Mossin' Around at Rainbow
(Asheville, NC) – In May, a moss garden will be installed at Rainbow Mountain Children’s School in West Asheville. The garden is donated by Dulcita Love who met Annie Martin of Mountain Moss Enterprises at a Women in Business networking event hosted by VERVE magazine and Boca restaurant earlier this year.
Annie caught Dulcita’s attention when she mentioned that there are over 450 species of moss in Western North Carolina and moss does not require the fertilizers, chemicals, and mowing that other traditional landscape options require.
Annie Martin, aka “Mossin’ Annie”, will install a moss garden and incorporate a “Going Green with Moss” lesson with the The Third Grade Penguins. The students will assist in the garden installation which will include rescued moss from Dupont State Forest and elements such as lichen sticks, nut pods, acorn caps, snail shells, ferns and other native plants.
Teacher, West Willmore, with a background in natural sciences and environmental education, will collaborate with Mossin’ Annie to create a lesson plan that includes the sciences, arts, and fun. Rainbow Mountain Children’s School places a strong emphasis on cherishing the Earth and has an outdoor classroom to bring the students outdoors. Under the direction and leadership of Renee Owen, Executive Director, the school will increase their focus next year on the outdoor environment of the school. Moss will be one way to enhance the grounds, educate students on local flora, and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
Mossin’ Annie writes:
“Like “Penguins”, mosses even like the cold and can be found growing in Antarctica. Mosses grow in all types of environments around the world. Phenolic compounds are like built-in antifreeze. This fact, among other amazing botanical characteristics, emphasizes the variety of bryophytes and their ability to survive extreme conditions.
With this “hands-on” living environmental art project, students will learn various bryophyte types (botany/science); how certain mosses solve environmental issues (environmental science/ecology); and how they can be creatively used in the landscape (art). This moss garden feature will provide delight throughout all seasons, even the winter, and opportunities to keep on learning for years to come.”
Tammy Watford of WLOS TV will film a Never Stop Learning segment during the moss installation and lesson.
In addition, Annie Martin is runner-up for the Big Idea Business Plan Competition sponsored by VERVE and AdvantageWest will receive a full-page story in VERVE magazine.
-Submitted by Dulcita Love
