Volume 14, Issue 1 Spring 2016 A Message from the Director Happy spring! After an excruciating series of fits and starts, I daresay spring, just maybe, has arrived for an extended stay. I don’t know about you, but between the vicissitudes of winter and spring, I’ve felt like a racehorse in the starting gate after a few false starts. Indeed, grounds work has commenced later than we’d prefer, but we are now working away inside and out like bees in a warming hive. Some $10,000 in grant money has already been secured for a variety of operational and capital improvements in 2016. Critical restoration work to the foundation of the Goodell bank barn is underway again. And, as you will read in the pages to follow, we have planned a healthy and hearty smorgasbord of fun and exciting programs and special events for you and yours to enjoy. Multiple sections of Garden Sprouts and Garden Seedlings education programs will be on offer. PA standards-based field trips will be available to regional professional educators and their students, and this year we have expanded the program to include grades 7 – 12, a first for the Gardens. The Gardens’ family-based learning activities are also improved for 2016, through our exclusive “Family Activity Bags.” In terms of educational adventures, be they formal or informal, family-based or school-room, outside or inside, we have more engaging experiences for you, your kids and grandkids than ever. It’s going to be a blue-ribbon year for education at Goodell Gardens! Likewise, the Gardens’ Signature & Gala Events return this year with a bit more capacity and refined elegance. I can very much assure you; you definitely don’t want to miss out on these enchanting galas at the Gardens. And remember, the Signature & Gala Events have been specifically developed as fundraisers. They are critical to the Gardens’ ability to implement operational and infrastructural expansions, such as developing new garden spaces, educational programs and community cultural events. Recall, the Gardens served a record 18,000 visitors last season. So whether it be for the installation of restrooms (beyond the two that currently serve the entire site!) or restoring and opening to the public the 5,000+ square-foot 1880s Goodell bank barn, there are certainly funds to be raised beyond our current revenue generation: funds critical to the further development of Goodell Gardens as a significant environmental and cultural asset in our community, County and region. So, this 2016, whether you’re tapping toes at the Downtown Edinboro Art & Music Festival or the Gardens’ Summer Music Series; captivated by a Garden Lecture in the Events Barn; Singing Along with Lori; smelling fresh food and flowers at the Farmers Market; sipping the complex botanical infusions of a cocktail at sunset during Botanical Beverages; or simply sitting peacefully in the garden reading a book on a Sunday afternoon – whatever your age or interest, we have something sensational for you in 2016. Thank you most sincerely for your investment, because it does matter, every single day, and I am therefore honored to serve with you alongside a dedicated and exemplary Board of Directors, staff, membership and volunteers ensuring that Goodell Gardens plays an ever-increasing and positive role in our community.

Dana Atwood Executive Director

Inside this issue: Food & Farming Education Giving Garden Lending Library Pollinator Trial Plants Membership Drive Education Schedule Schedule of Events

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Multiple Projects Receive Grant Funding Thus far in 2016, Goodell Gardens has been awarded a total of $9,923 in grants from four different agencies. On page 2, you’ll read about a $2,675 EPA sub-grant awarded through Allegheny College for education. We also received $2,217 from the PA Partners with the Arts to help fund arts projects at the Gardens. The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority awarded $524 to help underwrite the Homegrown Harvest Festival, and the Erie Community Foundation awarded Goodell Gardens $4,507 to help upgrade technology within our organization - funds that will be used to match funding awarded to that same project by ECGRA last fall. Please join our staff and Board in showing gratitude to these funding agencies.

