Tokeneke Update

Here is an update for you on the Tokeneke garden:  We were given a spreadsheet by Mary Michelson, Tokeneke principal, which details the science curriculum for each grade.  Based on this we all got together and decided the best veggie, fruit and herbs to plant.  In terms of the tie in, the first grade will grow butterflies in their classroom and they will release them in the garden near our butterfly bushes to show the change in behavior of organisms in their life cycles and they will plant marigold to protect tomatoes from bugs.  We purchased Root Vues for the kindergarten so they can see the roots of the carrots they will plant.  We have moved 2 raised beds to make way for a circular bench that the principal wanted for the children to sit on. We will plant a small dogwood -CT state tree - in the center of the benches.  We have order a Roly Pig Composter and brass sundial.   Butterfly bushes and roses will be planted on the outside of our garden.  We have one parent liasion per grade.  Vanessa and I will co-ordinate with them and their respective teachers to provide support  during their indoor growing time, materials  and  we will help to plant everything outside in the garden.  We are making wooden signs to place on a board that will show the children each day that they enter the school what is ripe, what will be served in the cafeteria from their school garden that day. The fifth graders  will paint these.  We have spoken to the lady in charge of our cafeteria and she gave us a list of veggies and herbs she would love to use. We hope to have enough basil to once again sell pesto at the Pumpkin Carnival and perhaps salsa if we have enough tomatoes (the Carnival is 2 weeks earlier this year).   We also are creating a sign for the garden and we would like to name it as well.

Written by Rebecca Bowman.

Meeting Recap

Hi Everyone-
Spring is in the air and so is garden enthusiasm!

Thanks for coming today and sharing your plans! Just wanted to recap a few things:

Everyone should be getting a soil test and amending their soil appropriately.
http://www.soiltest.uconn.edu/sampling.php

Healthy soil biology is essential to "digest" nutrients and make them available for the plants to take up.
Soil Soup is a great way to do it.
Simply gather the healthiest plants form as many different ecosystems that you can find. Soak in water with 1 tbs of molasses overnight. Remove plant material and water your soil with the "soup" which will now be full of beneficial fungi and bacteria.

Composting seems to be on everyone's list for this year. No one is composting at the moment but many have purchased or ordered composting equipment. Role plans to have the DHS shop students build a composting cage. we'll see how it goes!

FYI each school has a "Green Team" PA committee and has plans for Earth Week 2013 which will be taking place 4/22-26.

Chris Filmer of the Darien Land Trust spoke to the Holmes kids about native plants. Then then planted native plants the next day.

Cathleen is in touch with King Arthur Flour and they will be visiting Holmes some time this spring for their 50 minute bread making presentation. If anyone else would like them to visit please contact Cathleen.

I'm sure there was a lot more. Please add whatever you remember!

Heirloom Seed Exhibit

Exhibit

A Need for Seeds

Friday is the last day of The Horticultural Society’s exhibition of the Hudson Valley Seed Library’s heirloom-seed art. Peruse the collection of artist-designed seed packets. Each packet features a creative portrayal of the intersection of art and agriculture, and celebrates the practice of seed saving. The Horticultural Society of New York, 148 W. 37th St. (at Seventh Ave.); 212-757-0915 or thehort.org