Our April meeting was on Gardening! Our own NMF member, Stephanie, gave an excellent presentation on how to start a garden, how to make it an educational/fun activity for kids, and tips on organic gardening. It was soooo informative! Steph did an wonderful job!! Each member walked away with a packet of information and an English Garden's membership card that is valued at $20.00. The card allows our members to receive 10% off of all of their English Garden purchases. Guests also received some fun favors including seeds for their gardens, gardening gloves and tools, and some sassy shopping bags.
Thank you to all of our guests who brought some very "meeting appropriate" dishes to pass. For example, Amy brought a pasta salad tossed with tons of fresh veggies and Jodi brought dirt pudding! :)
Meeting Overview:
Why Garden:
1. Exposure to sun boosts mental and emotional health.
2. Studies show that children are happier and healthier when given regular opportunities to go outside.
3. Gardening encourages empathy and close observation.
4. It is great exercise!
5. Create an outdoor classroom: Gardening encourages Entomology, Botany, and Physical Science.
6. Gardening equals happiness!
7. Gardening encourages good health and nutrition.
8. You have tons of yummy veggies at your finger tips! :)
The Basics:
1. Pick the perfect spot! A good garden needs 8 hours of uninterrupted sunlight.
2. Sizing up your garden! What size garden do you want to take on... 4x4, 10x10???
3.Proper soil preparation. The most important step!!!
How to start seeds:
1. Growing your own seeds gives you control over what you want to grow. Plus, doing your own seeds saves you money vs. buying a "starter plant" at a garden center.
Composting:
1. Often called "Gardner's Gold." You can buy compost or create your own.
Organic Gardening:
1. Organic gardening avoids the use of any pesticides and fungicides.
**This outline has been condensed for the blog. Steph's outline was much more thorough.
Looking Forward!
May Meeting:
Please join us for our traditional NMF Mother's Day Brunch! Last year was such a success that we decided to make it a mother's day tradition!Feel free to bring a special guest to this event. Your mom, grandma, or a special friend. This brunch is going to honor women who have played a special role in your life!
The brunch is going to be free for you and your guest! We are asking members only to bring a breakfast dish to pass. Coffee and juice will be provided.We are also asking NMF members to bring a small item for our fundraiser, Autism Speaks.
We are going to attempt the "Make it, Bake it, Fake it" fundraiser again. If you choose to participate, you would need to bring one item (or more) for the auction. All items will be on display throughout our brunch for members to view and after brunch we will have a fun auction.
Examples of items:
Make it: Any craft item, coffee mug stuffed with candy,gift basket, recipe cards, homemade cards or gift bags, etc.
Bake it: A dozen cookies, brownies, cup cakes, etc.
Fake it: A small toy, personal care items, books, cds, dvds, jewelry, a journal, games, anything for children, etc.
Basically, your donation is the item(s) you bring for the auction. Also bring some change and dollar bills so you can purchase items at the auction as well. We are hoping our guests will be interested in purchasing items too. All of the proceeds will go to Autism Speaks!
Please remind guests that they don't have to bring a thing!!! We want our important guests to relax and have a fun morning!
What to bring:
1) Breakfast dish to pass
2) An item for the fundraiser
Please RSVP by April 25th. Be sure to include your breakfast dish with your reply so we can avoid duplicates.
Hope you can make it! :)
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