Sentinel’s garden has been enjoying a fruitful growing season despite the volatile Vancouver weather. Full of radishes, romaine lettuce, and tomatoes, the garden soil is dotted with fresh vegetables ready to be tossed into a salad. Nearby, the greenhouse is home to an array of fragrant herbs such as chives and parsley. Aside from the flourishing greenery, the initiatives led by the Garden Gurus Club to promote environmental sustainability have seen equal success. Here’s just a couple examples of the group’s virtuous activities over the course of this past year:
Seed Saving
Seed saving is the sustainable practice of collecting the seeds of mature plants to be re-planted the next season. Not only is this action cost-effective, it also promotes a cycle of environmental welfare. Plants grown from saved seeds will have an easier time adapting to their surrounding environment. This ensures more robust and prolific plants, leading to more bountiful harvests. Try your hand at seed saving here!
Organic Soil Sale
The club also hosted their annual school-wide soil and apple cider fundraiser. The soil was provided by Artisan, a landscaping company based in the Lower Mainland with a history of supporting schools and non-profit organizations through the selling of high quality soil. Artisan’s all-natural apple juice comes straight from BC’s Okanagan Valley, making the cider delicious and local! If you’re ever in need of landscaping services, check Artisan out!
Composting
In addition, the Garden Gurus practice environmental sustainability through composting. The garden houses three wooden bins, perfect for decomposing organic plant matter. Not only does composting reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent soil erosion, but it can also be used to spur the growth of healthy and resilient plants. If all of this sparks your interest, consider giving one of these composting techniques a try!
Earth Day Fundraiser
Adding on to its long list of achievements, the club also organized a seed ball sale to support the Wild Bird Trust. Located in the Maplewood Flats just twenty minutes away from Sentinel, the Wild Bird Trust is a non-profit dedicated to wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. The seed balls—fashioned from dirt, clay, and seeds—provide an easy and fun way to garden and can serve as a valuable food source for pollinators. Learn how to make your own seed balls here!
After a busy year of planting, harvesting, and leading eco-friendly projects, it's no wonder that the Garden Gurus won the Farm to School BC Pollinator Award. This award recognizes the growing and harvesting of crops, as well as the cultivation of partnerships with local organizations. We hope that the Gurus’ relentless passion for environmental activism can inspire you as well! Feel free to stop by the club's weekly planting sessions on Tuesdays at lunch in the garden. With summer break coming up, there is no better opportunity to try out one of the aforementioned activities. Happy planting!
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