Stems and Smoothies–July 26, 2012
Seventh grader Xio noted that the air temp was 73° and the soil was 70° with cloudy skies. The measuring team charted the 12 corn plants and the 12 sunflower plants and found that sunflower #1 lost 6″ because of the bend in its stem!
Some kids tasted the nasturtiums. We harvested kale and carrots to add to our treat for the day.
Jill Mays, who has been assisting with the garden for two years, brought in her Blendtec blender along with frozen Truro blueberries, bananas, ice, cherry juice, orange juice and cups. Each child helped add the ingredients to make a yummy drink.
Quote of the day: “Can a plant grow shorter?”
- harvest carrots and kale
- measure corn and sunflowers
- assist in blending ingredients for a smoothie
- ENJOY
Insects and Rocks–July 19, 2012
Sophia, a second grader, recorded the soil temp as 80° and the air as 78° with hot and sunny weather. Anna asked the kids which beneficial insects might help the garden and there were lots of responses: butterflies, ladybugs, bees, dragonflies and worms. We looked in the garden for some of them and found eggs on a kale leaf and tossed some unbeneficial insects out of the garden.
We picked kale that was beginning to have holes in the leaves and put them in the compost. We harvested lots of green beans and two giant zucchinis! Each child took green beans home in a paper bag and two lucky ones got the zucchinis. The corn is steadily growing with #10 at 35″ and the tallest sunflower (# 6) measuring 70″.
Next we looked at some books with insects and tried to decide which ones to paint on rocks to put into the garden. A base coat of acrylic paint was started by each child to be finished at a later date.
- pick kale leaves with holes
- look for insects that harm the garden and toss them out
- harvest green beans & zucchini
- weed and water
- paint insects on rocks for the garden
Cucumber Tepees and Original Works–July 12, 2012
Fourth grader, Isabel reported that it was hot and sunny with the soil being 84° and the air being 81°. Anna brought new lemon and green finger cucumbers and four sticks were tied at the top in two tepee forms for them to climb up. Each child smelled and tasted herbs (rosemary, oregano and thyme) and helped weeding and watering. The kids found the pumpkins and watermelons which are now the size of grapefruits.
After observing the different stages the plants were in, Francie talked with the kids about their favorite aspects of the garden. Then she encouraged them to draw original works of their ideas and some painted with watercolors.
Sunflower # 6 has grown to 57″ and #3 is 21″ now. The corn is growing pretty evenly with #10 at 21.5″ and #8 at 11.5″.
- measure, water and weed
- lash 4 sticks together for 4 cucumber plants to climb
- plant cucumbers near the bottom of each stick
- smell and taste herbs
- observe and discuss what aspects of the garden could be rendered
- supply watercolor paper taped to cardboard, colored pencils, watercolor paint, brushes and cups of water
Corn Height and Peas in a Pod–June 28, 2012
Brenden (grade 1) and Anthony (grade 5) recorded an 80° air temperature and a 66° soil temperature. The weather was partly sunny/cloudy and hot. Today Anna brought a Corn Growing Chart to track the 12 corn stalks. They were all pretty similar in height with #3 being 14″ and #s 6 and 11 being 9.75″. The sunflowers are really growing high with #9 at 30″ being the tallest so far.
Next the carrots were thinned and the spinach, carrots, kale and nasturtiums were harvested for tasting and for taking home in goody bags. Everyone weeded and watered and two potato bugs were found on a potato leaf. Three new tomato plants were planted with trenches around them for the water.
Then the kids sat in a circle in the shade and they could pick a pea pod from a bucket and count how many peas were in their pod. Each pod had between 5-9 peas. Then everyone got the chance to taste the harvest with people making the connection between the kale they grew and Portuguese Kale Soup which they love!
Quote of the day: “Hey, there’s a butterfly!”
- measure and record sunflower and corn heights
- weed and water
- plant more tomato plants and trench around them
- hill the potato plants with more soil if necessary
- thin carrots
- harvest and taste kale, spinach, carrots and nasturtiums
- each child takes some vegetables home
Celebrating–June 21, 2012
Gayle (grade 5) and Anna (grade 4) wrote that today was a hot 95° with the soil temperature at 88° with sunny skies. All 32 children celebrated the beginning of summer with popsicles, cold water and a beautiful cheese cake. Then weeding and lots and lots of watering took place. We have a new volunteer, Jill, who is an occupational therapist. The tallest sunflower recorded today was #6 at 33″ and the shortest was #3 measuring 11″.
Quote of the day: “It is soo hot!”
- weed and water a lot
