Events

Sustainable Nantucket is Grateful Recipient of Grant Support

Sustainable Nantucket would like to thank the following organizations for their recent, generous grant awards:

ReMain Nantucket has awarded SN a $7,500 grant, designed to aid SN in remaining in our downtown offices in 2012. Clif Bar Family Foundation has awarded SN a $5,000 grant to be used for operating expenses. The Agua Fund has awarded SN a $3,000 grant to be used for operating expenses. The Community Foundation of Nantucket has awarded SN a $1,000 grant to assist with our Farm to School Program.

Sustainable Nantucket would like to express our sincere gratitude to these organizations for their generous support of our mission, vision and programs.

Moving Planet Action Day - How We Participated

On September 24^th, Sustainable Nantucket and Far Away Farms intern Justine Paradise; Sustainable Nantucket’s Farm-to-School intern Elizabeth Murphy; and community volunteer Zack Dusseau lead a team of volunteers in tending Sustainable Nantucket’s Small Friends Garden as part of 350.org’s Moving Planet Action Day.

The group harvested the last of the season’s tomatoes and peppers and the spent plants were removed (chard, mustard greens kale, eggplant, and peppers still remain). The team of volunteers then used the “Do-Nothing Farming” strategy credited to Masanobu Fukuoka as a method of sowing the cover crop seeds.  This involved throwing clay seed balls filled with winter rye, New Zealand white clover and fetch and letting the seeds plant themselves through the clay.  Beets and turnips were also planted to grow behind some of the cover crop.

This hard work from our volunteers will help ensure the longevity of the Small Friends’ Garden, and will help to brace it for the cold winter to come. Our great thanks to all who came out to help!

Fun for All at Discover Your Garden/Family Picnic Day at the Joyce N. Furman FARM TO SCHOOL Youth Garden

Monday, October 10th marked Sustainable Nantucket’s first Discover Your Garden and Family Picnic Day at the Joyce N. Furman FARM TO SCHOOL Youth Garden. Over 75 people were in attendance, with Fire Chief Bill Pittman, Town Manager Libby Gibson, Nantucket Garden Club President Paulette Boling, and NPS Food Services Director Linda Peterson among them. Attendees came to participate in SN’s annual meeting; a ribbon cutting for the Joyce N. Furman FARM TO SCHOOL Youth Garden; and Family Picnic Day.

The day opened under sunny skies with the Annual Meeting and was followed by the ribbon cutting, which was performed by School Superintendent Michael Cozort; SN Board Members Victoria McManus and Beth Davies; and 5 SN Youth Council members – Sophie Davies, Sean Allen, Norah Harrington, Orion Malfatto-Daily, and Caillean Daily. The day proceeded with garden-related activities including tours, the planting of cover crops, scarecrow making, pumpkin decorating and more. The day culminated with a Family Picnic set against a backdrop of live music performed by Nantucket band Four Easy Payments. In addition, several SN Farmers & Artisans Market vendors were on hand to sell their wares.

Executive Director Michelle Whelan noted, “It was a wonderful way to celebrate our programs and inaugurate the garden – the garden looked beautiful and we were so happy to share our progress with the community on Monday. This is a celebration that we’ll consider repeating next year.”

The Joyce N. Furman FARM TO SCHOOL Youth Garden is a project that has come to fruition thanks to the hard work and dedication of Sustainable Nantucket staff, board members, and volunteers and Nantucket Public Schools administration and students. The garden has been funded in large part by donations from individuals and businesses, all of whom will be recognized on the garden’s “Giving Wall” or on plaques throughout the garden. While reaching a milestone this Monday, the garden’s progress remains ongoing, bringing about more opportunities for community involvement through volunteering and sponsors.

