Veggies for the Animals
Farm-to-Table Veggies on the Menu at
The Connecticut Audubon Society in Fairfield
Animals have to eat healthy too, and thanks to volunteers from the Fairfield Chapter of the National Charity League, Inc., critter residents at The Connecticut Audubon Society’s Center at Fairfield will soon be dining on home-grown organic greens fresh from their own garden.
As part of on-going support to Connecticut Audubon, 17 NCL, Inc. Fairfield Chapter members spent their day off at the Center, on April 26, planting a vegetable garden that will supply food for many of the education animals living there. Braving rainy conditions, they weeded and prepared a raised garden bed with starter plants of Swiss chard, lettuce, broccoli and spinach, and sowed carrot seeds to round out the selections.
“It’s satisfying to know that this garden will be a main source of healthy food for the rabbits, guinea pigs, box turtles and other animals at the Center,” said NCL mother, Stephanie Larsen. “The NCL girls love knowing these critters will be happy and fit for their roles as animal ambassadors, in part, because we helped ensure they have the freshest ingredients in their diet.”
Thanking the volunteers for their time and effort, CAS Executive Director Nelson North said, “We are so appreciative of the many ways NCL, Inc. contributes to the success of our programs and events. This garden will not only reduce the costs of supplying healthy meals for our animals, it will be incorporated into our school-year and summer camp animal education programs. Projects like this strengthen our mission to connect youth to nature and teach them about becoming responsible stewards of our natural environment. We couldn’t make this vision a reality without the commitment and help of organizations like NCL.”
The vegetable garden is a true community collaboration. The starter plants were supplied by Gilberties Herb Gardens of Easton, and on-going garden care and maintenance like weeding, watering and harvesting, are being undertaken by Master Naturalist volunteers, and by students in the Jr. Animal Care program at the CAS Center at Fairfield.
National Charity League, Inc. (NCL, Inc.) is a national non-profit organization comprised of mother and daughter members in Chapters across the United States. The NCL, Inc. mission is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. Membership in NCL, Inc. gives mothers and daughters unique opportunities to strengthen their bond while growing together,sharing of themselves and improving their communities. For more information on the NCL, Inc., Fairfield Chapter, please visit https://fairfield.nationalcharityleague.org/.
The Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield is located at 2325 Burr Street in Fairfield. The 155-acre Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary, with seven miles of walking trails open to visitors year-round, serves as an extensive outdoor classroom for school, summer camp and adult education programs. The Center building, open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., houses classrooms, live education animals and exhibits, and a Nature Store. Visit www.ctaudubon.org/center-at-fairfield for upcoming programs and events.
