Blandford Nature Center & Mixed Greens
Our vision is to cultivate, nourish, and sustain a generation of leaders, citizens, and communities who have a deep relationship with the land and therefore embrace and advocate for sustainable living.
Our mission is to invite children and the community to connect to the land, to food, and to their surroundings through meaningful hands-on experiences that lead to sustainable and healthy choices.
Description:
Blandford Nature Center & Mixed Greens merged organizations as of July 1, 2007.
Our programs engage the community in hands-on subjects such as native habitat, ecological systems, and sustainable land management. Our school vegetable gardens and kitchen classrooms enable children to have a connection to their food, to their surroundings and to the land.
History:
The History of Blandford Nature Center
Blandford Nature Center began as Collins’ Woods, a part of the Collins’ family farm. The farmhouse faced Leonard Street, and the cows traveled the lane between the corn fields and the barns. Neighborhood kids played in the woods, catching frogs and fishing in Brandywine Creek.
Victor Blandford purchased the farm from the Collins and eventually sold off lots to others. In 1949, Mary Jane Dockeray began working as a Nature Lecturer in the Grand Rapids Public Schools for the Public Museum of Grand Rapids. She often took students on field trips to Collins’ Woods, a favorite from her childhood. She explained to Victor Blandford the value of his land to area school children and their use of the property as an outdoor classroom. In June of 1964, the Blandford Family donated ten acres to the City of Grand Rapids to be administered as a nature center by the Museum.
In the summer of 1965, the Museum Association (now the Friends of the GRPM) agreed to seek funds for a building. Blandford Nature Center officially opened for business in the fall of 1968 with Mary Jane Dockeray as founding Curator. Later that same year, the Michigan Recreation Bond Fund provided money for land purchase that, when added to private contributions, lead to an eventual acquisition total of 143 acres.
The Family Farm opened a children’s garden in 1974, and ran a program for all first graders. An old fashioned barn raising in 1976 brought 35 volunteers together to recreate a building from the foundation of the old Edison barn. The Blandford Environmental Education Program (BEEP) began in 1973 when BNC staff proposed an environmental education program to the GR School Board. It is a hugely successful program whose alumni number in the hundreds and now bring their own children to the Nature Center to relive their fond Blandford memories.
For 36 years, Blandford was a part of the Grand Rapids Public Museum and from 2004-2007, a part of the Grand Rapids Public Schools. As of July 1, 2007, Blandford Nature Center merged with an organization called Mixed Greens and claims the status of an independent non-profit.
The History of Mixed Greens
Mixed Greens grew out of a vision by Lisa Rose Starner who envisioned a program which would teach children about the value of health, diversity, and individuality through the growing, preparing, and sharing of food in schoolyard vegetable gardens and kitchen classrooms. Mixed Greens’ vision came to life in 2003 and currently provides year-round innovative, multidisciplinary gardening and food literacy programming at 11 partner sites in Greater Grand Rapids. In Mixed Greens programs, children and adults learn, work and play together as they care for gardens, prepare and taste healthy foods, and explore our connection to the natural world.
The Merger
On July 1, 2007, Blandford Nature Center and Mixed Greens merged organizations to create one independent, nonprofit. It is the goal of the merger to grow the Center to become nationally renowned in its innovative approaches to delivering outdoor, educational programming to the urban community of Grand Rapids.
It is impossible in this small space to acknowledge the hundreds of people who have contributed to the establishment and growth of BNC and Mixed Greens. Their generosity is memorialized in the motto inscribed over the Visitor Center lobby, “Nothing is accomplished unless somebody cares.” We’re so glad so many do care!
Contact person: Peta Yeiter, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (616) 735-6255
Address:
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1715 Hillburn Ave NWGrand Rapids, MI 49504(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.blandfordnaturecenter.org
Directions:
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Nearest Bus Stop: Leonard and Hillburn / GR Rapid # 7, .5 miles / 10 minutes minute walk |
| Last updated on April 20, 2009 |
