garden

Outside the IOI EcoGarden

Although we do not currently have participants at IOI, we have plenty of wonderful stories and memories from previous volunteers.

A sustainable agriculture volunteer wrote this lovely post about our EcoGarden at IOI:

While working in the IOI EcoGarden I heard a cacophony of chirping and noticed a finch flying into a nest built into the cactus in the IOI yard. It is a beautiful nest with lots of small twigs and natural cotton – did you know there is a native Galapagos Cotton Tree? Cactus finches nest in these Opuntia and they are back this year.

Can’t wait to see the babies!

Photo descriptions in order from left to right — Photo 1: Dad standing guard over the nest — Photo 2: Dad paying a visit to hatchlings — Photo 3: A protective mama chirps warnings at us when we get too close — Photo 4: The softest nest of cotton on a bed of needles

Just a few days later after they hatched, the finches have fledged!

I walked out of the second floor dorm room at IOI and looked at the beautiful Miyuyo tree, a native of Galapagos, with its beautiful yellow flowers. There in the top branches were two baby finches! They were a little wobbly on their legs and awkward as they few/hopped across the branches as they gave their wings a try. One male, one female, it appears. They are too cute!

Photo descriptions: Babies out of their nests and working on hopping! Did you know baby finches have pale beaks that will grow darker over time?

Quick Tips from IOI's EcoGarden

A big “thank you” to social media volunteer, Stefan Ascherl for these tips and photos!

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As spring ends in the southern hemisphere, and approaches in the northern hemisphere, we'd love to share some quick gardening tips from our EcoGarden in Isabela Island, Galapagos. This garden, right outside of our IOI office, is used as a model for our urban farming program and for hands on activities/learning for children and adults!

What is an EcoGarden? It's gardening with the environment in mind - gardening sustainabily and with native plants. Interested in gardening, farming, and agriculture? Check out our sustainable farming and urban agriculture volunteer program!

Empty egg boxes are the perfect base for growing young plants!

Empty egg boxes are the perfect base for growing young plants!

Flowers are always appreciated, so we give them some space in our garden between all the green vegetables to give our garden a pop of color!

Flowers are always appreciated, so we give them some space in our garden between all the green vegetables to give our garden a pop of color!

Although we don't encourage using single-use-coffee-cups, if there are any around, then use them to grow young plants like we do!

Although we don't encourage using single-use-coffee-cups, if there are any around, then use them to grow young plants like we do!

You can upcycle empty plastic bottles to grow plants in them. Just cut them in half and color them up!

You can upcycle empty plastic bottles to grow plants in them. Just cut them in half and color them up!

Stay tuned TO our social media for your chance to win an IOI t-shirt with quick quizzes from our garden!