2011: Session One in the Garden

Session One in the El Morro After School Garden Club has begun. We are off to a great start in the garden this year. The summer sunshine helped our garden blossom. The students were so excited to see what was growing: pumpkins, bell peppers, herbs, cucumber melons, honeydew melons, watermelons.


We kicked off our first class by making nametag buttons and teaching the kids the rules of the garden.
Each week we will start off with a healthy snack and have a garden project and an activity that focuses mainly on science or art. Here's what we did this week:


Garden Projects:

• Pulled weeds. The wild mint was taking over!
• Picked marigolds to take home.
• Renewed the Fairy Garden that had become overgrown.
• Cleaned up the Herb/Sensory Garden.

Art Activity:

• Made nametag buttons and got to know each other.

Next class will focus on oranges and pumpkins!

Summer in the Garden

The El Morro garden is thriving!

Here's what's growing:

• Full size pumpkin
• Full size watermelon
• Corn on the cob
• Large bell peppers
• Tons of marigolds
• Several honeydew melons
• An abundance of herbs
• Strawberries

Last week we did a "work day" and pulled lots of wild mint, pruned the plants, and worked on cleaning up the straw bale seating area that has decomposed. Thanks to Sophie, Luna, and Manou for helping out.

We will do another work day before schools starts and would love as many helping hands as we can get.

Please join us on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. Bring sunscreen, water and a hat. Garden tools and gloves will be provided. I'll bring some snacks!

Happy Summer,
Sharael

Wrapping Up the Garden Club

å sweet note from Julia!

The 2010-2011 El Morro Garden Club has come to an end. On behalf of the Garden Gals (Sharael, Pam, Gena, Elaine), I'd like to say thank you for a wonderful year. It has been such a pleasure getting to know your children in the garden. It's been an exciting year! Thanks to our volunteers for lending a hand: Karen, Frana, Natalie, and Missy. Feel free to stop by and take a peek at the garden during Open House.

Happy Summer!
Sharael Kolberg (aka Katelyn's Mom)

Eating Plant Parts

This week in the garden we planted pumpkins! We hope they'll grow big and strong over the summer so that we can harvest some for Halloween next year.

We also discussed food likes and dislikes. The kids had fun taking a survey of which students liked or disliked the same food. Then we talked about eating balanced meals and meal planning.

I brought labels for out fruit trees (apples, lemon, lime, avocado) so the kids can tell what's growing.

We added a cool new feature to the digging site...fossils! The kids (mostly the boys) had a great time using their shovels to find the "fossils."

Our strawberries are doing great and hopefully we can harvest them soon. The temporary rabbit fence is keeping the bunnies away. I brought jicama for snack and the kids loved it! Try it at home.

April Funday Monday in the Garden

As usual, we had a swarm of kids participate in the Funday Monday this month. Here are the activities they participated in...

Seed Tape: We made wildflower seed tape for the kids to take home and plant using paper towels, flour paste, seeds, and  recycled toilet paper rolls.

Pet Rocks: Kids got to paint pet rocks to take home!

We also pulled weeds (mint that has taken over the hillside) and watered the fruit trees.

Eggs, Corn, and Beets

This week in the garden we could feel spring in the air!
We kicked-off garden club with an egg hunt.

In the Garden: The students planted corn, freckled lettuce, and more flowers.

Activity: The kids had the chance to learn and eat the parts of a plant.

• Roots: Carrots, beets
• Shoots: Celery
• Leaves: Lettuce
• Seeds: Sunflower seeds
• Flowers: Talked about edible flowers
• Fruit: Grapple (looks like an apple, tastes like a grape)

New Addition: The boys in particular LOVED our new garden addition...the "Excavation Site" where they can dig holes!

Have a Happy Spring Break!

The Garden Gals

Planting a Sensory Garden

This week in the El Morro school garden, the students finished painting their bird houses. We filled them with birdseed and the kids got to take them home to welcome birds to their own yard. We also kept a couple to decorate our garden.

The students also planted a "sensory garden" in one of the beds. This is to encourage them to use all of their senses while exploring the garden. The sensory garden includes:

• Sight: Bird house, pinwheel, decorative butterfly
• Smell/Taste: Plenty of aromatic edible herbs -- rosemary, thyme, mint, oregano, cilantro, lemon balm, basil, and tarragon.
• Touch: Lamb's ear
• Sound: Windchimes (coming soon)

We also attached garden tiles, that were painted during Funday Monday, to the boxes. And we left time to just have fun blowing bubbles in the garden!