WHAT-A-SHED!
Thanks to Darrell
Slater, the Wojciechowski Family and Doug
Cronk, the Roxbury Central School garden has a brand new shed, dedicated
in memory to longtime RCS Board Member and local farmer, Dick Bouton, who
passed away last winter. The original shed was destroyed by arson on Halloween
night, but RSC schoolchildren rallied and raised more than $1200 towards
its replacement.
Thanks to the generous donation of the shed, the children's funds could go instead towards replacing their tools and supplies.
Quarltere's Garden and Market Place in Roxbury and the Market Basket in Arkville also donated nursery supplies. Barbara Johnson, who started the project with the children as part of the CROP program, will keep the garden growing this summer with help from the children in the RSC summer programs.
Anyone who would like to get their hands dirty is welcome to come and dig
in. Contact Barbara for more information at 607 326-3735. On Friday, the
children were planting parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (for all you Simon & Garfunkel
fans out there). Johnson also demonstrated a useful technique for starting
finicky tomato plants: by literally "laying in" the plant on its
side, you partially bury the stalk, which will generate more roots to strengthen
the plant.
No doubt much the same process is happening in a more subtle way with these young gardeners. The shed's dedication plaque reads in part: "In lasting memory of Richard Bouton . . . A caring and giving man. You were the example we needed for our children. And, as a farmer, you planted many seeds in many minds. You will forever be in our hearts and memories."
