Ms. Timmerman's 5th Graders Learn about Seed Saving

Recently Ms. Timmerman's 5th graders learned about saving seeds. We discussed that open pollinated seeds will have the same characteristics as the plant that they are harvested from. Heirloom plants are open pollinated. Hybrid plants are not open pollinated and will not have the same characteristics as the parent plants because they are a result of cross breeding.

The students had the opportunity to save seeds from broccoli, arugula and red buckwheat plants harvested from Ms. Marie's garden. They took the envelopes home so they can sow the seeds in their gardens.

Each student also took home a bean seed from the open pollinated seeds donated by Turtle Tree Seeds.

They then made individual salads using blueberries, carrots, broccoli, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, apple and yellow peppers. We made a lemon oil oil vinaigrette salad dressing though some kids preferred lemon juice and others used olive oil.  The kids loved the salad!  (I think they'd like a salad bar)