2014 Report for Thompson Association

2014 Report for Thompson Association of Retired Educators (TARE) for the Member Engagement/ Chapter Initiative Project

Bea Shantz

Several TARE members are involved with Thompson’s Communities in Bloom committee. They suggested to our local RTAM chapter that TARE should add to the beauty of Thompson by taking on responsibility for a few planters. All agreed that this was a good idea and our President, Joan Goble, applied for the $250.00 Member Engagement Project grant that was available from RTAM.

With the money in hand, TARE members discussed how we could use this to not only add beauty to the community but also educate Thompsonites about planting in general. It was decided that the Thompson Public Library (TPL) building entrance was an ideal place to put planters with a mixture of vegetables and flowers. TARE could become involved with the TPL Summer Reading Program, TARE members would be available to provide information about growing plants. And from an educational point (always important to educators!) the children would have the opportunity to see how tomatoes and corn actually grow. Throughout the summer, TARE members watered and pruned the plants. On two occasions, TARE members came to the TPL to read a planting themed story to the children and talk about the plants. The children were excited to see how the tomatoes formed and ripened on the plants. A few stalks of corn were put in each planter and they are actually forming cobs so it will be interesting to see if they mature. While the herbs and marigolds that were added to the mix got overwhelmed by the tomatoes, the planters sure look amazing! TPL members going into the library stop and check out the planters to see how things are growing.

The other component of this project used derelict planters in front of a Thompson restaurant and filled these with annual and perennial flowers and lilac bushes. The owner was very grateful. TARE members dug out the gravel-laden soil. They had to stand on top of the planters to get leverage to loosen the soil. The soil was replenished and fertilized to encourage good growth in our short season. Because the water source is inside the restaurant the owner has taken responsibility for watering these planters. He is amazed at how well they are doing!

We are very thankful to the City of Thompson for providing the two large planters with water reservoirs. City workers filled them with soil and placed them on the walkway to the front entrance of the TPL. The spouse of a TARE member (much appreciated) made wooden signs to remind people that the planters are cared for by Thompson retired educators (RTAM).

TARE members have certainly been engaged with this project over the summer. They planned, bought plants, hauled out old soil, lugged in repurposed soil from the former zoo, fertilized, planted, watered, pruned and deadheaded. They see the fruits of their labour as flowers bloom and tomatoes ripen. Thompsonites are more aware of TARE as an involved group in the community as a result of this initiative. n