A view of the Three Sisters and Vitamin A Gardens.
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A view of the Three Sisters and Vitamin A Gardens. |
Now that the school year has begun, it is time once again to harvest the plants that have been growing in the raised beds and planting barrels adjacent to the greenhouse and to move operations indoors. Corn, string beans, beets, potatoes, cabbage, and lettuce have thrived this summer, thanks to attentive watering by a group of this year's second grade students and parents. The "Vitamin A" garden producing tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, and squash also received their attentive care. The "Three Sisters Garden" in which corn, string beans, and squash grew complements the second grade curriculum focusing on Native Americans that the children will be studying. The garden flourished during the summer thanks to those second grade students and parents.
For more information see the Spring and Summer 2002 Greenhouse News page, but be sure to come back here if you do.
Alongside of the vegetables, zinnias planted from leftover seed from last spring and dahlias produced a lush garden. Snapdragons grew again on two sides of the fence containing the propane gas tank that supplies fuel to heat the greenhouse. Some of the snapdragons grew from plants planted there a year ago and some were plants that had been grown from seed planted in the greenhouse last spring.
Greenhouse volunteers also tended to the three apple trees by the greenhouse that are bursting with fruit and to the raised garden on the back patio dedicated to the memory of the late Nancy Gordon, former Estabrook fifth grade teacher. The dogwood tree planted in it and the rose bushes, begonias, pansies, snapdragons, ornamental cabbage, and chrysanthemum plants that encircle the tree add beauty to the schoolyard while honoring Ms. Gordon.
A coleus plant, nasturtiums, ornamental cabbage, and a chrysanthemum plant near the entrance welcome students, teachers, parents, and volunteers to the greenhouse.
Plans for September and October include harvesting the "Three Sisters Garden" by the second graders, beginning the poinsettia study by third graders, and beginning a weekly composting schedule school-wide. The fourth graders will once again plant outdoors winter wheat seed obtained from Nebraska. Mr. Richardson's fifth grade class will be holding a "pumpkin contest" in which students are asked to guess the weight of pumpkins grown in the raised beds. The kindergartners will be growing beans in the greenhouse.
In November, fifth graders will plant bulbs and, during recess, students who wish to will be planting pansy seed.
Following Thanksgiving, kindergartners will grow narcissus flowers from bulbs and first graders will begin their "seed to seed" project through planting marigold seed in self-watering bottle-gardens.
After the December vacation, third graders will design and outfit terrariums. Later in the winter, second graders will plant seed to produce plants to be ready for Mother's Day.
Third graders are interested in Colonial herbs and fourth graders have an interest in herbs planted in medieval times, therefore, both grades will plant herb seed reflective of the plants grown in those periods.
In April, second graders will take over the composting project. Last July, the composted material was folded into the soil in one of the raised beds by the greenhouse and proved to be a great boon to the growth of the plants in the bed.
In the spring, during recesses, children will have the chance to plant vegetables and flowers in the planting barrels and, in June, first graders will plant a new "Three Sisters Garden."
We must not forget the banana tree that is growing rapidly in the greenhouse and the papyrus plant that produces new shoots almost weekly!
In addition to the projects outlined above, the children will be in the greenhouse to plant pansies, snapdragons, and also spaghetti herbs that should be ready in time for the "Spaghetti Dinner" sponsored by the P.T.A. The children and volunteers will tenderly care for geranium plants, too. The plants grace numerous school functions during the year.
The hydroponic garden in which tomatoes and possibly lettuce will be planted is being reassembled after a summer rest and once again will be producing plants that seem to outdo what is planted outdoors!
When you are bringing your children to school or picking them up after school, drop by the greenhouse at the back of the school to see what is growing! If you would ever like to contact the greenhouse steering committee, just leave a note in the "Greenhouse Mailbox" in the school office.
Welcome back!
The story continues in the current Greenhouse News
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Last update 10/13/03 by webmaster DLK