Landscapes for Families
Caring. Connection. Community.
As the Seasons pass through the year, the work and location of Creating Landscapes for Families changes while hoping to support the needs of our local children, families, and neighborhoods.
During the Summer, Families till, plant, and care for a COMMUNITY GARDEN on South Main Street. In Fall, Winter, and Spring, FAMILIES EARLY LEARNING CENTER – which is located on Chestnut Street just a few blocks up the street from the garden – is a sunny little school for local preschoolers.
At the time of putting together this annual report, the garden is growing so I’ll start there:
FAMILIES COMMUNITY GARDEN
As I think about our garden... I think about our neighbors
Summer 2023 marked Families tenth year of growing together on South Main Street. In July, a summer storm went through the garden. Along with much needed beautiful lightning and rain, it also brought strong wind – so forceful that it knocked over an apple tree that had been planted several years ago by local Allegheny College students. It was planted with the “hope” to someday bear fruit to nourish the neighbors.
Without hesitation and with the spirit of kindness, our next door neighbor Paul Davis of Common Roots showed up and lifted that tree back into the ground. He brought together other neighbors to help. The roots were torn from the ground so they tucked them back in and gently covered them with the rich soil they had been planted in years ago. They brought ropes and stakes from home and carefully tied the tree back into place. They hoped it would survive - they KNEW they had done all they could do to help.
That apple tree today – as Families Garden 2024 is growing
– is standing strong and FULL of tiny little apples ready to grow
for fall munching. Families program is forever grateful for the help with the apple tree and for the friendship we have found with our next door neighbors Common Roots. They roll up their sleeves and help throughout the entire growing season. They offer ideas and implement them.
Friendships between Common Roots members and our Families program children and families have been forged by literally digging in the dirt and planting together. Those friendships and bonds between neighbors is the reason that Families Garden is standing, growing, and is a place filled with fresh food that is available for the entire neighborhood.
With help from neighbors, we have been able to:
• Harvest and put to rest our 2023 garden. It was filled with vegetables and flowers (and yes – our strong and faithful weeds).
• Maintain our Little Library and Little Pantry – both were visited by neighbors all throughout last winter. People donate and people receive.
• Plan and plant garden 2024 under the kind and thoughtful guidance of our Common Roots neighbor Paul who spent time gathering ideas about “needs and likes” from neighbors. “Stuff to go on neighborhood tables” is the goal.
• Keep the lawn beautifully mowed.
• Plant a pollinator garden in partnership with Creating Landscapes Food for Thought "Children's Garden" and with gratitude for Calvin Ernst – who offered us seeds – seeds of knowledge and seeds of pollinator flowers.
• Enjoy a lovely herb garden that was planted and labeled by Paul in the raised bed that was donated to us by George Vukmer. The fragrance of that garden is as incredible as the taste of the herbs!
How fortunate our garden is to be surrounded by all that....
And as I think about our little school...
FAMILIES EARLY LEARNING CENTER
Iremember how last school year started – It was our seventh
year of existence and we were a “full house” with a wonderful blend of 3 year olds and 4 year olds. I remember that our 3s were
VERY YOUNG threes and many of the 4s were almost 5. We have always had 3-5 year olds but this was the first time we had such
a WIDE range of those ages. This was going to be interesting!
And I remember that we as staff made up our minds to fully enjoy watching those children – the 4s helping the 3s and the 3s teaching the 4s to remember what it was like to “be little”. In the end, we ALL learned the beauty, joy, learning, and NON STOP fun to be
had in a multi age classroom! Our Early Learning Center was purposefully designed to be a multi age (3-5) center – and this was a true year to test it. Amen to those children! They definitely taught us how to do it!
When the year ended, we sent thirteen children off to kindergarten and we have seven of the 3s (who are mostly all four now!) remaining with us until they are kindergarten age. THEY will be the teachers of the new children joining our little school this fall and they will do a great job!
Our “last day of school” is definitely not the favorite day BUT after the children and families are gone, staff takes a breath (and a few tears) – and immediately throw themselves into thinking about next year.
So here we go!
• We are fully enrolled for the coming year and we will be ready to open our doors on August 26 for our 8th year!
• We remain in good standing with DHS (Dept of Human Services) and we have earned a STAR 4 rated school through the Pennsylvania Keystone State System.
We remain a recipient of PreK Counts Grant (this will be our 7th year as a partner in that grant with Pennwest) and are thrilled to offer the opportunity for free high-quality preschool to 18 local children and their families.
• We are so proud of the fact that ALL of our staff are people who started out in Creating Landscapes, Creating Landscapes for Families, OR had children or grandchildren of their own who attended “Our Little School” at one time! Our staff KNOWS our school and what children and families can expect during their time here. They deserve to feel safe and loved – and I believe they do!
• Every year, we grow “our ELC family” – actually we had our second ever ELC Family Reunion this past year – families from ALL of our previous years were invited. As one of our staff whispered to me during the evening event “oh my gosh... this is standing room only!!” AND IT WAS! This ELC Family Reunion will definitely be an annual event! We cherish the opportunity to stay in touch with our ever growing ELC family!
• Of course – most important of all are our preschoolers. They never fail to guide and inspire us. With the fine example of Kelly Winters as Lead Teacher, our entire staff supports and celebrates the natural curiosity of all children. In Our Little School, children play, sing, dance, make beautiful art, ask questions, work out problems, offer ideas, and celebrate one another. Life learning!
• As CREATING LANDSCAPES FOR FAMILIES moves forward, you are invited ...
• All are welcome to stop at Families Garden – it’s always open! -And all are welcome to visit our “Our Little School” - We’d love to show you around.
- Joyce Klausen
Founder of Creating Landscapes for Families
For more information, please contact Rosemary Richardson by phone at (814) 333-9228, by e-mail at rosemary@creatinglandscapes.org, or Join our community on Facebook! 