Sunday, May 29, 2011

Stoughton Chamber Singers Concert

 


The rain quit in plenty of time for the 2011 Stoughton Chamber Singers Concert in the Cooksville Church. There was a good crowd and the choir got a standing ovation for their performance. Afterwards, choir and audience enjoyed cookies and tea and lemonade in the Cooksville Community Center.
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Sunday, May 15, 2011

On the Trail of Garlic Mustard

 


A few folks, led by Jody Foster and her friend, Mary, went after the garlic mustard in the woods of the Cooksville Commons last weekend. Several large garbage bags were filled with the stuff which continues to develop even after it is pulled. The DNR recommends bagging it for the landfill in order to prevent its spread.

A number of people had experience with cooking common weeds and happily shared their knowledge. There is a wealth of food growing right under our feet here in Cooksville.

Garlic mustard has a 2 year growth cycle, so even if we got every single blossoming plant this year, we would still need to come back next year and attack it again. So count on another garlic mustard day next May. And thanks to all who came to help out.
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Monday, May 2, 2011

Get a Grip On Garlic Mustard Sat., May 8


The Cooksville Community Center will hold an educational program entitled “Get a Grip on Garlic Mustard” on Saturday, May 7 from 9:00 a.m. until noon on the Cooksville Commons located on Hwy 59, 2 blocks east of the intersection of Hwy 138 and Hwy 59.

Anyone with an interest is welcome to join in for a day of education and community service. The topic will be the invasive Garlic Mustard plant. Cooksville resident, Jody Foster, will be leading this activity. She has been foraging wild foods for over 10 years. Last year she began teaching others how to identify and use the abundance nature offers us right outside our doors.

Participants will learn how to identify garlic mustard at the various stages of its life, how to control its spread, as well as how to serve it for dinner. The class will be making an effort to pull this year’s growth from the woods at the Cooksville Commons. Attendees can expect to go home with handouts and recipes to try this nutritious and delicious weed on their table. A black trash bag or two would be a welcome donation and will be put to good use! This event is being sponsored by the Cooksville Community Center. For more information email: borrowedearth@litewire.net .

The Center is Clean!


Thanks to all who helped.

Indoors Earlene, Mary Z. and Ilene swept, vacuumed and wiped surfaces. Ralph Pelky washed interior windows.

Outdoors Keith, Larry McD., Bill Z., and Carl Franseen raked and hauled brush.

Jennifer weeded & cleaned the flower beds along the south side. She has bark up there to put down still.

Karl Wolter showed up just as the group finished. He was all ready to wash windows. He will return another day & wash some exterior windows with Patrick. He & Jennifer walked the borders & found garlic mustard along the highway which he said he would take care of.

Mary Kohlman phoned somebody & said she would clean the outhouses.

So we are ready for another season. Many thanks.