The Three Sisters' Garden

Today Ms. Farrell harvested some squash from the Three Sisters' Garden. She'll cook them with her students next week.  Some of last year's 3rd graders planted this garden. They'll eat succotash this fall with some of the squash and other veggies courtesy of Gelson's donations.

Ms. Palo's class is making succotash today using some of this squash.

Thanks to Dirty Girl Organic Landcare!

Thanks to Dirty Girl Organic Landcare we have new raised bed covers in one of the edible garden beds. Hopefully they will keep the pesky squirrels from eating our veggies! Thanks to Troy and Hilary for this donation to our edible garden program. Their employees made the redwood covers off site and then delivered them today. The two covers are light weight and designed to be lifted off during gardening.

The kids will plant in this area next month!

Growing Our Own Seedlings

This year we're attempting to grow many of our own seedings using grow light gardens. Why? It's a learning experience for the kids and much cheaper than purchasing seedlings!

Today Ms. Farrell's third grade class discussed their favorite veggies, discussed which were cool season and warm season veggies and planted many seeds.  We reviewed the concept of bar graphing that we had done together in second grade. They planted seeds of carrots, kale, broccoli and beets. They'll keep a journal to mark the progress and transplant the seedlings when they have three sets of leaves.

The kids also looked at some acorns that Ms. Marie had harvested and we discussed how the Native Americans used them.

In one lesson we covered science, math and social studies-as well as nutrition!

The Marquez pumpkin patches

We now have two pumpkin patches at Marquez. Ms. Farrell's 3rd graders planted pumpkins and squash last spring as part of a Three Sisters Garden and they are doing great! There is a very large butternut squash and several small orange pumpkins.

                           

We also have a pumpkin bed in the lower yard garden. The seeds of the white, red and orange pumpkins were planted this summer by Laurie Vander Veen. The ten seedlings have been transplanted and hopefully will give us pumpkins in time for Halloween!

Back to School Helpers

Friday afternoon after school seven children helped "clean up" the garden. Students from Ms. Fein's class, Ms. Connor's class and Ms. Chaides' class helped wash tables and chairs and harvest arugula seeds.

Their reward was to take home arugula seeds as well as to taste chives, basil or cherry tomatoes.

Welcome to the Marquez Garden Program

Welcome to the Marquez Garden Program

We have a seed to table emphasis. Children that participate in the program plant seeds, cultivate, harvest and eat fresh vegetables, compost, cook and much more. Many of the lessons extend classroom learning in language arts, social studies and science.

Please join us for an Introductory Garden Workshop on Monday, August 22 at 8:30 am. in the garden.

Learn about planting fall vegetables, cooking from the garden and volunteering opportunities in the garden. Garden based refreshments will be served. RSVP to Ms. Marie at info@palisadescares.org.
Volunteers can: help during class garden lessons, work with the garden club, water, mulch and amend soil, grow seedlings, apply for grants, cook with the children, paint signs and more.  You don’t need to be a gardener to help.


For further information visit the Marquez Garden Blog: www.marquezschoolediblegarden.blogspot.com
or email Marie Steckmest, “Ms. Marie”, at info@palisadescares.org.