Food & Farming Field Trips

This year, Goodell Gardens & Homestead was awarded an Environmental Protection Agency sub-grant issued through Allegheny College in connection with their Community Wellness Initiative. Through this grant funding, we have been able to more than double our field trip offerings! We now offer field trips to grades 7-12, an age group we previously had little curriculum for. All our new Food and Farming Education focuses on sustainable agriculture and explores the connections between the food we eat and the many social, economic, environmental implications of those decisions on local, regional, and global scales. In addition, this new Food and Farming Education allows educators three options: they can bring their students to Goodell for a field trip, they can request that a Garden Educator teach in their classroom, or they can check-out one of our new Traveling Trunks that provides lessons, activities and materials for them to use in their classroom. If you or anyone you know may be interested in learning more about our new Food and Farming Education opportunities for grades 7-12, please visit our field trip website (bit.ly/GGHFieldTrips) or email Goodell Gardens Education Coordinator Tracy Scott at [email protected].

Family Activity Bags offer hours of fun Goodell Gardens is now offering Family Activity Bags that are filled with educational activities for families that want to explore Goodell Gardens and learn together! Family Activity Bags include theme-based activities for kids to complete with the help of a grown-up. All materials, instruments and information needed to complete the activities are included. This year we have two themed packs to choose from – “All About Trees” or “Birds in the Garden.” Each Family Activity Bag has activities designed to provide hours of hands-on learning and fun that you can enjoy time and again. Family Activity Bags can be purchased for just $15 at the Welcome Center and are yours to take with you when it's time to head home.

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Feeding our Community Goodell Gardens partners with Hermitage House Youth Services, Edinboro Food Pantry As a component of our EPA sub-grant, Goodell Gardens and Hermitage House Youth Services are expanding both the size of the area they garden and the scope of their partnership. This year, Goodell and the Hermitage House will be adding more growing space to our newly named “Giving Garden” (formerly the Square Foot Vegetable Garden) - enough that we will also be coordinating with the Edinboro Food Pantry! In addition to learning about how food is grown and the amount of energy it takes to bring food to our plates, Hermitage House youth will also learn how to harvest and then donate their harvests to the Edinboro Food Pantry. We are very excited for the expansion of our Giving Garden, which will showcase different planting methods, crop rotation plans, composting techniques, and even garden bed styles. The Hermitage House will be helping on all fronts, from construction and planning to garden maintenance and harvesting. Be sure to stop by and see what is growing this season! We would like to again thank Allegheny College and the EPA for the grant funding that has made this important community program possible.

Pollinator Trial Changes

Lending Library

The Penn State Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden has moved! Last year, 2015, marked the completion of a 3 year pollinator preference study conducted at sites across Pennsylvania by Penn State Master Gardeners, and Goodell Gardens has been one of those sites. As 2016 brings a new set of plants to monitor, we saw an opportunity to relocate and create a larger pollinator friendly area and education space. This year, you will find our Pollinator Garden along the western side of the driveway as you enter, along with our new Penn State Pollinator Preferences Trials Garden and our Pollinator Meadow Path.

Thanks to a generous donation of historic, notable, and eclectic gardening literature from former Gardens Board Member Robert Frenzel, Goodell is excited to begin offering our Garden Lending Library to Goodell Gardens Members! Books will be available for reference in the Welcome Center, and Members can check them out with Garden Staff or Welcome Center Attendants. Please be prepared to show your membership card if you’d like to take advantage of borrowing privileges. We believe our Lending Library is a wonderful way to explore gardening through the ages with these beautiful and informational books we hope you agree!

Erie County Master Gardeners will again be monitoring the preferences of different pollinators on different plant varieties. Keep an eye out for four different varieties of Coreopsis and five varieties of Monarda in our Pollinator Preferences Trials Garden, and then walk through our Pollinator Pathway to learn about the pollinators’ plight!

GOODELL GARDENS HOSTING SPRING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE It’s the perfect time of year to join or renew your membership with Goodell Gardens! Now through May 15, the Gardens is holding a Spring Membership Drive. We’ll be offering special incentives to folks who join or renew their membership with the gardens. All new members will receive a $5 gift certificate good toward purchases in the Gardens Gift Shop or toward tickets to any event at the Gardens!