Special thanks to our event sponsors: The Toy Boat and Create

Nantucket Garden Club Grant Benefits SN Farm to School Garden

Sustainable Nantucket is thrilled to announce that its Farm to School Program has received a generous $5,000 grant from the Nantucket Garden Club. The funds received will be used for garden infrastructure, including loam and compost, a slow-drip irrigation system, supplies for preserving food grown in the garden, and more.

Sustainable Nantucket’s Farm To School (F2S) program launched in 2010 and has been steadily gaining momentum. Facilitated by Sustainable Nantucket in partnership with the Nantucket Public School System, F2S serves to educate our students by engaging them in hands-on learning experiences that connect them to the land and the natural world. The program is designed to integrate curriculum activities with the process of building and cultivating school gardens, to improve student nutrition by raising awareness around the benefits of consuming fresh, sustainably grown produce while supplementing school food supply, and to connect our island’s schools’ with our farms and growers.

This generous support from the Nantucket Garden Club will help to ensure that progress in the construction of the Farm to School Garden will continue, and that essential elements of the garden’s infrastructure will be installed according to schedule.

SN Launches Community Farm Institute Program with Pilot Grazing Project

Sustainable Nantucket has launched our new COMMUNITY FARM INSTITUTE program (CFI) with a Pilot Grazing Project in partnership with the Nantucket Island Land Bank and Faraway Farms.  A Sustainable Nantucket intern is working with Island livestock farmers Caleb Cressman, Dylan Wallace, Nicole DuPont and Andy Harris –all of Faraway Farms– and learning how to maintain a small flock of sheep and chickens on the Land Bank’s Craig Property.

Using low-impact rotational grazing, the team is moving the sheep and chickens around the property using portable fencing to contain the animals. Their grazing area is changed frequently on a schedule that is designed to assure the best health and nutrition for the animals, and minimal impact for the surrounding ecosystem. As the sheep graze the property, they eliminate the need for mowing, and as the chickens follow behind they act as “parasite control” as they forage for food.

The end result of this project is education for SN’s agricultural interns and Nantucket’s future farmers, access to land for Far Away Farms, and property maintenance for the Land Bank, which is also fulfilling a part of  its charter to support the traditional industry of agriculture. We hope this will be the first of many cooperative farming arrangements for SN and the Land Bank.

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Sustainable Nantucket Featured in Fall Edition of Edible Cape Cod!

The Fall 2011 edition of Edible Cape Cod features a wonderful article about Sustainable Nantucket, our Programs and efforts within the community. Written by Nantucket native Susan Fernald, the article highlights our COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM, Nantucket Grown ™ brand and much more. A digital version of the magazine can be found on the Edible Cape Cod web site, and hard copies of the magazine can be found in businesses on the Cape – all listed here.

Our thanks to Susan and Edible Cape Cod!

SN Wraps Up First Season of Mid-Island Farmers Market

The first season of Sustainable Nantucket’s Mid-Island Farmers Market at 113 Pleasant Street has come to a close, but SN staff and volunteers, encouraged by the positive response to the Market, are already thinking ahead to the 2012 season.

The Mid-Island Market, which ran from July 12th through August 30th, was conceived with the goal of making the Market experience convenient and accessible for those who are unable to attend the Saturday Farmers & Artisans Market at its downtown location, and for those who would like to supplement their Saturday Market shopping. The Mid-Island Market featured Island growers and food vendors only – unlike the Saturday Market which also includes Artisan vendors. SN has recognized the need for a mid-island, mid-week Market for some time, and after much hard work and planning on the part of SN staff and Market committee members, was finally able to make this Market a reality for the height of the summer season – July 12th through August 30th.

Market attendance nearly doubled over the course of seven weeks, and shoppers at the Tuesday Market responded positively to the location and hours. Some shared constructive feedback about the things they’d like to see at next year’s Mid-Island Market, and that feedback will be taken into consideration during the planning stages for the 2012 season.

Mid-Island Market information, along with the Downtown Farmer & Artisans Market information, vendor applications, and handbooks for the 2012 season will be available in early 2012.

