Hunger Free Garden

The school garden is officially planted, watered, and loving the sunshine!  The potted plants are flourishing in our new raised beds at the Northern Plains Botanical Gardens, and seeds are starting to sprout!  We will be entering a contest for our peas, so we're keeping a close eye on them and their progress. Check out the new book (and contest ) "First Peas To The Table", as the story talks about how Thomas Jefferson used to have contests to see who could get the peas to the table first over 200 years ago!  There are a lot of gardening ideas in this book too. (Check back for extended educational activities and lessons to diversify your students' learning soon.)

Have you noticed the strings and the boxes in the photo? We are experimenting with "Square Foot Gardening." We have 11 raised beds to plant in this year.  We planted beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, peppers, radishes, lettuce, beets, carrots, egg plants, and even some flowers. Watermelon is a new crop for us this year.  We hope to have a "Watermelon Party" in August or September when it's harvest time. Square Foot Gardening is the name of another book you might be interested in by Mel Bartholomew.  I find this method of gardening very fun also.

Miss Gail and I will be involved in classes both in Fargo and Denver until the end of June, so we'll get the weeding crew ready to go in July!  We hope to see you at the Keep North Dakota Hunger Free garden then!

Growing Jack's Beanstalk

"Making Learning Whole"...Literacy, Science, Technology, Health and Nutrition, Math, Social Studies...we are incorporating all aspects of the unit on Jack and the Beanstalk into all curriculum areas!

Some students created computer projects on beans, cows, clouds, and gold, including facts and photos on a powerpoint presentation, others on Animoto.

EngineerGirl! Food Engineering Essay Contest - 2012

http://www.engineergirl.org/CMS/Contest/food2012.aspx

Ag and Science Fun

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/kids/index.html

Everything from insects to food. Lots of fun!

Garden Time Out of Season

Photo from WomansDay

Don't these Garden Party Cupcakes bring to mind a serene sunny day spent in your garden?

Woman's Day shows you how to "grow" your own garden cupcakes. The seed packets are made from graham crackers and frosting; the dirt from chocolate cookie crumbs; and the veggies from various colorful fruit chews (Starburst, Jolly Rancher, Tootsie Rolls) and green-dyed corn flakes!

Aren't these perfect for an afternoon garden party?

Our School Garden: 2011

Keep North Dakota Hunger Free Garden

Friday is Weeding Day

9:00 July 22 is you can come to weed.  Bring gloves, tools, bug spray, a hat, water, and a smile.  A bucket helps to put weeds in too!