Quirk Barn Comes Down

Any existing member renewing their membership will receive a $10 gift certificate. And existing members who upgrade their existing membership will receive a $15 gift certificate. For more information, or to renew your membership today, visit bit.ly/GGHMember or call us at (814) 734-6699. *Cannot be combined with any other membership package deal.

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The circa 1830s Quirk Barn, which was transferred to the Goodell property in 1908, has taken quite a bit of damage over the last few Edinboro winters. Due to safety concerns, it was deemed necessary to take the building down. Chris Brown of Willow Creek Reclaimed Barn Wood Furniture is salvaging the barn wood, which will be used to make furniture and other beautiful items. We’re excited to see this beautiful old building have new life once again, and know that Carrie and Margaret would be proud of its third assignment

Garden Sprouts is designed for children ages 3 - 5 and their parent or other adult. This summer’s class theme will explore the changes we see in the Garden and nature during each spectacular season, emphasizing the senses of sight, smell, sound and touch. Classes will be guided by Lois Ehlert’s classic children’s books and also include an educational lesson, time for Garden exploration, seasonal plant themed crafts and learning activities with Mother Nature! Goodell Gardens Education Coordinator Tracy Scott and Garden Educator Chris Detar will lead Sprouts through lessons designed to explore the things that make our senses think of spring, summer, fall and winter. There are two sections for Sprouts, 11 am on Thursdays from June 9July 7 or 11 am Thursdays from July 21-August 18. Both will meet in Carrie’s Cabin. Class size is limited to 12 children. The registration fee for this 5-week class is $40 for members ($50 for non) & includes instruction, admission to the Gardens for you and your child, & all materials needed. Preregistration & prepayment is required to hold you & your child’s spot in this class. To sign up, visit bit.ly/gardensprouts or call (814) 734-6699.

Thursday, Aug. 4, 6-8 pm Rain Barrels w/ Environment Erie Open to residents of Erie County For more information, or to register, visit www.environmenterie.org Thursday, Sept. 22, 5:30 pm The Science Behind Medicinal Plants: an adult herbology primer w/Professor Sprout (Goodell Education Coordinator Tracy Scott)! Admission is free for members or students of Edinboro University, $5 for everyone else.

For more details, or to register, visit: bit.ly/GGHLectures

Garden Seedlings School returns this summer Sunday, May 15, 3-5 pm to bring plant-based education to children ages 6Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your 9! For this year’s theme, we will be looking at who, Garden with Jessica Walliser Jessica, KDKA-Radio Pittsburgh’s and what, comes to the garden and why. Seedlings co-host of “The Organic Gardenwill explore Goodell through the eyes of the pollinaers,” will go over ways you can tors, pests and people that visit them. Each funuse this natural approach to pest filled class will include Garden Educator led lessons, control to work in your garden. nature inspired children’s literature, interactive GarShe’ll even stick around after with copies of her new book to sign! den tours and hands-on crafts and activities. $10 public, $5 Individual & HouseGarden Seedlings is designed for students in hold Members, free for members Kindergarten through 3rd grade (ages 6-9). Classes Contributor level or higher. will be held on Wednesday mornings for an hour Thursday, July 14, 6-7 pm and a half, from 11am until 12:30pm, in Carrie’s Planting your Fall Harvest with Cabin, and run from July 13 – August 10. The regisKerstin Martin, Allegheny College Garden Manager tration fee for this five-week class is $60 ($50 for Kerstin will discuss the types of members). Class size is limited to 12 children. Regvegetable varieties can be plantistration and prepayment are required to hold a ed, when they can be planted and spot in class. New this year, Garden Seedlings will when you can plan to harvest them. She will also offer season allow parents to drop their child off for the duraextension tips so you can harvest tion of class. from your garden even more! To sign up, visit bit.ly/gardenseedlings, or call $10 public, $5 Ind.& Household (814) 734-6699. 4 members, free for Cont.+

Thursday, June 23, 6-7:30 pm Evergreens in the Garden with Executive Director Dana Atwood Dana will explore the many reasons why evergreens have such a prominent role in NWPA gardens. He will also discuss the many historic evergreens Goodell Gardens inherited as well as talk about the role of evergreens in the newly planted areas of Goodell. $5 public, free for members of Goodell Gardens. Thursday, Aug. 25, 6-7:30 pm 5 Plant Allies for Herbal First Aid with Leah Wolfe, community herbalist & health educator Leah will teach you how to make and use herbal remedies for basic first aid and take a few home to start your own herbal first aid kit! Watch for more information about this lecture in the Summer issue of The Garden Gate.