Nantucket Golf Club Grant Assures Growth of Farm to School Program

Sustainable Nantucket’s Farm to School Program has been awarded a generous $15,000 grant from the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation. Funds from this grant will be used to hire and pay a stipend for two garden managers and curriculum resource aides for 2012 for the gardens at Nantucket High School and at Nantucket Elementary School/Small Friends.

Nantucket’s Farm to School Program (F2S) launched in 2010 and is quickly gaining momentum. Coordinated by Sustainable Nantucket in partnership with the Nantucket Public School System, the F2S serves to educate our students by engaging them in hands-on learning. The program is designed to integrate curriculum activities with the process of building and cultivating school gardens, to improve student nutrition by raising awareness around the benefits of consuming fresh, sustainably grown produce while supplementing school food supply, and to connect our island’s schools’ with our farms and growers.

The garden manager and the curriculum resource aides (CRA) will give teachers tools to teach with, as opposed to an additional subject that they must teach; they will support the teachers and students as they engage in the hands-on learning opportunities afforded by this program, and will provide resources and garden activities that will enhance existing school curriculum. They will also participate in the ongoing building, planning, planting, maintenance and upkeep of the Farm to School gardens.

The garden manager and curriculum resource aides will be integral to the Farm to School Program, and essential for its day-to-day functioning and long-term success. Sustainable Nantucket is extremely grateful to the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation for its contribution to this Program.

SN seeks Fall Development Intern

Sustainable Nantucket is seeking a part-time development intern for Fall 2011. Excellent opportunity to gain experience in development and non-profit work.

The intern will work under the Development Coordinator updating the database, performing research, assisting with fundraising campaigns, solicitations and events, and various support activities. 10-25 hours per week.

Required Attributes & Skills: Ability to work independently, working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, attention to detail, reliability.

Preferred Attributes & Experience: Interest in sustainable agriculture, experience with Giftworks, prior experience working in a non-profit setting and/or on fundraising events.

Please send brief cover letter and resume to Rachael@sustainablenantucket.org.

SN Seeks Market Manager for 2012

Sustainable Nantucket is seeking to fill the position of Market Manager for the 2012 season. Applicants should have a passionate interest in working with local community members, stimulating the local economy, and helping to create policies that benefit the awareness and availability of local produce and locally made items. Each applicant should have solid research, writing, interpersonal and communication skills, and strong Microsoft Office computer skills. Each applicant should have some event planning and/or service industry experience.

Sustainable Nantucket launches premier issue of new annual publication ~ Nantucket Grown™

***View & download Nantucket Grown™: click here.***

We are delighted to announce that we have just released the premier issue of Nantucket Grown™, a new annual publication designed to expand our Nantucket Grown™ branding and outreach campaign encouraging island visitors and residents to source their produce and products locally.

** Please note – “The Blossoming of the Farmers & Artisans Market”  article correction:   Patty Myers served on the original Market Committee; The Market was the brain-child of  Heather Leisher Coffin and Wendy Fereshetian.

A HUGE Farm Fresh Feast Thank You!

photo by Mai Norton

Saturday, July 16, out at Moors End Farm –as the blood-orange moon rose over the  cornfields and the music of the Shep cats filled the tents– we kicked off our second annual Farm Fresh Feast. Thanks to the generosity, energy and enthusiasm of our Event Committee, Sponsors, In-Kind Donors, Volunteers,and Guests, the evening, which raises funds for all of the work we do through our Programs and outreach & education, was a tremendous success!  We would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who participated and contributed to this year’s event.

