The Thomas and Evelyn Orme Learning Center (TEOLC) has sponsored the formation of two new 4-H Community Clubs in the Hillsboro-Neersville-Loudoun Heights area. 


WHEN & WHERE
The clubs usually* meets the third Monday of every month from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Assembly Hall of Grandale Farm Restaurant.

*PLEASE NOTE FEBRUARY AND MARCH MEETINGS will be meeting:  February 25th and March 24th, 6-7:30 p.m.  Focus of both will be GARDENING.

WHAT
The two clubs consist of The Community Club for ages 9 to 19 and the Cloverbuds Club for ages 5 to 8.

Community Club Officers L to R: Charlotte Brouwer, President; Emma Thatcher, Vice President; Alyssa Pull, Secretary; Abbie Polizotto, Treasurer; Molly Polizotto, Reporter (Cloverbuds Club does not have officers)

TO JOIN
For more information, call 540-668-6000 and leave a message for Tom Orme or email tom@grandalefarm.com.

MISSION

The clubs will support all project areas offered to individual members using 4-H materials provided by the County Extension Service.  Four project areas will be promoted as specialties of TEOLC.  Club dues will be $60/year, payable $5/mo, and the primary method of club communication will be email.

• TEOLC's "Country Cooking for Kids" is a Hillsboro 4-H Club feature.  Members prepare completely or with the assistance of the Restaurant a meal for meeting attendees.  Special food preparation sessions for holiday and special occasion meals are scheduled according to interest and demand.

  
  

•  Pest control in commercial and home gardens through integrated pest management (IPM) is taught with the help of Extension personnel.

  
  

• A marine biology project will be undertaken to improve the existing farm pond as a water source for the Neersville Fire Department and as a center of recreation.  The farm pond is fifty years old and is filled with silt so that its original depth of twelve feet has been reduced to only four feet.  We plan to characterize the health of the pond, drain it, dig it out, and restock it.  The biology of the pond in its current state and during the recovery period will be monitored with help from experts.

  
  

• Thomas Orme has been photographing "The Change of Seasons" on Grandale Farm for five years.  His collection of 5000 photos provides the basis for characterization of local flora (and some fauna) which can be expanded to any areas interesting club members.  TEOLC has digital cameras, GPS equipment, and audio-visual computer aids to help club members create scrapbooks and slide shows.

 

To participate please email Thomas Orme for specific information and changes of schedule.
Email: Tom Orme

Named in honor of the parents of current owner Thomas White Orme, TEOLC has been described as an agriculturally-oriented math and science center, meant to supplement middle and secondary school programs. Emphasis is placed on sound basic science, food safety, nutrition, sustainable conventional agriculture, integrated pest management, biomonitoring, biotechnology and the mathematics associated with these application areas. Particular interest is directed toward agricultural genomics and an understanding of how modern genetics is transforming the agricultural sciences.

THE ANDECHS MODEL

The vision of a Learning Center where the visitor may ponder the efficacy of alternative medicine vs. pharmacogenetics, or calculate the chaotic population swings of goose, fox and snapping turtle, or savor the difference between heirloom tomato and vine ripened hybrid arises itself from a learned habit originating in pilgrimages undertaken when Thomas Orme was a visiting scientist at the Max Planck Institute in Munich, Germany. The model is well described in the website www.andechs.de. Chapel, school, farm, dormitory, restaurant, garden, and brewery are in the best Benedictine tradition.