We had an awesome crew of boys from Youth Services to help us keep the garden weed- free this summer. Squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and kale were harvested for the school summer lunch program. The boys brought their own special brand of energy and humor with them and they got a lot done under the direction of their crew leader, Weston. At the end of their summer work, they learned how to make pickles using our garden produce and they cooled off (it was a very HOT summer) with raspberry kale smoothies. We hope they’ll come back to visit the garden.

Students are observing the raspberry plants for evidence of the cane borer that threatened our raspberries this summer. Classes spent time in the garden reading maps and having scavenger hunts to find their positions, North, South, East and West. They sketched and labeled close-up observations of garden plants using magnifying glasses. In addition they learned a bit about nutrition and  where their food comes from. See previous posts for Kale salad recipes.

Scavenger hunt in the garden.Garden Meeting Area.Close observation of dill.Proud observer.Recording science observations.Making kale salad.

six inches apart

The Westminster summer campers learned more about area and perimeter in an outdoor setting. They measured the perimeters of  garden plots with string. Then they brought their measurements back inside where  their math work was shared with the class. In groups they decided how many lettuce plants would fit into certain spaces. Tiles were used to represent square feet and clay to represent lettuce plants. These were mixed groups of children from 6 to 10 years old. They listened respectfully to each others’ ideas. They learned a lot about real math work while having fun in the garden. Scroll down to see more:

Measuring perimeter.Perimeter:  total distance around the plot. Just how many feet is that? Area: square feet within the perimeter. How many square feet? How many lettuce plants will fit?Student thinking shared with the class 1st grade through 5th grade.

planting beans July

This morning was warm and a bit wet after evening showers….just the right time to plant beans and beets for a September harvest. We plan to flood the salad bar with pickled beets and beans. (They were a big hit at lunch time last year. )If all goes well,  we’ll hold some community pickling bees at the start of school.

Meanwhile, the summer campers this morning compared seeds and guessed which was which, beet or bean, before planting them. In pairs, they planted two rows of each vegetable. It will be interesting for them to see which is the root vegetable when they harvest in the fall. After planting, campers harvested sweet crispy sugar snap peas. Some of these same kids had planted them during After School Science in the Garden Club. Where does your food come from? These kids have a good idea.

harvesting sugar snaps

sugar snap bean

a look inside a sugar snap

This year our school garden was included in the Westminster Cares garden tour. Over 100 people visited the garden, adding their rich stories to our collection of garden tales. We were delighted to have visitors from all over the globe. The two young ladies pictured above are new to Vermont and will be attending area schools in the fall. Many thanks go out to teachers, staff and community volunteers for readying our garden for this event. Westminster Cares provides programs and services for seniors and adults with disabilities in Westminster, Vermont and surrounding towns so that they can be healthy and independent in the community. Visit their website at http://www.westminstercares.org or visit their Facebook page!

weeding raspberries

Our perennial raspberry rows are among the most popular places for kids to visit in our school garden. At this time of year they need weeding and prepping as much as does the rest of the garden. Here children are learning about planning ahead as they ready their raspberries for summer bearing. This particular variety usually bears twice, once in early summer and again in late fall.

Every class came out to the garden with their teachers to plant a special crop on Planting Day. They were greeted by community volunteers, parents and Farmer, Paul Harlow, all of whom enjoy sharing their passion for gardening with this community’s children. Teachers chose a crop to ‘adopt’ and will help to care for their own special row during the summer months. Here’s what we planted this June: A kitchen garden for the salad bar (radishes, carrots, lettuce, summer squash, onions, kale and broccoli) a sunflower house for shaded reading next fall, peppers, tomatoes, more onions, 2 kinds of potatoes, 2 kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, popcorn, basil, marigolds and zinnias! Have I left anything out? Do you have any questions? Here’s to a warm and wet growing season!

Paul Harlow: more agri. lessons

planting zinnias

inch by inch, row by row…

Planting Day

garden weeder

popsicles after planting!

planting prep

Atasi and Paula, Mollie, Emily, Cole

Mike and Bianca Zaransky

It’s a fact that our school garden wouldn’t exist without the help of the incredible community members of Westminster. Above are Bianca and Mike Zaransky who, together with their son, sixth grader, Van have contributed many hours to our garden. Last week they came over after work to till the garden in preparation for Westminster Center School Planting Day, this Monday, June 1st from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. We’re so very lucky to have these young farmers supporting us. Come and join us for Planting Day!

This summer each teacher has adopted a crop to care for with my help and with the help of interested parents. We’re looking forward to a great growing season.

Starting sweet potatoes

Third graders and their teacher AND the custodian all got into raising sweet potato slips from last years crop of sweet potatoes. This time our experiment didn’t do very well. Before the slips could emerge, the sweet potatoes began to decompose, regardless of the TLC they received from everyone. I’m willing to try this again, but we’ll need to find a few different variables. Suggestions?

UPDATE We found sweet potato slips already started at our local Agway Garden Center! We’ll see how these southern transplants do in Vermont.

Where will the seeds grow best?

Third graders had lots of opportunities to test out their hypotheses about how and where plants grow best in Dena Weiss-Tisman’s class this spring. With their teacher they designed an experiment to find the best place for growing basil. Along the way they discovered that basil seeds are about the size of a period in their books. Seedlings were started in the classroom window, on a bookshelf and in a drawer. Another group were brought to Harlow farm greenhouse. Even I was surprised at the outcome. Perhaps because our classroom window faced south and because the seedlings were consistently watered, the classroom window  seedlings did just about as well as the ones in the commercial greenhouse.

close-up of a basil seed

Dark Shade or Sun

Planting Basil

predicting and recording in science journals

examining root systems

Thawed tomatoes

They’re still yummy when cooked with garlic, onions and olive oil! Add them to pizza dough and top with mozzarella and last years pesto! Nothing could be finer. The After School garden and cooking club kids can tell you firsthand.

Adding last summer’s pesto

pizza ready for the oven

boys rolling out pizza dough

Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

Click here: PIZZA TOPPINGS