A Quiet Garden Club Day

The field was still a slushy mess this afternoon, so we took this opportunity to stay inside and get some seeds started.  We started a tray of pumpkins, watermelon, and beets that we'll keep watered and healthy until about May 1 when we'll be safe from frost and can plant them in the garden.  We have a few more things to get started inside (chard, turnips, kale and lettuces, in particular), but we'll get to that in the next couple of weeks.  Other stuff, like the corn, carrots and radishes we'll sow directly in the garden when we move the seedlings later in the spring.   Thanks to everyone that came today, but especially to Mr. V for everything he does, and Larry who was the photographer of the day.

Don't forget, spring break is next week so no Garden Club until we return.

Adding seeds to our re-hydrated soil cakes.

What could possibly make Mr. V make this face?

New seeds under the grow light.

Today's snack - chocolate raspberry cake with a butter cream icing.

Yum!

Jack and his table mates discussing how many seeds to put in each
starter. . . I think.  Or, maybe they were discussing the upcoming snack.
I'm not sure.

Larry hates getting his picture taken, but they always
 turn out so well.  I just can't help it.

Happy Last Day of Winter!

It still felt pretty wintery this morning at recess but it was a gorgeous day by the time garden club rolled around.  I forgot to take pictures out in the garden but got a few shots at snack this afternoon.  Needless to say it was a great afternoon.  We had a quick refresher on how to use our tools then dug up one whole bed and a good chunk of another.

I think we have the best view of any school in the county.

We're planning on planting around the first of May.  Of the four beds inside the fence, one will be dedicated to corn this year.  Corn can be tricky and we aren't guaranteed to get much out of it, but I think it's a worthwhile experiment.  Otherwise, we're donating half of one of the beds to a kindergarten class.  The other half will have greens (lettuces, chard, and, of course, kale) and herbs. In the third bed, we'll plant pumpkins and watermelons.  In the last bed, we'll do some more greens and perhaps some strawberries.  The kids are really excited about trying out strawberries.  They can be easy to grow, but there won't be any yield this summer.  We'll be pinching off any flowers this year.  That allows the plants to send out more runners that will produce even more fruit next year.  No worries, though, everyone is welcome to come back and sample them next year when they start producing.

In the raised bed, since the soil is rich and pretty soft, we'll work on some root crops, carrots, radishes,  beets, and turnips, definitely, but perhaps parsnips as well (if I can find some good seed).

Planning further ahead. . .  Our spring Garden Party will be on Tuesday, June 11th.  This is on the regular Garden Club Tuesday during the last week of school.  Hopefully, more kids will be able to stay later that day.  Perhaps we'll interest some new gardeners and end up with a bigger group for next year.  We'll get started at about 2:45 and go until about 4:00.

Planning even further ahead. . . If there are any families interested in adopting the garden for a week or just a couple of days over the summer, please let me know.   You'll be able to spend some quality family time together making sure everything is watered and weeded.  You'll be most welcome to pick any produce that is ready during your time, of course.   I'll set up a Google calendar in the next few days so folks can sign up.

Snack, ham salad and broccoli/cauliflower salad
made with broccoli we grew over the winter.

Ah, Spring!

I'm so glad it's feeling like spring.  I know we've been going for a few weeks, but I think today is the real first day of Garden Club.  I don't have anything to add to that except, thanks everyone!