January in the Third Grade Garden

The Third Graders dug for potatoes today. We dug up at least 20 and three to four different varieties. We delivered them to the kitchen so the cooking group could add them to their soup. It was delicious!

Edith, a resident at St. Anne's who takes a loving interest in our work there, gave me a large bag of tulip bulb remainders. Most were very small, and some already sprouted, but we'll hope for the best. We planted close to 50 in the box by the library. We'll see what they produce!

Pruning Time

Martin Luther King's birthday in late January is a reminder to me to prune the rose bushes. Every year I teach a group of first graders to prune. They learn how to cut above a "red bump" as well call them (new growth nodule). They also learn how to trim the plant so it's about as tall as their thighs. The children to very well at pruning.

Here are some photos of my veteran pruners, the 3rd graders. They were trained two years ago and still have good technique.

Edible Schoolyard - update

Today well known British chef, Jamie Oliver, stopped by to visit the Edible Schoolyard. Specifically he wanted to see the children at work in the garden and the kitchen classroom. This photo gives a good look at the lovely room, and take note of the fresh flower vases on each table.

Esther Cook, end of table at right, is the lead kitchen teacher.

Oliver has launched a foundation to lead a "Food Revolution". This effort focuses on getting healthful food into schools, and getting out nutrient poor, over sugared items.

Asclepias Curassavica

Several years ago we planted asclepias curassavica in the garden at St. Anne's.

For the first time in my memory, the plants produced many follicles this winter. Asclepias is the milk weed family, and those plants produce their seeds in follicles. Long, banana shaped pods full of seeds just waiting to burst out and float away on the wind. The children loved these seeds and blew several of them up into the air and watched them float away.

3rd Grade Millers; Holiday Preparations

The Millers worked on two garden crafts to give as third grade gifts. Firstly, they harvested dried herbs from St. Anne's and our campus garden and mixed an herbal tea. We included mint, oregano, nettle, chamomile and lemon balm. We grow all these herbs, but in some cases don't produce enough in the garden so we augment with the organic bulk herbs at Rainbow Grocery.

The students bagged this tea mix and later I transported nearly 50 tea bags to the snack room at St. Anne's. The sisters and residents love the tea blend and look forward to our twice-yearly production.

 The Millers also blended a simple salve of beeswax (partially harvested from the bee hive at the Kinney's), coconut oil, and vitamin E. We made enough for each child to give one jar as a holiday gift.

Second Grade: Herbal Salve

 The Second Grade was so lucky to work with my parent volunteer Amanda to create an amazing herbal salve to give as a gift for the holidays. Amanda soaked yarrow, comfrey, and plantain in sesame oil for several days. Then, the children filtered the oil and mixed it with coconut oil, St. John's Wort extract, and beeswax.

 The children bottled it in small jars where it hardened into a wonderful salve for the body. 

Winter Gifts: Bird Seed Pinecones

Every year I tell a story to the kindergartners about "Winter Gifts". It is a prelude to our seasonal activity - pine cone bird feeders. The children understand these feeders are a thank you to our feathered friends during the leaner times of winter.

The children carefully put sunflower butter all over the pine cone, then roll it in wild bird seed. Once covered with seed, each child finds a special place to hang the feeder.

While we are making the feeders one can almost feel the birds circling closer and closer. I think they've come to expect this each year. As soon as the children turn their backs, the birds are all over the pine cones, and within just a couple days, the birds completely pick each feeder clean.

You can see the progression here.