Master Calendar

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 9 am – 12 noon for an invasive plants removal party with your Civic Projects Committee. If you are interested, please text, email, or call Beth Ann so that she can plan accordingly. She will have handouts, and guided instruction will be provided. Many of you joined us last year, so you will need only a little review. More information will follow soon about best attire, gear to bring, and more.

As you know, invasive plants are non-native species that spread aggressively in natural areas. Invasive plants have replaced native species in many different habitats in Connecticut. When native plants are displaced in the landscape, the diversity of native birds, insects, other animals, and plants may be decreased and ecosystem functions may suffer.

FEBRUARY 13 SEED SORTING EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO THE SNOW.

The Civic Projects Committee is gearing up for a mid-March Seed Library Launch.  They will be sorting and packaging seeds at the Noah Webster Library from 12:30 pm to 3:15 pm on January 23, January 30, all Tuesday afternoons in February, and on March 5 and March 12.

We meet in the Children’s Story Room at the back of the Children’s area at the Noah Webster Library on Main Street. Free parking is available at the Isham Garage in Blue Back Square, which is across from the back entrance to the library. The librarian will put in for your free parking – up to 3 hours. Please let us know if you are able to come by emailing us at whgccivicproj@gmail.com.

Please contact Tanya for more information.

Urban Gardens: Changing Lives with Sheryll Durrant and Randell McShepard
February 15, 2024
Zoom only
Free for members; non-members register here. 
Zoom links are automatically sent to members the Sunday before and the day of the presentation.

You’ll enjoy this informative panel discussion. Step into the world of urban gardening and witness the life-changing impact at our presentation, “Urban Gardens: Changing Lives.” Join us as we explore the inspiring stories of the Rid-All Green Partnership in Cleveland and the Kelly Street Garden in the Bronx, two remarkable projects that have transformed communities and touched countless lives. We are thrilled to be welcoming Sheryll Durrant, founder of Kelly Street Garden, educator and food justice advocate, and Randell McShepard, activist and co-founder of the Rid-All Green Partnership.

We will hear the captivating story of the Kelly Street Garden in the Bronx. Explore how this once-abandoned space was transformed into a vibrant hub of community engagement and social resilience. Witness the positive impact it has had on the lives of residents, from improved nutrition and food security to strengthened bonds and a sense of pride. We will also learn about the power of the Rid-All Green Partnership, where a group of dedicated individuals turned vacant urban lots into flourishing gardens. Discover how they not only created thriving green spaces but also fostered economic opportunities, education, and empowerment within their community.

Learn about the strategies employed, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned along the way. Discover how these initiatives have become beacons of hope and change, inspiring individuals and communities to reimagine the potential of their urban landscapes. Be inspired by their journey and witness the profound transformation that urban gardens can bring to urban environments. Whether you are a passionate gardener, an advocate for community development, or simply curious about the incredible impact of urban gardens, this presentation is a must-attend event.

Free for members; $10 suggested non-member donation. After the event, you’ll receive a recorded copy of the talk.

Click here to register.

FEBRUARY 13 SEED SORTING EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO THE SNOW.

The Civic Projects Committee is gearing up for a mid-March Seed Library Launch.  They will be sorting and packaging seeds at the Noah Webster Library from 12:30 pm to 3:15 pm on January 23, January 30, all Tuesday afternoons in February, and on March 5 and March 12.

We meet in the Children’s Story Room at the back of the Children’s area at the Noah Webster Library on Main Street. Free parking is available at the Isham Garage in Blue Back Square, which is across from the back entrance to the library. The librarian will put in for your free parking – up to 3 hours. Please let us know if you are able to come by emailing us at whgccivicproj@gmail.com.

The West Hartford Garden Club’s Civic Projects Committee and West Hartford’s Public Library are sponsoring a Winter Native Seed Sowing Workshop on Sunday afternoon, February 25, from 2 PM to 4 PM at the Noah Webster Library. Space limited. Please register here.

Come learn how to grow your own native wildflowers and grasses using recycled containers using the winter sowing method of starting seeds outdoors in winter. Including native plants in your surroundings is a great way to provide food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. You can expand your native plantings inexpensively by growing them yourself from seed. This workshop will cover the benefits of this method of germinating seeds and the advantages it has over indoor seed-starting, which requires grow lights and hardening-off of seedlings.

We’ll send you home with a mini greenhouse made from an up-cycled plastic jug filled with a planted seed selection. Proper aftercare will also be shared. Participants should bring their own transparent or translucent gallon jugs–clean milk or water jugs are perfect. Please bring extras to share if you have them!

Presented by Beth Ann Loveland Sennett, Advanced Master Gardener and West Hartford Garden Club Civic Projects Co-Chair, and Peter Picone, DEEP Wildlife Biologist.

Co-Sponsored by the West Hartford Garden Club.

Space is limited. Registration required. 

If you have extra empty one gallon transparent milk or water jugs, please bring them to Beth Ann at 109 Walden Street, or bring them with you to the program on the 25th. Thank you for your help!