Book Worm Gardens

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On Site Happenings

 

Greenscape Lawn and Landscape donates 300 hours of labor

One of our most dedicated group of volunteers is the  folks at Greenscape Lawn and Landscape, LLC, from Sheboygan. Owned and operated by Bob Reinthaler, Greenscape is donating a STAGGERING 300 hours of labor to our project!! They’ve spent multiple weekends on the site, laying brick and stone paths, building raised beds, planting and mulching. What’s more, these folks are genuinely committed to our project. Shayne, one of our/Greenscape’s most diligent volunteers, was seen building a fairy house in the forest with his family while taking a break from building a raised stone bed! Greenscape is also responsible for our fabulously beautiful waterfall, stream and pond. They do fabulous work, and we give them our very highest recommendation! We  COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!!!!

 

Sheboygan Falls High School Students build barn

Students from Sheboygan Falls High School, led by Tech Ed teacher Ed Hughes, have spent two semesters working on building our post and beam Charlotte’s Web barn. The class of 10 students built the frame from timbers originally used in a barn near Manitowoc. They constructed the framework at Sheboygan Falls High School, and then tore it down and reconstructed it on the site at Bookworm Gardens.  We are so very thankful to Ed and his kids for taking on this huge project! The siding and roof of the barn will be completed by members of the Sheboygan County Homebuilder’s Association once spring arrives. Charlotte and her spider web are awfully lucky to have all these great folks help to build her barn!

 

Home Depot employees volunteer on site

Warm and sunny skies greeted volunteers from Home Depot back in September, where they spent three days at Bookworm Gardens designing, building, and planting. These tireless workers built for us a wonderful and whimsical arbor and a compost bin, installed deer and split rail fencing, and planted trees and shrubs in our Japanese garden and Butterfly garden. Laughter and the sounds of electric generators and saws dominated the site, which was ablaze in orange from all the Home Depot t shirts!! The volunteers came from all over southeastern Wisconsin to help us, and brought with them creative ideas and boundless energy. Home Depot also donated $5000 of materials to our project. Thank you, Home Depot, for your energy, boundless enthusiasm, and generosity for our project. We couldn’t do it without you!

 

Groundbreaking June 24, 2009!

Under beautiful sunny skies, Bookworm Gardens celebrated our formal groundbreaking for the Hansel and Gretel Administration Building, walkways, pond and stream on the afternoon of June 24th. Many County, University and City dignitaries were able to help us celebrate this milestone event, as well as our loyal Board of Directors. It’s been a long journey to reach this point—we started back in 2005—so smiles, hugs and laughter were the order of the day.  We expect all the big diggers to arrive on Monday, July 6th, to start actual work. Visit often to watch us grow!

 

 

Gluck Tree Service visits Bookworm Gardens

Bob Gluck and his crew from Gluck Tree Care of Random Lake spent many hours volunteering their time and considerable talents at Bookworm Gardens this spring. They pruned the dead branches from several oak and spruce trees, and also worked on two American Chestnut trees. These American Chestnuts are very rare, having been almost eliminated due to a blight (similar to the fate of the American Elm). Tom Grittinger, botany professor at UW Sheboygan, planted these trees from seed approximately 20 years ago. They are beautiful trees and we are extremely fortunate to have these trees on site!

 

 

We appreciate the time that Bob and his crew spent on our behalf, and so do the trees! If you have any tree care needs please consider calling Bob at Gluck Tree Service.

 

 

 

 

 

Log Cabin by Gary Kolste of True North Log Homes

Thanks to Gary Kolste of True North LogHomes and GK&K Construction, the first building at Bookworm Gardens is finished. Gary and his crew spent more than a week on site, constucting the log cabin from Little House in the Big Woods. Gary donated the labor as well as the log system to Bookworm Gardens, an incredibly generous gift. Nestled in a beautiful grove of white pines, the cabin is utterly enchanting, featuring chinking between the logs and old fashioned hardware. Eventually a covered wagon and fire pit will be added to this area. Children will delight in pretending that they are living Laura Ingalls Wilder's life while they sweep the dirt floor in the cabin, "cook" over the fire, and "travel" in the covered wagon.

Built from slow growth white pine, and constructed using an innovative technology developed by True North Log Homes, the log cabin has no nails, screws or lag bolts. Gary is incredibly impressed with the system, and was happy to explain it to the volunteers who helped to stain and seal the cabin.

Thank you again to Gary and his crew for their wonderful work and generosity to Bookworm Gardens! For more information about True North Log Homesvisit www.truenorthloghomes.com or email Gary at www.gkolste@truenorthloghomes.com

6/30/09