Berm Garden Planting - October 11, 2008
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make our first community event a success!
Clear skies and unseasonably warm weather attracted children and adults from area service organizations to a community event at Green Mill Village (GMV) in Arcola, Ill. this past weekend. The volunteers planted the first of many colorful garden areas at GMV, a sustainable resort and conference center scheduled to open in Spring 2010.
Members of the Arcola Daisy and Brownie Scout Troop 2400, Tuscola Daisy Troops 2002 and 2336, Tuscola Cadette Troop 2294 along with volunteers from the Moultrie-Douglas County Extension Master Gardener and Junior Master Gardener programs took part in the plantings.
Kaizad Irani, Landscape Design and Horticulture Program Director at Parkland College in Champaign, Ill. and Visiting Faculty at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Ill., spoke to the group about the perennials, grasses and shrubs they planted and how the garden would become a focal point for guests of GMV.
"We couldn't have asked for better weather for this project," said Cassie Yoder, Marketing Director for GMV. "Everyone had a great time learning about the importance of sustainability and the environment while digging in the dirt."
The volunteers spent two hours planting the garden and were then treated to a hearty lunch catered by The Kitchen of Doris Yoder in Arthur. Candy apples and chocolates from Flesor's Candy Kitchen in Tuscola were given as "thank you" gifts at the end of the day.
"The utilization of local businesses to provide the meal and favors for this event shows the level of commitment GMV has to sustainability," Yoder said. "We are fortunate to have such a wide range of exceptional entrepreneurs in our community."
Photographs from the days work session are available on GMV's Web site at www.greenmillvillage.com/bermday_photos.php.
For more information on the garden projects, future community activities or the Groundbreaking Ceremony at GMV, contact Sarah Miller, public relations and media director, at 217-348-8475, smiller@insidethegreenbox.com or visit www.greenmillvillage.com. Media requests for high-resolution photographs should also be directed to Sarah Miller.