We are grateful to the Slosek family for, once again, hosting the Farm Fresh Feast at Moors End Farm. It cannot be overstated that our ability to come together as a community of seasonal and year round residents in this setting – amongst Moors End’s beautiful fields, with the wide open sky above us – is a huge part of what makes this event so special. As we all gathered together on Saturday in this spectacular environment, sharing a meal of locally harvested food, celebrating with music and good conversation, we felt the importance of the underlying theme of the evening – to preserve this way of life and assure that it continue for generations to come. Our ability to support local farms, fishermen and the agricultural industry which provides healthy food for Nantucket, to convey an understanding to our young people of  sustainability,and the value of having access to fresh local food, and  to creatively ensure the land and resources needed for such food production are available to those who take on the arduous task of raising and harvesting our food is paramount.

Photo by Mai Norton

In the true spirit of Nantucket community, an amazing number of individuals and businesses came together to make

this event happen – from the farmers and growers who supplied us with Island grown vegetables and herbs and locally harvested seafood, to those who gave their support as underwriters, to those who donated items for our auctions, to the long list of volunteers who gave generously of their time – from the very early planning stages until the end of the evening on Saturday – we would like to say “thank you”. This event would not have been possible without your help and support.

We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who attended the Farm Fresh Feast, and to those who participated in our live and silent auctions. With a multitude of worthwhile Island non-profits hosting summer fundraisers, and with an endless variety of summer activities and social engagements to attend, we are honored and appreciative that you made time in your busy schedule to come out and support Sustainable Nantucket.

All photos by Mai Norton

Specialty Crops on Nantucket

Interested in learning more about growing and preserving food on Nantucket? We’ve put together a brochure that contains a lot of the information you need to get started – you can view the info directly on this web site, or download a printable PDF (available at the bottom of the page). Click here to learn more about Specialty Crops on Nantucket.

2011 Community Agriculture Program Workshops

Throughout the year, Sustainable Nantucket, as a part of our Community Agriculture Program, will be hosting Workshops on a variety of topics relating to sustainable gardening methods, food production, and preserving local foods. Below is a complete list of workshops; click the links to read the full descriptions and to register for these workshops. Be sure to sign up early as class space is limited. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 508-228-3399 or morgan@sustainablenantucket.org

Our refund policy: Class fees will not be refunded unless a class or workshop is cancelled by Sustainable Nantucket. Sustainable Nantucket may refund class fees in the event of an emergency or illness on the part of the student; this determination will be made on a case-by-case basis. Class fees, if cancelled due to emergency, may be used as credit for future Sustainable Nantucket workshops or classes.

Preserving the Bounty: Fruits of Nantucket – August 6th

Four Season Gardening : Cultivating Specialty Crops – August 20th and 21st

SN Offering Composters at a Discounted Rate

Sustainable Nantucket has an arrangement with a Massachusetts-based company to purchase backyard composters in bulk at a discounted rate to the benefit of those in the Nantucket community wishing either to get started with composting, or expand their current compost setup.

“The New Age Composter” is fairly compact in size, durable, easy to assemble, rodent-proof and designed to produce finished compost in as little as 60 to 80 days. The price of these composters purchased through Sustainable Nantucket is $53.00 plus shipping (an estimated $7.-$12.00 extra).

If you have never composted before but are interested in getting started, Sustainable Nantucket is offering two composting workshops in April: How to Make Compost Work for You! and Micro-biology in the Soil – Composting Level 2.

Composting is easy to do once you learn the basics, and it’s good for the environment, your yard and garden. The nutrient-rich compost you will collect from your composter will not only feed your plants, but it will also cut down on the amount of kitchen and yard waste that would otherwise be going into the landfill.

To purchase a composter contact Morgan Beryl, our Program Manager.

Farm to School Receives 2011 Youth Garden Grant

The Sustainable Nantucket FARM TO SCHOOL Program and Nantucket Public Schools are honored to be one of only 100 Programs selected to receive a 2011 Youth Garden Grant from The National Gardening Association and The Home Depot. The SN Farm to School Program was selected for its “high level of commitment to Youth Gardening.”

We extend our sincere thanks to The National Gardening Association and the Home Depot for their generosity. The funds we’ve received from this grant will be a tremendous support for the FARM TO SCHOOL Program, enabling us to purchase much needed supplies and materials for our current garden installation project for the Nantucket Public Schools.

