Our Compost: Gardener's Gold

There are two compost bins in the rear of the garden (by the birch tree). They each have stickers on them to help us identify which bin to throw scraps into. Right now, the yellow sticker bin contains the remnants of the compost we made over the winter. We have been spreading it on top of our raised beds before planting.

The blue sticker bin is where you can toss all your compost scraps these days. There is plenty of "browns" in there - hay, leaves, woodsy stems - but we're hurting a bit for some more "greens." The following list is what you can put in the compost bin:

• Leftover vegetables and fruits, including peels, of all kinds
  
• Egg shells
• Coffee grinds
  
• Tea bags

The more variety the better. When I took off the lid today, I saw that someone had tossed in some strawberry tops, cucumber peels, and banana peels -- GREAT!! Please do bring in your scraps from home, it's great for the garden.

4th Grade: Planting Peas and Measuring Growth

For gardeners in cooler climates, early spring means Peas! We plant peas in the first weeks of April because peas grow best in early spring temperatures. We also make sure to place a sturdy support within a few inches of the plantings - the delicate vines will need something to cling to as they get longer, ensuring that the pods will not rot on the ground. In our garden, we are using whatever we can find for supports: birch branches and skinny stakes tied together with yarn, more twiggy branches retrieved from a backyard, and a section of fencing.

So when you are out in the garden, watch for progress of our favorite early-spring vegetable plants. The 4th grades in both the King and the Amigos will be utilizing the "Changes Over Time" unit to observe the plant growth and record/interpret data, and will eventually post their findings in the garden as well.

T.W.I.G. This Week in the Garden

What is wildlife, and what does it need to survive? Tori Corpas and her King 1st Grade class have talked about the animals and birds who visit our garden, and what we can do to ensure their well-being. Today, the class will explore the garden for water and food sources, as well as cover and living spaces, as part of the Humane Society of the United States' Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Program. After sending in their findings, and with sponsorship from CitySprouts, the K-A Garden will officially be certified as an urban wildlife sanctuary.

Interested in exploring the garden's sanctuary spaces with your class? The checklist is available (scroll down below the Payment/Contact/Property Information forms) at https://gateway.hsus.org/uwsp/