Prairie Habitat Garden looking for volunteers
The following is a call for volunteers from Erin Birns, the project coordinator for the Prairie Habitat Garden (PHG), which is next to the College of Education building at the University of Saskatchewan.
The PHG is a project developed by faculty and students in the College of Education. The goal is to be a source of information for all students about native Saskatchewan plants and ecosystems. We maintain the garden not only with the hope that it is beautiful to look at, but also with the intent that it act as a starting point–a tool–for educating students about the importance of sustaining our province’s native ecosystems.
The garden is BIG and staffed by only two people–maintaining it so that the plants can survive and thrive is quite the undertaking. I am therefore asking for your help over the coming summer months! Any volunteers who would be willing to spend a few hours of any weekday weeding/planting (or days! mornings or afternoons!) would be happily welcomed into the garden!
Contact: Erin Birns (erb738@mail.usask.ca), 381-8076
I have not visited the garden yet, but it looks like a fabulous project and I intend to go have a look very soon! Along with transforming a dull and underused space on campus with natural features such as native grasses, shrubs, trees, and wildflowers (creating a butterfly habitat), it also acts as a model garden to help and inspire Saskatoon students to create prairie habitat gardens in their own schoolyards.
The garden also incorporates a medicine wheel and has integrated First Nations perspectives into both its design and curriculum. For example, on Wednesday 4 June, it will be hosting the Third Annual Sowin’ Love day, where elementary schools will visit the garden to help plant grass in a buffalo stomp. A number of activities, games, and guest speakers are planned. Teachers will be given information on how to incorporate lessons on gardening, the environment, and Aboriginal uses of plants into their classrooms. Sounds like a great day out!
