Misha McRae, executive director of the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the garden.
Art in the Garden is winding down.
McRae said, “It’s a new way to discover the garden. We work with local artists who have created pieces of art sculptures from a foot tall to six foot tall that represent a recycled, repurposed and reused materials. The message here, as you know, the garden’s forest recycles itself every day, and we as mankind should be doing our part to do it as well, and not everything thing goes in the dump.”
There’s also a composting project underway.
McRae said, “Once again, the message is recycling and composting is a good way to do it. We started a research project, and we are on the sixth month of it. We have five different means of recycling. We’re going to do it for a year and find out which is the best way to recycle at your own home, in your own yard here in Key West Florida. We do a workshop every Tuesday, from 1 to 3, so we’re looking for people to come and help us out. You actually get hands on training. We’re going to explain to you the process. You get to learn how to do it and find what works best for you. Then on the third Saturday of each month, that is our monthly plant sales, third Saturday of month, we do a compost drop off. We’re at that point right now when people drop off their compost, which are your kitchen scratch, we’ll be able to give you a bag of fresh compost which is the result of your drop off from six weeks ago.”
The best way to support the garden is to become a member.
McRae said, “Not only does it support this great organization, but you’re putting your mark on helping the environment. I feel very privileged to be with the organization as long as I have, not only to preserve this part of Key West history, but we always say, think globally, act locally, in preserving the environment as well as the wildlife habitat that has been the history of this garden as well. Membership has its privileges. Not only is it tax deductible, but it gets you free access to the garden during normal business hours. It gets you discounts at our plant sale, we allow our members to come in any Saturday between nine and noon and work in the nursery, as well as find out what works in their yard and what they’d like to buy for their yard. It gets you special invitations from yours truly, your executive director on events and activities and means of participation.”
How is the new education center doing?
McRae said, “Our education Living Lab has been active since 2006. We work directly with the educators, both in Monroe County School District as well as home, charter and private. We are working to put in a new education center that’s long overdue, and we are looking for people help participate with our capital campaign in raising the funds to do it. The new education center will not only have an indoor classroom, but it’ll have a video room, a science lab. It’s going to have indoor, outdoor classroom. It’s going to be what we need for the community, as well as our visitors, on learning more about this garden, about the importance of the garden, and all the important projects that we perform, not just for the community, which we are a community center, but for the global education. We want to set the example. That’s what we want to do.”
Volunteers are also needed.
McRae said, “I started out as a volunteer myself at the Botanical Garden back in 1996/97. When the rain comes, so do the weeds. We are looking for our set core volunteers that would be committed to come in weekly to help us with the weeding. We call them our weed warriors, because you need help in reducing the amount of weeds. It should actually show the beauty of the plants as well as we’ve added 84 new species of plants in that nursery since 2015. We’re looking for those people who are going to help us. I mean, it’s called the nursery for a reason, that’s where all our babies are. We’re looking for those dedicated people to help us raise those babies. We do a program you can help on Fridays and Saturday mornings, from nine to noon for the students in the community. This is for community service. We’d love to have your participation and that way you not only get to play in the dirt, but you actually get to help to do something positive for the environment. I call it soul food. It’s just good for you.”
Donations are also always welcome.
McRae said, “You can go through the website, or you can or you can call us at the garden at 305-296-1504, and please reach out if you’re looking for a way to help out, but you don’t know what it is yet, please give me a call. I’d love to talk to you about it and get your participation.”
For more information, click here: https://www.keywest.garden/