Tall Sunflowers and Cool Cucumbers–August 18, 2011
After making a plan we measured the six sunflowers. Sunflower #2 grew 19″ in the last two weeks from 72″ to 91″. Wow! We also chose the biggest cucumber to enter into the Truro Ag. Fair Harvest Contest. We picked more ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, three yellow carrots along with some basil, thyme and sage to add yummy flavors. We used cucumber skins on our faces and two of the kids relaxed with cucumber slices. Observation pages focused on the biggest cucumber and picking a carrot, and water was added to the compost.
- measure and record sunflower height
- choose vegetables for the Truro Ag. Fair Harvest Contest
- harvest cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs
- experiment with cucumbers to cool skin
- fill out observation page
- water compost
Herbs and Labels–August 11, 2011
With a generous donation of a variety of herbs from Bayberry Gardens, the children were able to supplement the garden with: oregano, Thai basil, Aussie Sweetie basil, pineapple sage, thyme and rosemary. The children wrote 19 labels and journalled their observations. The beds were weeded and more cucumbers and tomatoes were harvested and eaten.
More favorite things. “I like:
picking carrots and tomatoes.”
all the colors from the garden.”
the cucumbers – they taste really good.”
the nasturtium flowers.”
strawberries.”
- plant herbs
- weed
- make labels
- journal
Examining Insects and Needle Felting–August 4, 2011
32 children came to work in the garden, look for insects and help Janice Redman complete the 4-H Banner with needle felting. We were searching for beneficial bugs and found some spiders, inchworms, bees and butterflies. Some were placed in containers for a closer examination. Kids who hadn’t had a chance to draw insects were encouraged to draw one today and others harvested more tomatoes, cucumbers and basil to taste.
- search the garden for insects
- use magnifying glass to examine
- identify the insects
- water and weed
- harvest and sample ripe tomatoes, cucumbers and basil
What We Like and Tomato Snacks–July 28, 2011
Today the children were asked what they like or don’t like about the garden. Here are some replies:
Nicholas – “I like how the sunflower is 67″ tall.”
Christian – “I love eating green beans.”
Diana – “Collecting stuff and planting.”
Anna – “It’s pretty.”
Alyssa and Audrey – “I love everything.”
Zuzu – “I like gardening the salad.”
Debra – “I like the different plants.”
We also harvested some ripe tomatoes and basil to make snacks for everyone. Some children colored their insects with colored pencils and others watered.
- harvest tomatoes
- water and weed
- measure sunflowers and record data
Thinning Baby Carrots and Succession Planting–July 21, 2011
All the kids from the group of 16 who didn’t have an opportunity to draw some beneficial insects the week before had a chance to try. The other kids worked in the garden measuring sunflowers, succession planting red and green lettuce, watering, thinning some baby carrots, weeding, tasting nasturtiums and counting 20 total tomatoes.
- draw beneficial insects
- measure sunflowers
- succession plant red and green lettuce
- weed and water
- thin baby carrots
- taste nasturtiums
- count tomatoes
