triskeles.org » Triskeles Youth

Triskeles Youth at Entrepreneurs Expo

Triskeles Staff — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:19:39 +0000

Some of our Green Interns were ‘hired’ by Kimberton Whole Foods and Organic Mechanics soil to man the displays at the Entrepreneurs Expo in Phoenixville on October 8th and get some experience marketing products to the public.

Held for the first time, the expo at Franklin Commons featured many different businesses, speakers, and products. Senator Andy Dinniman gave out several awards and an inspiring talk on what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

Good experience for young minds!

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The Triskeles Crew Manning Displays

VANGUARD GROUP VOLUNTEERS JOIN TRISKELES YOUTH

Triskeles Staff — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:21:19 +0000

Last Saturday, Oct 1, a very caring and hard-working group of Vanguard volunteers joined the Triskeles Side by Side and Next Steps programs youth in their activities. Helping ‘younger’ (our Green Interns and Side by Side teens) and ‘youngest’ (the Side by Side and Next Steps students) this group of committed volunteers baked, made cider, applesauce, separated garlic, supervised crafts — and did many other helpful things as they participated in one of the two programs in the Kimberton area.

Thanks Vanguard!! That was a huge help.

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SxS Next Steps Oct 1-11

Vanguard Group Volunteers work Side by Side with Triskeles Youth

North Coventry School Gardens–Helping Feed in Time of Need

Triskeles Staff — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:05:18 +0000

The parent gardening group at North Coventry elementary school has done a superb job of managing and maintaining the gardens there this summer. Despite very hot–and then very wet–weather, the gardens look great, are weed-free, and still producing a variety of great organic foods.

Many school families suffered during the recent flooding, and the local food pantry was also flooded out. Not to worry–the produce from the school garden is going right to those who need it in the school community.

Deb Savage and Anjanette Selvaggio have done a exemplary job of leading the group in charge of the garden to a new level of productivity. We are so glad to see this.

Picture album below (click on thumbnail)

North Coventry School Gardens: Feeding those flooded out by Lee

Late Summer in the Eagleview Garden

Triskeles Staff — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:20:50 +0000

It’s September, and the garden at the Eagleview Potter Building site is reflecting the change of seasons. Cucumbers were fantastic this year, but now they’re yellowing and small and soon will be gone. Tomatoes are still found, but ripen slowly. Green beans–also a bumper year–are getting scarcer. Yellow squash, peppers, eggplant–fewer each week. Parsley: we have a ton, and residents are drying it for use later.

But, it’s time to plant some new fall crops. So we checked with Albert Casey, the ‘chief gardener’ at the site, and decided on some lettuce, kale, radishes and perhaps a few other things that can stand the cold weather. A few are in, but more to come next week.

The harvests have been much bigger in the garden’s second season, and we anticipate harvesting things til Thanksgiving (with luck from the weather).

Triskeles Youth Join UPenn Health Focus Group

Triskeles Staff — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:17:42 +0000

Five young Spring City & Pottstown area youth traveled to Coatesville’s Brandywine Center on August 24th to take part in a University of Pennsylvania study on food and physical activity options in their communities. This study is looking at options available to African-American youth in Chester County; and is done under the supervision of Shiriki K. Kumanyika, Ph.D., M.P.H of the UPenn School of Medicine.

The five youth are all part of the Triskeles Food for Thought Program, which offers a comprehensive series of experiential activities educating youth on the growing, cooking, understanding and business aspects of healthy local food. The Chester County Department of Community Development, The Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, and The Phoenixville Community Health Foundation all support Triskeles’ program bringing health awareness and job training to a large group of local youth.

While one group was doing the study, the other youth visited community gardens in Coatesville and made a short trip to Vollmecke Orchard and CSA to talk with owner Karen Vollmecke about aspects of her work there.

Green Interns ‘HOPP’ To It at Rolling Hills

Triskeles Staff — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:08:22 +0000

A collaboration between Triskeles and Fellowship Farm brought out 34 people of all ages from infants to seniors to cook healthy food together, eat it, and learn about the Triskeles’ Food for Thought summer program.

The Healthy Options for the People of Pottstown (HOPP) and Triskeles’ Food for Thought/Green Internship programs are both funded by the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation. By collaborating, we were able to do a longer program for more people and bring more delicious and healthy foods for all to sample: Potato/Carrot/Kale pancakes; Banana-Strawberry Yogurt smoothies; and other treats brought the crowd out.

Thanks to all who helped make this busy evening possible.

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Rolling Hills & Green Interns

Side by Side and Next Steps – A Busy Day

Triskeles Staff — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:23:47 +0000

Our Side by Side and Next Steps programs shared the garden building on Saturday, and filled the space inside and out with a hum of activity. Side by Side youth had their usual range of activities from baking to drama to farm visits; while the older Next Steps youth learned about worms, worm composting, and made and set up our own worm bins under the expert guidance of Ed Mullock ‘The Worm Guy.’ It was great, and they learned a lot.

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Working and Learning Side by Side

Vermiculture for Earth Day

Triskeles Staff — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:32:23 +0000

Triskeles brought our favorite ‘worm guy’ to W. Vincent Elementary School on May 3rd to show the students at their Earth Day activities how to raise worms–red wigglers to be specific–and gather the worm compost for plant fertilizer. Sunny, 80 degrees, interested students–a great day all around.

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From Earth Day at W. Vincent Elementary School

Eagleview Gets Going with help from Coatesville youth

Triskeles Staff — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:20:12 +0000

The garden at the Potter Building senior center is on its way again, thanks to a collaboration between seniors from Eagleview and some strong, hard-working youth from Coatesville, Triskeles, and a couple of great volunteers: Pandu Rao, Louise Smith, and Master Gardener Peg Huebner.

We worked on April 29th to add mushroom compost to many beds, plant broccoli, lettuce, radishes, etc

On May 4 we came back to finish the beds, add more compost, and bring the worms! Not only for the beds, but to establish a worm composting bin at the site so seniors can recycle kitchen waste right there.

All ages from teens to 90++ seniors worked together to make this a fun and productive day. This should be a good year in the garden. Collaboration Can Be Fun!

Pictures below: (click on it to see more)

Eagleview Seniors and Coatesville Juniors

Triskeles and North Coventry Elementary School Present to Council on Foundations

Triskeles Staff — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:22:05 +0000

Triskeles’ Director of Youth Programs, Mark Birdsall, joined North Coventry Elementary School staff, parents, and students on Monday, April 11 to highlight the way in which Triskeles and the school have leveraged funding from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation and other funders to create a successful, vibrant wellness program. A large group of visitors from around the country, participants in the Council on Foundations conference in Philadelphia, made the journey out to Pottstown, courtesy of the local Health Foundation, to see the program in action.

Triskeles has played a central role in the garden’s evolution, as the connecting link between local resources, Master Gardeners, suppliers of seeds and materials, and the ‘youth power’ necessary to get things going. Now ‘parent power’ is taking over that role—freeing up our time and resources to go on and help others accomplish similar feats.

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NORCO Council of Foundations Visit