Programs and projects funded by proceeds from annual sale
By: Linda J. Field
The weekend’s warm temperatures turned Lawrence residents’ thoughts to their gardens, and the local 4-H Club was ready to help.
The annual spring plant sale was held on Saturday, helped along by the summer weather.
“People were here as early as 8 this morning,” said Joe Miehle, who advises the club with his wife, Marge. “We’ve had a fairly steady flow of customers.”
“If you buy annuals they come back every year and give you a present of their flowers,” advised Mrs. Miehle as she waited on a customer.
One of the fastest movers that day were the tomato plants, Big Boy varieties. Sold in sets of six, the plants didn’t look like much, but they were almost guaranteed to produce large luscious fruits over the summer. Edith Kaltovich was buying her plants from 4-H for the first time this year, but was looking forward to a good harvest from her Big Boys.
Two Lawrence members of the six-member club were taking charge of making change as well as showing off their knowledge of plants and flowers while helping customers. Natalie Sicroff, a second-grader at the Waldorf School in Princeton, helped out with club activities even before she officially joined. Christine Meagher attends eighth grade at Incarnation School.
“I make friends at 4-H,” said Natalie. “I help out in the garden at home. I like all the projects we do in the club. My mom was a member of 4-H when she was growing up.”
“We get to know about plants in the club and how to take care of them,” said Christine. “I like the projects we do, especially the pressed flower pictures we made in frames. My mother and two of my aunts were in 4-H.”
The money raised by the plant sale will be used for programs and projects. One will be a community service project of planting flowers at the paupers’ cemetery in Lawrence. The club has many interests as well as titles: Exploring Nature (4-H), Junior Garden Club and Junior Naturalist Club. Membership is open to kids from age 8 and up. Most of the members are between 8 and 19.
More information on 4-H activities may be found by calling the 4-H Mercer County Extension office at 989-6833.