Estelline, SD

At Lister Donley Memorial Garden Thursday, July 31st.  Bring weeding equipment and drinking water.    We will be discussing the output of the Donley family planted garden and its relationsip to the Farmers’ Market and Food Pantry about 8 pm at the shelter.  Some harvest is likely — the Pacman variety broccoli is still producing and there is thinning to do in the row crops.  There will be a short presentation on getting red tomato fruit. 

Market as usual on Friday evening 4 to 7 pm at Bandstand Park.  Then activitites move to the ball park; concessions starts before dark and family entertainment (Shrek , animated ghoul  lives an adventursome life with lots of humor for all ages) on the movie screen at dark 9:30 pm.  Enjoy!

Come see the Lister Donley Memorial Community Garden with the accomplished Pumpkin Patch Kids and Minnikins as your hosts to their plots on Friday, July 25th 10 am until 2 pm.  There will be adults working in the greater garden, and  refreshments will be available including light lunch over the noon hour.

Sioux Falls Argus Leader has expressed interest in the Garden and Farmers’ Market and will have photographer and reporter at the sites.

Estelline Journal, our newspaper ‘flagship’ has published lots of great copy, some written and filmed by the children, and we look forward to more coverage there as well.  Thank you,  Archers and Marge too. 

Thought I’d share the photos I took with all of you…

Coming to a park near you, MOVIES!  Estelline Horizon has partnered with the Estelline Area Economic Development to purchase a 16 by 9 foot inflatable movie screen and system.  Plans are currently underway to have free summer time movies in the park.  If you would like to help with this great outreach project, help is needed to work concessions and with the setup and takedown of the system.  Contact David Ebbers at 873-2261, 886-8786 or davide@reliabank.com.  Let hear back as to ideas for movies and other uses or places and events for the equipment. 

The Northwest Area Foundation conference I attended in MN was non-stop education!  Many partners in addressing poverty were there, my favorite speaker about poverty was Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa.  The number one speaker about strategy, Chip Heath (author of the book Make it Stick , which I brought home to share), explained making messages memorable and motivating.   Peter S  from Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina was most entertaining and effective with programs making financial issues riveting; their TV production Nuevo Barrio could be a great asset locally.

Lots of things I can hardly wait to tell you about, including their endorsements of local foods, and many fund-raising ideas.  The amusing byproduct of registration enmass by SDSU for everyone in SD was that Estelline was hometown on all our nametags…would that this little town had that many interested volunteers……

Kid’s Workshop

Children’s Gardening Brochure

Children’s Garden Sign-up Sheet

Estelline Community Garden applications are available. Please click here.

SD Arts Council grant will provide professional services to assist the community in creating a mural on the south side of Ward’s Shopping Center.  Congratulations to Dayle S on the successful application;  ideas and design suggestions are requested — you can mail them to Dayle at PO Box 453 or drop them off at their home. 

Watch for more opportunities to participate in generating art and fund raising soon.

What do you think of having the SD sanctioned chili cook-off in Estelline?  It is one of the ideas that came up after the Tues. meeting.

Who would like a job in Estelline?  Can you help us find a  Farmers Market manager (every Friday night for 18 weeks and promotions time), and a unit director (full time) and a part time staff person to serve a Boys and Girls Club.   Here are three new jobs for Estelline — exciting      YES!     Job descriptions need to be developed: can you help?

We also need leadership help for getting the Club going.  So speak up if you could help out with working or giving ideas.   Contact Tonya Williams.

SDSU Cooperative Extension Service and our community coordinator popped the question  –HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO CELEBRATE  — achieving intermediate Horizons goals?  After mid July sometime they’ll provide the cake and funds!! Whoooopeee!!!!

April 15th we mulled it over a bit and thought a party on Friday in conjunction with Farmers Market would be good.  What do you think?

And “thank yous” to Northwest Area Foundation, and SDSU,and CES staff, and especially the always cheerful Cheryl Jacobs, our coordinator.

Horizons Program is taking applications for the 2008 Community Garden growing season.  The Lister Donley Memorial Garden located at the southeast end of 6^th Street South in Estelline will be tilled and marked with 20 feet by 25 feet plots which will be made available to individuals, families, local organizations and truck gardening entrepreneurs.  Rent for the season is set at $15 per plot; for the inaugural year of the garden this amount will be refunded if the garden is clear of debris at the end of the growing season. 

            If you are an experienced gardener, you will find this location full sun and well drained.  The underlying sandy stratum makes it excellent for melons.  Water source will be available 

            If you would like to begin as a gardener, this is an excellent site, with plenty of opportunity for assistance and we will even hold some classes if interest is expressed. 

            Produce for home use and sharing is encouraged.  We will organize some distributions through the Food Pantry. 

            Those who would like to be involved for fun, food, and profit as well are welcome to participate in the Horizons Farmers’ Market as well.  Horizons is taking applications for vendors (contact Linda Svec with questions, forms at Reliabank).

            Should you have questions about the Garden or be interested in volunteering with developing the garden, helping with the children’s plot or the general use plots, or contributing resources to the effort, please contact Harvey Donley (cell phone # 690-9494 or local 873-4000).

            Applications can be picked up from Country Corner or Reliabank.

            The Horizons program which seeks to address poverty in rural communities is funded by Northwest Area Foundation with administration by the Cooperative Extension Service through SDSU.