Twenty seven teenage girls from Elmbank Middle School at Finch Avenue West at Martin Grove learned about making compost tea and apple sauce during an educational event in Ben Nobleman Park community orchard. The girls ate the apple sauce...but the compost tea was solely for the benefit of our 14 young fruit trees. Jane Hayes, of Garden Jane fame, taught the girls how to brush the leaves of our trees with compost tea to give them the nutrients they need and a extra bit of energy to help carry them through the winter. Extra "tea" was used to water the trees allowing the nutrients to go right to their roots. Also part of the day's events was a fabulous orchard tour led by orchard volunteer Lynn Nicholas. The girls had a blast, posing beside our orchard shed for pictures and after lunch, test driving the park's fabulous new playground. It was a fantastic day and we look forward to a return visit in the spring so the girls can see the trees in bloom. Come and visit us anytime!
Above: A compost tea party
Below: Elmbank girls make applesauce with Garden Jane
Below: Lynn leads the girl on an orchard tour
Thanks to teacher Heather, Maria at PACT Grow to Learn and to Live Green Toronto for helping to make this happen.