2016 Schedule of Events Signature & Gala Events Mother’s Day Brunch

Botanical Beverages

Homegrown Dinner

Sunday, May 8 10 am or 1 pm Treat mom to a Champagne Brunch Buffet with food from Cali’s West Catering and Cakes by Amanda. Build a Bouquet with flowers from the Robin’s Nest, and have your photo taken in the Goodell Gardens Photo Booth: we’ll even print and mail it to you!

Saturday, June 18 7 - 10 pm

Friday, Sept. 9 6:30 pm

Enjoy specialty cocktails made with regional craft -distilled spirits featuring herbs & spices found growing in our Gardens! Live music by Bootlegger’s Bible Club, locally sourced snacks by Cali’s West Catering, and lawn games in the Gardens!

Learn the story of local foods and the farms that grew them as Goodell Gardens and Chef DJ York of Julian’s guide you through your meal.

Each plate will feature exquisitely prepared foods from Goodell Gardens Farmers Mar$40 members ket vendors and other $50 nonmembers $35 members, $45 non $25 designated drivers regional farms. $100 membership pack- (with mocktails for DDs) Ticket prices are $110 age = 2 tickets + for members , $125 for household member- $110 membership pack- non members. Buy 2 ship! tickets at the non age = 2 tickets + member price, and get household memberPlease RSVP no later a free Household-level ship! than Friday, April 29 membership. bit.ly/GGHBotBev bit.ly/GGHMothersDay

bit.ly/HGDinner

GOODELL GARDENS FARMERS MARKET Wednesdays 3-6 pm, June 22 - Sept. 28 *New* sign up to receive text message reminders about the market! Text gfm216 to (814) 273-2182! Standard messaging rates may apply.

Kids’ Concert Series Sing-A-Long with Lori Burke Tuesdays in July at 11 am $2 per person ages 2 - 102 Free for members and children under 2 years.

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Summer Music Series Friday Evenings at 7 pm

$5 adults, $3 seniors, $2 kids free with membership card, student ID, or for kids under 5. Bring a lawn chair, or borrow one of ours. Food available for purchase from Big Horn Meats farm-to-table food truck on select dates!

June 3, 2016

Salmon Frank

July 29, 2016

Patchouli

August 12, 2016 Picks & Hammers August 26, 2016

Tiger Maple String Band

Cultural & Special Events OPENING DAY 2016 Sunday, May 1, 11 am - 5 pm NATIONAL PUBLIC GARDENS DAY Friday, May 6 Guided tours at 11 am, 1 & 3 pm Downtown Edinboro Art & Music Festival May 21 & 22 edinboroartandmusic.com Plant & Produce Preview Sale Sunday, June 5 Members only 1-2 pm, public hours 2-5pm

11th Annual Homegrown Harvest Festival Sunday, Sept. 11, 12 - 5 pm

221 Waterford St. PO Box 156 Edinboro, PA 16412

Board of Directors Kirk Johnson President

Eric Randall Vice President

Bonnie Rafferty Secretary

Tom Vicary Treasurer

Randy Walker Jean Davis Judy Kubeja

Tee Scarlett Mari Harrison

Staff Members Dana Atwood Executive Director

Amber Wellington Member & Media Relations

Brooke Harrison Landscape Designer

Tracy Scott Education Coordinator

Kristen Rater Gardener

Evan Till Groundskeeper

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