Meet our Apprentices: Ginger Sage  Though she grew up in Oklahoma, Ginger Sage has spent most of her life in Colorado. A year ago she and her family returned to Oklahoma, so that her children, ages two and four, could attend a special school for hearing impaired. It has been a wonderful turn of events, not only for the children but the entire family.
“We have met a wonderful community at the school, Hearts for Hearing. They have welcomed us,” says Ginger. Too, she is bringing her family into another community here at CommonWealth. Currently an apprentice on the farm, she brought her family to the open house last Saturday. Children in hand, she said she wanted to show them where food comes from. And off they went into the rows of veggies. “I want them to see where food comes from and appreciate it,” she says. “I want them to be open to trying vegetables. I think once we plant seeds, watch them sprout and then try what grows, they’ll be more open to eating vegetables.” As a child, Ginger spent time on her grandparents’ farm near Bridge Creek, where they raised vegetables. “I remember snapping beans for my grandmother to can them.” A former member and volunteer at a CSA in Denver, Ginger applied to be an apprentice at CommonWealth to learn to grow food at home. As an apprentice, Ginger, who is also a nurse, says she has already learned a great deal—about compost, how to prepare beds, setting up drip lines, how to use different tools. “A lot of logistics go into this operation. Already I feel empowered to create some of this in my own backyard.” | 
Fill your home with flowers all summer long! Learn about the easiest flowers to grow in central OKC, from old friends like zinnias, sunflowers, marigolds and snapdragons to lesser-known beauties such as Asiatic lilies, lisianthus and ammi. We’ll show you how to plan and prepare your garden bed, and discuss seeds vs. transplants, annuals vs. perennials, and the benefits of trellising and succession planting. Participants are invited to start some flower seedlings of their own with seeds and supplies provided by CommonWealth.
Learn how to make THE best appetizer ever! Fresh spinach leaves are wrapped around a mixture of peanuts, coconut, ginger and lime for a mouthful of flavor. Bethany Williams will demonstrate how to make this traditional Thai appetizer using spinach straight from the hoop house at CommonWealth. Come taste!
