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!

The next outdoor movie night is Friday August 1st at 9:30 at City Park.  The movie is Shrek.  Bring your lawn chairs and blanket.  Concessions will be available.

We will be using the bulletin board like space as the scheduling and update site until blog access becomes available to the community.  Please pass the word and put notices on the blog if you have something you want posted from inside the window.  Sign up sheets and other pieces placed outside, please avoid covering the window contents.

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

The SDSU crew will be at Estelline’s first Farmers’ Market on Friday, June 20 from 4-7 PM for a celebration at the Band Stand.  Estelline Horizons members are asked to be on hand  in their bright yellow “Can Do” shirts. At that time, Cheryl will present the group with a check and provide cake for all the celebrants.  Other blog incentives may also be presented.  So Horizons group, bring your neighbors and come on down to the Estelline Band Stand and help us celebrate!

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. 

Saturday when a small group of intrepid gardeners cleaned up a few small rocks from the surface  and got dust on everybody.  It was even too windy to grill a hot dog, so we shared cupcakes and cookies, took some pictures, and went home with plans for better days. 

Grants supplied monies for the Children’s Garden and also biodegradable shopping bags and food safety handouts for the Farmers’ Market. 

Best of all, the water is flowing for irrigating the plots.  Thanks to all, especially the Donley family for the Memorial Garden, and lots of work!

• Water Lines and Electricity are in the trenches;  there will be some settling in the trench area so drop the sod bits and more soil in there,  and WATCH YOUR STEP AROUND THE GARDEN  -THE GROUND IS UNEVEN-
• Children’s Garden plans this year are bolstered by grants from Homemakers (FCCA) for seed and equipment and the Master Gardener Program for programming;  congratulations to Mary B for success in bringing proposals to fruition.  Watch the newspaper for specifics of the Pumpkin Patch Kids 8 weekly sessions, 2 hours each, for students in grades 3-5 to be held at the Community Garden.
• Applications for garden plots are now available at Country Corner and Reliabank.  There are 23 plots tilled, and more space available.  Please send your application in as soon as possible to make planning speed along-  We hope to complete assignments before the middle of May. 
• Conquering the sod in this inaugural year will take effort — for optimal growing conditions we will try to till the garden and remove the grass (please bring your rakes) every 7 to 10 days before the crops go in.
• First garden work day: May 3rd  4-5:30pm        Bring rakes and a trash bag.  We’ll collect ALUMINUM that day as well, so magnets will be helpful.   Bring your own beverage — we’ll have cookies. 

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.