Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of St. Lawrence County's Master Gardener Volunteers invited local schools to participate in a Barn Quilt contest in early March of this year. Winners of the contest are to have their design painted and displayed on the main barn of the Learning Farm in Canton and receive a $25 gift card to the St. Lawrence University bookstore. CCE of St. Lawrence County functions as part of a larger state and national land-grant system that extends research based information to local residents, families and the agricultural community. The Master Gardener Program is a national program of trained volunteers who work in partnership with their county Cooperative Extension offices to extend gardening information to the local community. Over 1,500 volunteer Master Gardeners in New York State contribute educational services to meet the outreach mission of Cornell, influencing many thousands of consumers on horticultural issues.

After much consideration, the Master Gardener Volunteers of St. Lawrence County decided to combine several entries from 6th graders at Salmon River Central School District in Layla Mayville's art class to create one large seasonal collage. Kristin Colarusso, the Regional Coordinator & Youth and Family Team Leader at CCE mentioned, "Our Master Gardener Volunteers liked the designs so much that they decided to combine the concepts into one, with four panels which will represent the four seasons and the bounty that North Country agriculture has to offer."

The final design is expected to be on display by this Fall of 2016. The students will also be invited to join the Master Gardener Volunteers to complete the project that they have gone above and beyond with, exceeding any of the Master Gardener Volunteers' expectations.