September in the Garden

Wow! I can't believe that October is just around the corner! Where did September go? At least the warm weather is still hanging on! There has been a lot of activity in the garden and school has been in session for only three weeks!

For one thing, there is a new Garden Coordinator and Kaitlin has gone back to school to pursue a degree in education. My name is Liz Anderson and I am really excited to be the new King/Amigos Garden Coordinator! As a teacher and a gardener with some experience working on organic farms, I am pleased to combine both passions working with King/Amigos students in the garden!

Already many classes have been out to the garden to harvest potatoes, kale, herbs, and tomatoes. A lot of this produce has gone home with students, but some have been lucky enough to cook with the vegetables in the garden! This connection between food and the garden has really taken shape during the King/ Amigos Garden Drop-In-Hours on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30. After working in the garden, parents and students enjoy cooking the vegetables that they harvest!

In addition to making observations as naturalists and composters, Ms. Ferhani's Amigos Science classes have also made zesty salads and savory potatoes in the garden. Both King and Amigos Art classes have been out to the garden and drawn sunflowers drooping from the weight of their heavy heads and squash the shape of bottles. Other classes have come out to the garden to begin studying plant life and its natural environment including zebra slugs, pill bugs, and worms!

As a result of these visits, students have made insightful observations like,"if there is a bog in the garden, maybe we can grow some rice!" Students have also had the opportunity to clear up some misconceptions about where vegetables come from, such as the one about potatoes coming from trees!

I am looking forward to welcoming the month of October with the annual Cider Press event! Several students and teachers have asked me already when they can come down to the garden and start making cider! Yummmm, I can taste October already!