​Ripley Horticultural Society goes green for March meeting

The Ripley and District Horticultural Society embraced St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the March 17 meeting with most participants sporting green clothing and accessories. Passersby could be forgiven for thinking the Ripley-Huron Community Centre had been invaded by leprechauns as about two dozen participants were rather short in stature but large in enthusiasm.

Vice-president Christine Roberts opened the meeting with a welcome to the “For Our Youth” club members and visiting children and family from the area. A tradition for many years, the March gathering brings the young and young-at-heart together to share activities and learning.

Roberts called on youth club leader Rhonda Curran to continue the meeting with a presentation about the club.

Curran’s daughter, Brooklyn, presented a slide show highlighting the activities and accomplishments of the group in 2025. These largely revolved around a garden plot at the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens and the planning, planting, maintenance and harvesting of the produce. For most, the best part was cooking and eating the fruits of their labour.

Next, Curran introduced the craft: making mini-greenhouses and planting micro-greens. Participants at the meeting either brought their own or received a shallow plastic container with a lid. Club helpers Josslynn Curran and Heather and Natalie Newman distributed soil and seeds. Using their fingers or a utensil, the participants created a trench in the shape of the first letter of their name. Seeds were added, watered and the top affixed.

The seeds will become broccoli micro-greens, tender immature broccoli plants which are harvested one to two weeks after planting and are very nutritious. Both soil and seeds were generously donated by Nick O’Hatten of Huron Ridge Micros.

As the adults prepared to continue with the business portion of the meeting, the youngsters moved to the auditorium to play garden bingo and enjoy several relays and games of tag.

Each season of club meetings is organized on a theme. This year’s is “Cultivating Food and Friendships.” The young horticulturalists look forward to another season of active, creative and engaging growing and cooking experiences.

Back in the social room, the adult members of the horticultural society received reports and updates including finances, tree-planting and some preliminary plans for the society’s centennial celebration in 2027.

Secretary Dianne Simpson presented Fran Farrell with a service pin recognizing 40 years of membership!

The next meeting takes place Wednesday, April 15, at 1:30 p.m. at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre. Christine Roberts will give a presentation on invasive ornamental plants. Visitors and guests are always welcome.