To learn more about The National Gardening Association’s Kids Gardening Programs and this grant, click here.

SN Seeks Volunteers for Farm to School Gleaners

Photo via Flicker by Vladislav Sabanov

SN Seeks Leaders and Members for Farm to School Gleaners
As part of the Farm to School Initiative that Sustainable Nantucket is developing in partnership with the Nantucket Public Schools, SN is now seeking members from the community to participate as Sustainable Nantucket Gleaners.

The Sustainable Nantucket Gleaners assume the task of harvesting surplus or unsalable crops (crops that are perfectly edible, but deemed unsalable to the public or restaurants for “cosmetic” reasons), and delivering that harvest to one of Nantucket’s schools for use in school lunches. Gleaning Programs have been implemented to great success in recent years in communities around the country. Sustainable Nantucket’s Program was formed with support and encouragement from the staff at Martha’s Vineyard’s Island Grown Initiative, an organization that has seen the benefits of such a program in their own school system.

Sustainable Nantucket is seeking members from the community to become Gleaners. All are welcome: students and adults, individuals and families. We ask that Gleaning volunteers make a once-a-week commitment during the growing season.

We are seeking:

Gleaning Leaders –members from the community with gardening experience and a flexible schedule who can lead the gleaning team onsite.

Gleaning Members to work under the guidance of the Gleaning Leader, picking and delivering the harvest.

If you are interested in participating, you can begin by clicking here to download an application. Please feel free to contact Morgan Beryl with any questions.

Victory Garden Raffle Winner Announced!

Tara draws the winning ticket!

Congratulations to our 2011 Victory Garden Raffle winner Nat Davidson! The winning ticket was drawn at the Sustainable Nantucket office on Wednesday morning and Nat’s prize includes the design and installation of a 10′ x 10′ raised bed garden, all the tools and materials needed for this process, and a handcrafted birdhouse by Matt Oates! Our sincere thanks to all who purchased raffle tickets, the funds raised will help support our Programs, initiatives and outreach, all of which are aimed at cultivating a healthy Nantucket.

Special thanks to all those who are volunteering their time and resources, and to those who have donated materials for this project: Nantucket Edible Landscapes, Champoux Landscaping, Island Lumber, Mitch Blake Fine Carpentry and Matt Oates.

SN Launches Nantucket Grown™ Brand to Benefit Local Food

Sustainable Nantucket is pleased to announce the launch of our new Nantucket Grown™ brand aimed at promoting and encouraging the consumption of locally grown food on Nantucket.

Sustainable Nantucket is focused on connecting on-island consumers with sources of locally grown food.  Nantucket Grown™ will provide farmers with an instantly recognizable branding campaign that will indicate to consumers that the food they are purchasing was grown, processed, and distributed on Nantucket.  Sustainable Nantucket will provide our local growers with Nantucket Grown™ stickers to place on all produce being sold at our Farmers & Artisans Market, and elsewhere.

Nantucket Grown™ is modeled on existing ‘Buy Fresh, Buy Local” brands developed in other Massachusetts communities, such as CISA’s “Be A Local Hero” and Martha’s Vineyard’s “Island Grown” brand. These brands have been very successful in raising awareness around the importance of sourcing food locally. The image for the brand was designed by island artist Sue Riddle, who also designed our Farmers & Artisans Market logo.

Eventually, we also intend to make our brand available for use by island restaurants featuring locally grown foods on their menus. This would NOT take the place of naming the individual farm or grower on the menu listing, but instead be something that could be placed on the bottom of a menu, or in an advertisement, as an indication that this particular restaurant has met our criteria for sourcing food locally. The sight of the Nantucket Grown™ logo will be an assurance to consumers that the restaurant they are frequenting makes every effort to purchase the freshest local produce and foods available.

