The Branded Beet - March 2022 |
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The first three months of 2022 have proven to be very exciting! Since January, RiW has welcomed a new Executive Director and four new board members, we've continued our search for a more permanent, long-term facility and are in the midst planning our spring and summer programs!
In addition, we hosted a Garden Tour of RiW gardens and have continued working with schools throughout the winter on implementing classroom projects that teach students how to grow their own food which supplements skills in science, math and reading!
It is a tumultuous time in our country and we are reminded regularly that our grocery supply chain is not as reliable as it once was. All too frequently, grocery store shelves are bare due to distribution and and transportation issues. While these issues continue to surprise us, they also remind us that Rooted in Wyoming is more relevant and necessary than ever before. Thank you for your continued support!
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Executive Director Announcement -
Welcome Jamie
It is an honor to be a part of the Rooted in Wyoming family as the new Executive Director. Lise left big shoes to fill, and I am appreciative to have her skill and experience as we navigate this transition. I grew up in Powell, Wy gardening and raising livestock, and have cultivated a lifelong love of gardening and growing food. My husband and I have lived in Sheridan for ten years, and I have worked as the Support Center Coordinator for Dementia Friendly Wyoming and The Hub on Smith, and as a Case Manager for those living with disabilities. I have degrees in Psychology and a Master's in Human Services. Working with community organizations and helping people connect to local resources has been my passion, and I’m excited to partner with community organizations and schools to facilitate outreach programs and cultivate educational gardens. With the collaboration of the board, staff, volunteers and community partners I have no doubt that we will continue to make good things grow in our community. I look forward to meeting you in the coming months!
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Lettuce Grow Tower at Story Elementary
Thanks to a generous donor, Story Elementary students have the opportunity to host a Lettuce Grow Farmstand in their school!
Mrs. Debban's 4th and 5th grade classroom began by germinating chamomile, lettuce, basil, and lemon mint seeds for several weeks. They had fun graphing what plants came up first and comparing how each performed. On January 31, with the help of Meadowlark Garden leader Ian Wallace, students assembled the grow tower in the school library and planted their starts! Last week they harvested their first salad and are already planning their next crop!
Thank you to Janice Ziegler who donated the lettuce tower and Meadowlark Garden Leader Ian Wallace for sharing his time and experience as we set up the tower!
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Tongue River High School
Mushroom Growing Class
Over the past two months, RiW has been working with several students at Tongue River High School on growing pearl oyster mushrooms as part of the TRHS WIN (What I Need) program. The class has grown mushrooms from a kit, visited Oyster City Mushrooms in Ranchester, cooked with pearl oyster mushrooms, and started a pearl oyster mushroom monotub with the students. It's been a great experience to work with high school students and we are looking forward to future collaborations!
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Microgreens at Big Horn
On March 2, Big Horn Elementary students planted microgreens with Ram's Harvest Garden Leader Mrs. Jody DeHaven.
Some of the varieties planted include broccoli, peas, arugula, beets, and kale.
Microgreens are a great indoor garden project for classrooms. As with all fruits and vegetables grown in the school or school garden, growing microgreens in the classroom can pique kids’ interest in eating more vegetables, and they have amazing, intense flavors of the mature plant in a small serving. Plus microgreens grow quickly (often with just 21 days from planting to harvest) so students can see daily changes to the plant.
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RiW welcomes four new board members!
“Besides continuing to support the existing gardens and pursuing collaborations with other community nonprofits, RiW has a variety of projects planned for the summer and fall. I know that our board members will help us to achieve our goals,” said Erickson, “I am excited to see what we accomplish this year!”
From Left: Olivia Koltiska, Charlotte Walter, Victoria Gray, Christie Edwards
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Winter Garden Tour 2022
Biggest thanks to everyone who participated in, assisted with, or helped organize our Winter Garden Tour. RiW had nine board members, several volunteers, eight garden leaders, two staff members and three VA gardeners join us throughout the day to learn about the History of the RiW Gardens, future plans, and how we can continue to #makinggoodthingsgrowtogether!!
It was a beautiful day to learn about our gardens, build our board and collaborate with garden leaders!
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Click here to Volunteer to help with our Seed Starting Program!
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SAVE THE DATE: The 6th Annual Farm to Table & Hoe Down is scheduled for September 24 at Born in a Barn! Contact Kim Jacobsen to sign up to volunteer!
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Get involved in Wyoming's Grow a Little Extra Program join the fight against food insecurity in Wyoming this year.
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Coffeen Elementary is hosting a houseplant fundraiser for their garden! If you have any extra house plant starts you can donate, contact Beth Music!
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Sagebrush Seed Starters is looking for volunteers to help in their garden this summer! Sign up here.
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RIW Recognizes Caroline Houck as Teacher of the Year |
SHERIDAN — Rooted in Wyoming announced Caroline Houck of Big Horn Elementary as the recipient of the 2021 Teacher of the Year Award.
Houck has been with Big Horn’s Ram Harvest Garden, Rooted in Wyoming’s first garden, since the initial planning stages in 2016. She became RHG’s first garden leader in 2018, has volunteered for the annual hoe down fundraiser, was a seed foster-parent during the spring COVID-19 lockdown and continues to...
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RIW Recognizes Harold Golden as Volunteer of the Year
SHERIDAN — For Harold Golden, gardening season lasts all year.
“Some people look at a travel magazine and dream. Well, gardeners will sit down with a seed catalog and just lose themselves,” said Golden, a Master Gardener. “Planning, learning from what didn’t work last year, coming up with a new plan. … You would think winter is a down time, but it’s not. It is always gardening time.”
Golden, who first learned gardening...
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Our goals include:
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Building a Center for Sufficiency
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Establishing a Planning Committee for a Local Foods Expo
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Building at Least One Non-School Garden
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Increasing Middle and High School Engagement
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Exploring a Local Seeds Library System and Resources
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Implementing an Annual Development Plan
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Cultivating an Investment Strategy
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Thank You For Your Continued Support! |
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