Karyn Juntunen discusses school gardens, community gardens and more

In the latest PHF Podcast, Karyn Juntunen from the Copper Country Intermediate School District joins host Michael H. Babcock and Portage Health Foundation’s (PHF) Director of Community Health Michelle Seguin, M.D. to discuss school gardens, community gardens, seed saving, gardening in general and an upcoming virtual presentation that Juntunen will be leading. The podcast starts with updates to the CCISD Greenhouse Project, which was completed in 2019 at the CCISD’s main campus in Hancock. The greenhouse is now completely operational, and was used over the last year to virtually help students better understand the process of growing. Juntunen also unveils her plans for what will happen this spring, including their popular fundraiser of selling “the best” starter plants. From there Dr. Seguin introduces last year’s community garden projects. The foundation funded nine projects last year. One specifically discussed is the Ontonagon Village Housing Commission project’s pedestal and raised bed gardens. To finish, Juntunen introduced her the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative learning Series. Abbey Palmer from MSU Extension office and her will be hosting Seed Science & The School Garden on Wednesday, March 3 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. This is a free event open to teachers, community partners and parents. Those interested can sign up here, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSfh5CNDsa36guXKxIq8bOYzzntqbL-RK3YeHXmkmpAApLwQ/viewform.