October 1 - West Bay Rotary Meeting

October 1, 2015

West Bay Rotary

 

Arla Casselman – Jessica Kent says that she’s just a badass and we are going to love her!

 

Medomak Valley Heirloom Seed Project

 

23^rd Year – oldest known high school based seed program

Goal – to grow, collect and save heirloom seeds to pass down to the next generation.

 

Heirloom Seed – Open pollinated (naturally), continually saved year after year.  Open pollination allows for more genetic variation – which is important for seeds to be able to adapt to certain climates.

 

In order to call it an heirloom it has to be at least 50 years old.

 

Waldoboro Green Neck Turnip – growing in Waldoboro since 1886.

 

We preserve over 800 different varieties of seeds.

Traveled to 37 states

7 countries

30 living history museums – like Mt. Vernon & Mt. Vernon

 

During the school year the Horticulture 2 students maintain the seed project.  Manage all of the orders.

 

Teen agriculture crew employed for the summer – they maintain the gardens.

 

100 Students in the Summer Youth Agriculture Summit

 

Students went to Johnny Seed to learn how to hand pollinate vegetables.

 

Students were interested in doing something with animals – they started with heritage breeds of birds – Hatched Black Copper Morans.

 

The Living History Arboretum –

30 different historical trees

Johnny Appleseed, Civil War Battlefields, the Honey Locust, the Penn Treaty Elm

 

How can they market what they do?

Not self-supporting yet

 

They created some additional projects/programs for revenue & educational opportunities

Created Medomak Marvelous balm

Made batch of 80 & sold out

Succulent sale

Chickens for sale to restaurants

 

 

 

What’s going on now in the garden?

Harvest

Grow outs of pepper (50 kinds) and tomato (150 kinds) varieties.

 

The 1500 year old cave bean

Baker Creek used to have them – ran out and asked the school to grow out for their company.

 

Why do you save seeds?

Value in learning about the food system

Becoming empowered when they realize they can do something about food insecurity.

They can learn about varieties being lost & do something to preserve them.

 

Where are they headed?

Last spring they applied for a Seeds of Change grant.  Had to get community votes to move onto the next stage.  They won a $20,000 grant.

Create a better environment for seed storage – what they have is not cold eough – need walk in freezer

Expand more garden space

Secure funding for another teen agriculture crew

Fund another coordinator to bring the program to more schools around Maine.

 

Q & A

Does open pollination & isolation contradict?

You want pollen from the same species but not from a different species

 

What percentage of students participate in this program?

500 total kids – 65-75 participants each year.  6 for the summer – horticulture club as well.

 

Does yesterday’s rain hurt?

Not that she noticed

 

Teen ag crew get credit for their work?

No they do not – because they get paid

 

Pests?

Just ground hogs

 

What do the 1500 bean taste like?

We haven’t tasted it

 

Shelf life of beans?

Without beans being frozen they have a shorter life – they are constantly trying to save their seeds because they are not frozen.

 

West Bay Business

New Members

Suzanne Scott (transfer), Leyman Scott

 

Heidi Karod – Bronze pin for recruitment of new members.

Kristin – October 1 – beginning of the second quarter of the club year.  Invoice will be forthcoming. 

 

Mark Masterson – fundraiser meeting – next Tuesday morning at 7:30a at Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill. Considering renewing the chili fundraiser – during snow bowl week.

 

Board meeting – Wednesday morning 7a at Anderson Inn – Quarry Hill.

 

Next week – Club Assembly going over strategic plan, etc.