environmental Education Center.  Pitt County and A Time for Science formed a collaboration of specialized professionals, to offer outreach education about the protection and conservation of our natural resources.  Whether the students are young or old, we aim to make a difference in the way our citizens take care of our local resources.  The Education Center is comprised of two hundred plus acres providing a platform to fuel the interest of visitors to learn more about the environment.  With four ponds, intersecting creeks, wetlands, acres of forest, walking trails, and roaming wildlife, we have numerous education subjects at our finger tips.  This setting offers a prime resource to anyone who is interested in learning more about the environment, the things we do to affect it, and the steps we can take to protect it.”  The detailed submission can be found here.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States.  Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,068 counties.  NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public’s understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.   NACo’s membership totals more than 2,000 counties, representing over 80 percent of the nation’s population.

You all may remember April’s 5-K Fun Run for our partners at Love a Sea Turtle (L.A.S.T.).  Well, in light of the tremendous oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico the folks at L.A.S.T., in conjunction with Oceans4Ever, are again planning, baking (and, of course, sampling – ain’t nothin’ like cookie dough) in an effort to raise money for the wild-life rescue and clean-up activities going on around the Gulf.

Without further adieu, we are announcing in partnership with our friends at L.A.S.T., a culinary – and an ocean conservation – event like no other.  The Great Bake for Oceans’ Sake is here. Super-surprised by the name?  We thought you would be. We’re putting on our aprons, wielding our rolling pins, and rolling out a coast-to-coast, simultaneous bake sale on July 9th, National Sugar Cookie Day, to raise money for the Gulf marine life affected by the oil spill.

And we want YOU to join us! Get your family and friends, your Girl Scout troop, your church or office, bake up some ocean-inspired sugar cookies and/or other baked goods, and host a bake sale. OR, head out around your area and encourage your favorite restaurant or bakery to participate by baking and selling said confections and donating proceeds.

July 9, National Sugar Cookie Day, is only the official kick-off.  We are baking throughout the month of July.  Hold a BAKE when you can, and make sure you visit the BAKE website and register your BAKE or area eatery’s cookie sale. We’ll also hook you up with the best sugar cookie recipe, ever, a complete tool kit with printable fliers, a donation form, and tips for holding and getting the word out about your own BAKE – and of course, we’ll have BAKE swag for sale in the Bake Shop.

BAKE sale proceeds will go to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.  Keep checking back at these various websites for further information!  Thanks, and LET’S GO BAKE!?