“We see this brand as an essential part of what we are working to accomplish in terms of fostering a sustainable food system, and in turn a vital economy for the island. Nantucket Grown™ is addressing the need to raise awareness and expand the Market for local food, and is evolving hand in hand with our Farmers & Artisans Market, Farm to School Program, Community Agriculture Program and Youth Council.” states executive director Michelle Whelan.

Call for Agricultural Interns for 2011

Sustainable Nantucket is proud to announce our second year facilitating agricultural internships for Nantucket farmers and food artisans. If you are a college student with an interest in agriculture or small scale food production, if you are ready to roll up your sleeves and work hard, and are open to the unique experiences island life can provide, we encourage you to apply to our program. We offer you an opportunity to immerse yourself in our island culture while gaining hands-on experience working with one of our small business owners in a variety of capacities. There are 3 types of positions available: Private Farm/Small Grower, Farm to School and Value-Added Food Product Interns.

To view our agricultural internship description, click here.

In order to apply, please send your resume, available dates, and position of interest to:

Morgan Beryl at morgan@sustainablenantucket.org

For interns, our program provides:

• Education, experience and working knowledge of sustainable agriculture that students can take with them as they move forward in a variety of capacities, including, should they choose, to establish their own community  and environmentally friendly farms.
• Satisfies internship requirements for agriculturally based BA programs across the nation.
• Opportunity to investigate Nantucket as a place to begin an agri-business.

For the Nantucket agricultural community, our program provides:

• Support to growers in the form of passionate and knowledgeable help in the field, as well as with administrative and operational tasks.
• Gives growers the ability to expand their reach to more customers through the Farmers & Artisans Market, local restaurants, CSA members and private customers.
• Gives growers the ability to increase production.

Study Shows Customers Willing to Pay More for Local Food

A recent study funded by the Leopold Centre for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University shows that restaurant customers are willing to pay more for meals that are prepared with locally grown foods. The results also indicate that customers actually prefer these meals when they are priced slightly higher than meals made with non-local ingredients. Read the full story on the Penn State web site here.

SN Staff Tours Boston Area Farms

On Tuesday, November 23 Sustainable Nantucket staff ventured off-island and headed North for tours of White Barn Farm in Wrentham, MA and Allandale Farm in Brookline, MA. The purpose was to observe first-hand some of the practices and programs implemented by these working farms, and to take that knowledge back to Nantucket for use in our Community Agriculture and Farm to School Programs.

White Barn Farm is a small, newly established farm in Wrentham MA that grows vegetables and cut flowers for it’s CSA program, wholesale restaurant clients and customers to its roadside stand. Farmer Christy Raymond gave us the tour of her fields, greenhouses, root cellar and barn, and gave us very detailed information about her sustainable growing practices, harvesting methods, the equipment she uses, and more. Many of Christy’s practices were of interest to us, including her rain water recovery system which is able to collect and store up to 4400 gallons of water for use in her fields. While White Barn Farm is not certified organic, they do not use pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers, instead they maintain healthy soil, carefully select the variety of plants they grow, and utilize fabric row covers to deter pests, among other practices.

Touring the greenhouses.

Drying seed pods, storing winter squash and collecting rainwater in a system of rain barrels in the greenhouse.

Some of the fields at White Barn Farm.

Christy talks to us about tractors.

Carrots in the root cellar.

Michelle, Tara and Morgan at White Barn Farm.

Allandale Farm has the distinction of being Boston’s last working farm. An oasis in the city, this beautiful property produces fruit, vegetables, herbs, eggs and more for the surrounding community. Allandale also sells a selection of prepared foods, such as baked goods and coffee, in its farm stand. The farm also runs a popular summer program for children ages four through ten to provide “comprehensive exposure to outdoor fun and learning on Boston’s last and only working farm”. The program teaches gardening, composting, bird and plant identification, walking, farm animals and outdoor games in the natural environment of the farm. The information shared with us by farm manager John Lee will help us as we consider additions to our programs for Nantucket youth.

