Monday, July 21, 2008

El jardín hermoso en julio

The children at the TechnoCentro have been working so hard on the Community Garden and they are finally ready with some pictures to share. We finally got all of the garden mulched with a layer of newspaper going down first. Now we don't have to fight with the weeds so much. The kids also set up a bird feeding station this month. Best of all, they are learning to use digital/video cameras, one of which was donated by Professor Kathryn Ward of SIUC. So all of the pictures seen here were taken by them!

A friend from the community donated four hollow tree stumps to use as planters. The children decided to put all of them on the north side of the garden, which is one of the entrances. There are small zinnias growing inside. To the right is a beautiful begonia in a square raised bed in the grassy area of the Community Garden.

On the left is a view of the southern edge where we have squash plants growing along with special grasses that we are trying to cultivate along the rock border. To the right is another view of the south side with the beautiful mulch, more grasses and a view of the mural painted last year. Below is nature in action: a bumble bee on a gorgeous sunflower!

The latest news for the Community gardeners is that they will be in the annual Peach Festival parade. Walter, our maintenance man, will drive his truck and the kids will pass out garden produce and flowers as we go along the parade route. Exciting!!!!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Edible Landscaping: Summer 2008 Calendar Activities/Jardinería ornamental y comestible

Tuesday, June 3: 6:00 P.M. Farm Labor Camp

Introduction to the Library: A librarian will read the book Inch By Inch: A Garden Song and describe the library’s Summer Reading Program. Families will plant herbs in containers for their homes.

Monday, June 9 - September 4: 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. TLC

English Classes begin. Creating a garden with edible landscaping is the theme around which various activities are designed. Adults will also be actively involved in working in the garden when possible.

Tuesday, June 17: 6:00 P.M. Stinson Memorial Library

Tour of Anna library, obtain library cards, check-out books, and family movie night at the library!

Wednesday, June 15 – July 28 Stinson Memorial Library Summer Library Reading Program and Cobden Library

Tues., July 22 & Tues., August 19: 6:00 P.M. TLC

Families will gather to create products with herbs and teas from the community garden as well as from their own home gardens.

Mon., August 4 – Wed.., August 6: 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Giant City State Park

Land for Learning Institute will lead children in Trails of Awareness activities with “real experiences, real lessons, real stories and real memories”. Children will have direct wilderness-based learning experiences using traditions and knowledge of ancient cultures to promote a sense of place, self-reliance, and self-awareness.

Tuesday, August 26: 6:00 P.M. TLC/Community Garden

Families gather to view, tour, and harvest the Cobden Community Garden. Families will be encouraged to relax and enjoy the beautiful and tranquil space. A RIF book distribution will also take place.


Jardinería ornamental y comestible

2008 Calendario de las actividades

martes, 3 de junio: 6:00 P.M. El campo

La introducción a la biblioteca: Una bibliotecaria leerá Inch by Inch: A Garden Song y describe el Programa de lectura del verano. Las familias plantarán hierbas en macetas para cultivar en casa.

lunes, 9 de junio – 4 de septiembre: 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. CET

Las clases de inglés - el jardín para la comunidad será el tema de unas actividades este verano, con el propósito de practicar el jardinería ornamental y comestible.

martes, 17 de junio: 6:00 P.M. Stinson Memorial Library

Una jira de la biblioteca, obtener tarjetas, escoger libros y ver una película familiar.

miércoles, 15 de junio – 28 de julio Stinson Memorial Library El programa de lectura del verano Cobden Library también

martes, 22 de julio y martes, 19 de agosto: 6:00 P.M. CET

Un proyecto para crear productos con hierbas y te del jardín de la comunidad además de productos de su propio jardín.

lunes, 4 de agosto - miércoles, 6 de agosto: 9 A.M. – 3 P.M.

El parque de “Giant City”

Land for Learning Institute dirigirá a los niños en actividades del programa “Caminos de conciencia”. Este programa incluye experiencias, lecciones, cuentos y memorias auténticas que tienen lugar en el bosque.

martes, 26 de agosto: 6:00 P.M. CET/el jardín

La recepción del jardín – Las familias se reunirán para ver el jardinería ornamental y comestible. Animamos que las familias descansen y disfruten el jardín. Distribuiremos libros también.

Summer Schedule; Congrats to Cobden Applekockers Softball

CONGRATULATIONS TO COBDEN APPLEKNOCKERS
STATE 1A SOFTBALL CHAMPIONS!

Summer 2008

Technology Learning Center Hours

Gardening Club

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Mondays and Wednesdays

Begins on June 4

Meet at Technology Center

Computer Lab

10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Mondays and Wednesdays

9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Tuesdays and Thursdays

By appointment Fridays

Begins on June 3

Supervision and Time Limits

û Children under the age of 10 must be supervised and may participate for a period of two hours daily.

û Children between the ages of 10-15 may attend without supervision for a period of two hours daily.

û Those who are 16 and older may attend without supervision and have no time limitations.

Craft Time

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Thursdays June 26

July 24

August 14

  • Children may attend these craft events without supervision.
  • A variety of age appropriate activities will be planned.


