The Marquez Charter School Garden Blog: A Great Garden Celebration

On June 4, twenty-five Marquez students grades 1-5 talked about their garden experiences this past year to an audience of parents, donors and the local press. Elenor Buckner serenaded us on the violin. After the speeches and refreshments, students gave tours of the raised bed vegetable gardens and the native plant garden.

Students from Ms. Creed's class, Ms. Yoshida's class, Ms. Fein's class, Ms. Gardners' class, Ms. Farrell's class, Ms. Schwartz's class, Ms. Bihari's class, Ms. Palo's class, Ms. Chaides' class and Ms. Keller's class participated.

2nd graders talked about starting seeds under grow lights and transplanting them as well as working in the lower garden before school;

3rd graders in Ms. Farrell's class talked about planting pumpkins, making salsa as well as having a visiting chef, Chef Sam, who made ratatouille with them and making lettuce wraps. Ms. Bihari's students talked about planting the Three Sisters Garden and how some Native Americans such as the Navajo planted one. Ms. Schwartz's students read the recipe for the rainbow salad.

4th graders discussed their study of California native plants and gave descriptions of deer grass, white sage and monkey flower. They learned the botanical names of the plants and the uses by Native Americans. They also drew the plants in their notebooks, copying them from their i-pads. Thanks to Sharon Agabra for teaching these units.

5th graders from Ms. Keller's class talked about Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president, and his gardens at Monticello. They told us that peas were his favorite vegetable.

The refreshments included a rainbow salad made by the 3rd graders in Ms. Schwartz's class.

We recognized members of the PP Garden Club, which has been a donor to our garden program as well as GardeningKnowHow, Kellogg's Garden Products, Gelson's, Renee's Garden and Seed Savers Exchange. Finally, we also thanked the valuable parent volunteers including Sharon Agabra, Winter Armm, Gaby Valensi and Laurie Vander Veen, and the many teachers who are essential for the garden program's success.