Planters for the summer youth program.

Allandale chickens in their winter hoop house.

Tara, Michelle and John Lee of Allandale Farm.

SN Focus is on Agriculture

From the November 4 issue of the Inquirer & Mirror:

Since Sustainable Nantucket’s formation in 2000, the organization, its staff and Board have continually reassessed SN’s role in the community, always with a mind to adapting its focus and leveraging its resources to provide the greatest impact and the most beneficial results for Nantucket and its residents.

With the launch our Community Agriculture Program and Farm to School in the summer of 2010,  Sustainable Nantucket has completed a gradual transition — a natural progression in the evolution of the organization toward a more targeted approach to sustainability– that began with the incubation of our Farmers and Artisans Market in 2007.

Executive Director, Michelle Whelan states: “Our focus is now on cultivating a healthy Nantucket by expanding sustainable agriculture on island, and building a more locally based, self-reliant food economy –one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated. This, in turn, means a stronger economy for the island, reduces our overall carbon footprint, and helps to enhance our community’s unique sense of place.”

Our efforts include:

• Connecting consumers to sources of locally grown food.
• Advocating for greater local food production.
• Providing training & education.
• Expanding agricultural production and cottage industry

Our current programs include our Farmers & Artisans Market, Farm to School, Community Agriculture Program and our Youth Council. We also perform general outreach and education through our Film Series, Locally Grown Dinner Series and more. To learn more about our programs visit sustainablenantucket.org

Reflecting our sharpened focus, Sustainable Nantucket has a new logo and tag –line and has revised the look of its website home page.. In the coming months and years, expect to see expanded programs, classes and resources, all geared toward increasing sustainable agricultural production on island.

SN Receives Grant from Nantucket Land Council

Sustainable Nantucket is pleased to announce receipt of a generous grant toward our Farm to School Program from the Nantucket Land Council! This grant will provide funding to cover conference fees and travel expenses for educators interested in participating in our Farm to School Program, and attending the upcoming Agriculture in the Classroom Fall Conference for Educators: Focusing on School Gardening, Composting and Other Green School Initiatives November 6, 2010 in Brookline, Massachusetts.

If you are interested in participating in the conference please contact Morgan Beryl, Sustainable Nantucket Agricultural Project Manager, at 508-228-3399 or via email at morgan@sustainablenantucket.org.

SN Youth Council Breaks Ground On NPS Garden

On September 30, 2010, our SNYC Garden Team began the installation of its second garden for Nantucket Public Schools. Many thanks to Sam Slosek, Randy Hudson, Kelly Bull, Katheleen Minihan, Sunny Daily, and Dylan Wallace for their help as guiding mentors for our apprentices and spearheading the garden installation. In the coming winter months, Garden Team members will continue to build up 3 different types of composted and control group beds, grow cover crop, build and plant natural fences, build a shed, a hoop house and hopefully sow some winter crops.

Youth Council Seeks Materials for Upcoming Garden Project

Sustainable Nantucket’s Youth Council is in need of materials and supplies to move forward with it’s next garden project. The list of materials includes:

Hoses – $45.00 each

Watering Wands – $25.00 each

Wheel Barrels – $50.00 each

Shovels – $30.00 each

A Shed – $1500

Hand Hoes, Pruners, Cultivators… $15.00 – $50.00

Tarps – $20.00 each

Buckets – $5.00 each

PVC Pipe – $70.00 each

Row Covers – $35.00 each

Twine – $10.00

Trellises, Metal or Stakes – $5.00 each

Lawn Mower – $200.00

Rakes, Steel and Leaf – $30.00

Hoes – $20.00 each

Wood

Fencing

Soil

Organic compost

Seeds /Seedlings

Labor

We’d also gladly welcome any used or unwanted gardening equipment.

Please contact us if you are able to help out. We greatly appreciate your support!