header
Springtime is Planting Time
Sometimes in the course of completing a myriad of tasks one forgets to have fun along the way.  Such was not the case for Grow Benzie this week when second graders from Crystal Lake Elementary came calling.  Children from Mrs. Forest's and Mrs. Gould's classes brought their pumpkin seedlings that they had started growing in the classroom to Grow Benzie to plant in the garden. 
  
 
Like a pied piper volunteer Richard Hendricks leads the class through the garden paths to their pumpkin patch field.

mary ann and kids
Mary Ann Hendricks explaining how to get the seedlings out of their pots and gingerly plant them in the ground.  Phyllis Livingston and Hendricks in background "planting" the second graders sign that they'd made for the garden. 
 
girl planting
 Ever so carefully this seedling was planted.
teacher and kids 
 
After the pumpkins were planted, the children were able to plant squash and cucumbers in the pumpkin patch field and popcorn in rows in another area.  Everyone is invited to check back often this summer to watch the growing plants, and we all look forward to the harvest this fall.
Thank you Crystal Lake Elementary for coming. You made our day!
 
Farmer's Market Update
 
  Wednesday, June 9th, was our first Farmer's Market and we're happy to report that the sun was shining, people found us, and sales were made.  We're looking forward to the coming summer months with an offering of wonderful produce, flowers, and products from our area
 

Please note:   Our entrance has changed and is no longer by our big sign at the edge of the road- M115.  If coming from Frankfort, you must go further and turn right on Fox Lane.  When coming from Beulah, you must slow down as you crest the hill because the left turn into Fox Lane comes up quickly.  Watch for the red signs with White Arrows.
He Paints, She Paints
 
Melanie Parke and Richard Kooyman, two local artists with studios and homes in Chief Lake and Chicago, and strong supporters of Grow Benzie, will be hosting a gallery in "Big Blue" throughout our entire July 23-25th weekend event .  Both are well known for the depth of their body of work ranging from natural world landscapes to representative abstracts. They are collected broadly, and recipients of numerous national honors. We are fortunate to have them embrace the vision of Grow Benzie and allow us to exhibit and provide for sale of their life work. 
 
More about these two exceptional artists in the weeks to come-a quick glimpse- www.parkekooyman.com.
 
Melanie's work has been exhibited across the country- New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta and in the collection of the Department of Interior.
 
 
"Painting is a pleasure seeking process for me, and abstraction a vehicle with which to think.  I was a nature kid brought up on horses, vegetable gardening and canoe vacations.  I often have oozing knee-jerk raw emotion and rapture over single flowers and walks in the dunes near my studio."
 

Richard's paintings explore the natural world and our presence in it. He exhibits his work in Chicago, Michigan, Atlanta and New Jersey and is in numerous collections around the country.
 
sun blue day 
 
"I've always loved the James Joyce quote
'great art grabs the viewer and arrests them and turns their focus outward from themselves'. I'm interested in making paintings that change one's focus on the world through the power and lusciousness of paint". 
 
Works purchased at the Big Event are not taxed and forty percent of the purchase price is tax deductible representing a significant savings for the buyer.
 
 Art Prevue on
Friday, July 23rd!
"Ho"-Down Saturday July 24th!
Reservations 231 352 4487 
Growing Healthier Children in Benzie County 
 
 
  
There's more to come in future newsletters . . . . and if you know someone who's not receiving this newsletter but would enjoy receiving it, please have them email us at : growbenzie@gmail.com
 
And keep checking our website as there seems to be something new every day! 
www.growbenzie.org