Grow is a new spring series hosted by the Wautoma Public Library through community partnerships that aims to enhance relationships of families, their communities, food systems, and the natural world. This year, it will cover the topics of soil health and our microbiomes (stomach health), vermicomposting (worm composting) and how to use worm castings and compost tea, and how to utilize recyclables in the garden.
This year’s dates are:
May 14th – Soil Health and Our Microbiomes (Stomach Health)
May 21st – Vermicomposting (Worm Composting)
June 4th – How to Utilize Recyclables in the Garden
If you are interested in signing up, please call the library at (920)787-2988.
•Space is limited to 10 families per event.
•Online resources will be made available to those who cannot attend the event.
Saturday, May 14- Soil Types and your Microbiome
Ever wonder how an outdoor garden connects to the one inside your belly? This week we will be diving into the fascinating world of soil and the microscopic life we share. Identify the different layers of various soil types. Get hands on with soil at different moisture levels. And enhance your understanding of microbes, the tiny life forms that exist literally everywhere!
-The featured story of the week will be A Garden in Your Belly by Masha D’yans
-The featured recipe of the week will be “Snackable Soil”
Saturday, May 21- Vermicomposting (Worm Composting)
Has worm composting ever wriggled across your mind? This week’s event will feature a make-and-take tutorial of how to construct an at-home worm composting bin using up-cycled 5-gallon buckets. Get hands on by layering the bedding, food, and worms for the bins. Learn about the importance of compost and how to use the bin’s resulting worm castings and compost tea. Along with general care instructions for the worms and the importance of reducing waste. Those who sign up and attend the event will leave with a worm composting bin, bedding, food, worms, and a spray bottle.
Special appreciation goes to Ace of Wautoma for spray bottles; Kwik Trip, Culver’s of Wautoma, Grimm’s, Panda, and Two20 Taphouse & Grill for the upcycled worm buckets and lids for the worm bins; and to Suds by Becky for the time spent drilling holes for the worm bins.
-The featured story of the week will be Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser
-The featured recipe of the week will be “Fried (or Grilled) Worms”
Saturday, June 4- Recyclables in the Garden
Do you want to grow food in an up-cycled garden that reduces plastic waste? This week is all about reusing common household plastic containers and utilizing them in the garden. Plastic gallon milk jugs and small dish soap bottles will be upcycled into containers for planting and watering cans. Get hands on by layering soil on top of rocks for drainage, planting the seeds in the soil, and giving them a drink. Learn how to read a seed package and how to harvest the plants. Also, learn about the importance of growing plants and reducing plastic waste. Those who sign up and attend the event will leave with at least one fully planted upcycled milk jug container, at least one packet of seeds, and an upcycled plastic bottle watering can.
Special thanks to Ace for the planting soil and seeds; to the Waushara Gardeners for seeds; to Divine Hollow Mushrooms for rocks, milk jugs, and bottles; and to Suds by Becky for milk jugs and bottles and for the time spent cutting planters.
-The featured story of the week will be From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
-The featured recipe of the week will be “Spring Salad”