El horario de verano 2008

Centro educativo de tecnología

Club de jardinería

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Los lunes y miércoles

Empieza el 4 de junio

Juntamos en las computadoras

El laboratorio de computación

10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Los lunes y miércoles

9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Los martes y jueves

Con cita Los viernes

Empieza el 3 de junio

Supervisión y límites de horas

û Los niños que tienen menos de 10 años necesitan supervisión y pueden participar por un período de dos horas al día.

û Los niños entre 10-15 años pueden asistir sin supervisión por un período de dos horas al día.

û Ellos que tienen 16 años y más pueden asistir sin supervisión y no hay límites de tiempo.

Días de artesanía

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Los jueves 26 de junio

24 de julio

14 de agosto

  • Los niños pueden asistir estas actividades de artesanía sin supervisión.
  • Planearemos varias actividades indicadas para varias edades.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Garden Progress

¡Hola! Estamos cultivando varias plantas ahora y arreglamos un sendero en el medio del jardín. Los niños pueden regar más facilmente. Miren las Flores: primrose, sweet william, sage, rose bush with two buds, irises.







Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Las plantas para el jardín de la comunidad en Cobden

Mil gracias to John Rivera for the strawberry plants and the beautiful blue balsam tea mint! We are off to a good start. Our herb garden already has chive and sage from last year and the blooms are lovely! The strawberry and mint plants were placed here and we're looking forward to eating las fresas this year.

The Cobden Community Garden has been tilled now, thanks to Paul Frank, and ready for the plants that have been donated so far: tomatoes; cayenne, jalapeño, hot banana and bell peppers; cucumbers; zucchinis; and eggplants. We are extremely grateful to Patricia Sawyer, a colleague at the TLC, for her donation!

Muchas gracias también to Cliff Connelly and Walter Russell for their help in cleaning up the area to remove sticks and rocks! The soil is getting better each year and soon we will not have to till at all. We have put many loads of manure, compost, and top soil because when we started the soil was very rocky with not much top soil.

The irises that were donated last year are going to be blooming soon. We will have some beautiful yellow blossoms. Our goal is to plant some tiger lilies around these to have more blooms after the irises. These flowers are located at the far west side of the garden, near the car lot.

The garden also has some grasses at the far south side that we are trying to develop. Some have come back and some have not, but we will keep trying.

To the right is our herb garden that we started last year: It is three-tiered and has a hose that runs up the center so that with a water source attached, it waters the plants like a fountain. ¡Por supuesto, a los niños les gusta mojarse!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Plants y seed donations needed to fill our garden!

Plants y seed donations needed to fill our community garden!

This year the theme is edible y fragrant plants. We've compiled a list of various plants and herbs that we can use to fill our garden space, eat, and enjoy the their fragrance and beauty.

Here's a list of plants and herbs that we would like to put in our garden areas. Do you have any of these that you can divide from your garden, share your seedlings and/or donate seeds or small potted plants??
  • arugula
  • basil
  • bee balm
  • calendula
  • chamomile
  • cilantro
  • day lilies
  • dill
  • echinacea
  • fennel
  • garlic
  • kale
  • lavender
  • lemon balm
  • marigolds
  • mesclin
  • Mexican sage
  • mizuna
  • mountain mint
  • oregano
  • pineapple sage
  • rhubarb
  • spearmint
  • Swiss chard
  • thyme
Do you have any time to spend alongside us as we plant our donated plants and seeds? Help tend to our gardens with watering, weeding, and mulching? Or just to enjoy? Please contact Jeri Kinser.




Jeri Kinser shows volunteer Jay Young (sociology undergrad de SIUC) where he will be planting.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

La primavera and the TLC


La primavera ha llegado and the children, parents and staff at the TLC are getting excited about the Cobden Community Garden! This will be the third year for the garden and one of our favorite things to grow is the girasol that you see to your left. Every year we have a lot of these and the birds love it. So do we because the colors are so beautiful!

This year our theme is Edible Landscaping, so we are looking for plants that not only can be eaten, but that also add beauty to the community garden. Paul and Tammy Frank have generously provided the space for our garden to flourish. The Village of Cobden provides the water that is so important throughout the growing season.

We have a beautiful mural that was painted last year on the back wall of the C-Infinity Center with the help of mural artist Jose Guajardo. Many children in the community were involved in this project and the mural tells their story about their community.

If anyone has ideas to share about edible landscaping, we would love to hear from you. In addition, we are looking for plants or seeds and involvement from the community. We will share pictures of this year's garden as we progress.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Bienvenidos

We, the staff of the TLC and all of its participants are extremely excited to now have a blog thanks to the help of Kathryn Ward, professor of sociology and women's studies, SIUC. This blog will help us share the many stories we have about the work that our students do here. Families participate in classes, tutoring, learning English and computer skills, and having fun with technology.

We look forward to telling our stories and hearing your comments!

Hasta luego

TechnoCentro Bienvenidos-Welcome


We have just established a blog to tell the stories of the Technology Learning Center (a/k/a) TLC in Cobden, IL where in a friendly bi-lingual setting, youth and families come to learn how to use computers, browse the internet, play games, join global conversations, and have fun.

The Center's hours are 9a-8p, Mondays, Wednesdays, y Thursdays and 9a-2:30p on viernes, 9a-6pm on martes.