This is part of an ArtsVest sponsorship program,  See story below.

Sally and Margaret from IRIS met with John Cooney's students to do some maintenance on the garden as well as try to keep the lower level cleaned up. It has so much potential - we have talked about it as a little amphitheatre, or perhaps a sculpture garden. We tied up the tomato vines and dug a few weeds.  We were give such great soil compost and plants (thanks to Miller Compost, Kamstras and KOBE's) that it's a pretty healthy growing spot. Also, Y residents Eleanor and friends have been keeping the weeds away. And it has been such a bad year for tomatoes that although they are plentiful they are still mostly green. 

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES ANYONE?

I was invited to the Rogers Daytime show to talk about The Secret Garden. Here is the interview:
http://rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=2&gid=216873

In advance of our Phase 2 Secret Garden project in 2015, we have been fundraising through an ArtsVest program the City of Oshawa has in place for this winter, The intention is to create links between business (i.e. sponsors) and art organizations (e.g. IRIS) . Our current sponsors are  the Career School of Hairdressing for monthly mini makeovers for the women residents and the students who are helping in the garden (see below). The salon students get fresh subjects to practice on and the women get free makeup and hair treatments. So far we have had two sessions, and everyone is having a ball. I can't say enough about the warm friendly atmosphere at the school, and also the way that each woman has had individual treatment from the cheerful talented students.
AND NEXT !!!
In Oshawa,  John Weiss Hair Design is the long standing creme de la creme for bespoke makeovers, and they have offered to do this $300 value treatment for two lucky women. There is a before and after wall in their foyer that gives dramatic testimony to what can happen in their hands. We look forward to seeing who will win the draw!

The partnership between IRIS and our sponsors will allow us to cover our costs for spring art and garden making at the YWCA with the residents there.