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.