Robin Hood Garden Club marks 20 years
The group, with gardeners of all levels, meets from September through June at the Marjorie Stewart Senior Community Center in Sherwood.
By Diana Page Jordan
SHERWOOD, Ore. — Marty Brown, one of the original members, said the club began meeting at the YMCA and then at Al’s Garden and Home before landing at the Marjorie Stewart Center last year.
Marilyn Ellis, president of the Robin Hood Garden Club, explained the move’s timing lined up with a split from the Oregon Federation of Garden Clubs, which covers the entire state.
“About a year ago, we decided that we wanted to put more of our effort and our funding into the actual community, and not have it dispersed as quite as widespread, without any say into where it went,” Ellis said. “We wanted to be more involved in our local community.”
That’s what inspired the Robin Hood Garden Club to reach out to Marjorie Stewart Senior Center, where it now meets.
The funds Robin Hood Garden Club receives from the $15 annual dues and fundraising goes directly to the city of Sherwood.
“We submit our expenses for operating materials, crafts, and any supplies that we need, and they take care of that, while also paying for our guest speakers,” Ellis said. “t’s turned out to be a really nice way to continue the club and know that everything that we do really benefits our own community.”
Every month, the club provides a bouquet to the Sherwood Library. It sits on their front desk, along with a business card, inviting anyone interested to come to a garden club meeting.
The Robin Hood Garden Club has grown to 42 members.
“It’s a lot of fun with new people, especially some younger people, that are joining now,” Brown said. “And it’s nice to see some old friends when we go to a meeting.”
Cheryl and Rob Guth are known for their Fun and Games Committee.
“We have a really good mix between speakers, field trips, and the serious side of gardening,” Cheryl Guth said. “It’s really fun to throw in different things, like making green wreaths. We went out to several of our members' houses and picked all the greens. Then I brought all the wire, and the rings, and bows, and ribbons, and we did the craft activities.”
In addition, the club participates in Sherwood’s annual Lunar New Year Lantern Festival.
“We paint the lanterns, and we give them to the art center, and they display them on their ceiling, which is really great fun,” Ellis said.
There’s also the annual Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA.
“We do a program where the kids learn how to plant seeds, vegetables, and we have a whole workshop there, so they come, and they learn how to make pots with the composable material, like newspaper, and then they plant the seeds, and we give them a little sheet on how to take care of those seeds, and how to water them, and they put the soil in, and pack it in,” Ellis said.
On the lighter side, Ellis said, “When we do our Healthy Kids' Day at the Y, we all wear Robin Hood hats so everybody knows that we're with the Robin Hood Garden Club.”
The club is also focused on conservation and conserving the natural resources of the planet. Jacki Dougan is an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener, which means she can answer gardening questions scientifically.
“It can be very overwhelming, the number of plants that we can grow in Oregon. You don't know where to start,” Dougan said. “That's where the stories and the visiting from the other gardeners help so much — the reassurance that you don't have to plant everything all at once. Almost anything you plant will grow because we're in a wonderful climate with wonderful soil.”
That includes the garden behind the Marjorie Stewart Center where clubbers plant in March, using ingredients from a list that the chef makes. In May, they harvest herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, and basil that the chef will use to prepare the center’s meals.
Coming up. members of the Robin Hood Garden Club will create a table of crafts in November for the Christmas Bazaar.
“We've got six or seven different items that we're going to have members help make,” Guth said. “Whatever money we make, goes back into our coffers.”
Dougan said, “One of the things that's been interesting about this club is the longevity of some of the members. It continues to be local people who really want to help out and form community around gardening.”
The community members have gardens of all sizes.
“Some of our members live in condominiums, or in townhomes, or even in apartments,” Ellis said. “Some have large pieces of land. Some own acres of land. They might have a little patio, or they might just have some pots within their home.”
Brown even has an old 14-foot wooden boat in their front yard, planting flowers in it, changing every season.
“I just am glad the garden club has continued to grow and change,” Brown said. “I enjoy getting to know the new people in the club.”
Jules Rogers
Jules Rogers
